Live on BBC1 Scot: Sun 15.00: Celtic (2/5, BetVictor) should ease past Hearts in the Scottish Cup and Kris Commons can net.
A trip to Hampden Park would be slight compensation in the event of Hearts’ likely relegation but the Jambos’ hopes in that department are probably confined to the League Cup given that they face Celtic in the FA Cup fourth round.
Dumped out of Europe in midweek, the Hoops only have domestic matters to focus on now and that’s bad news for Gary Locke’s boys who should brace themselves for a Bhoys backlash at Tynecastle.
Welcoming the distraction from their Premiership plight, Hearts will have their backers at 7/1 with Hills but Celtic will certainly feel they have a point to prove and having already cruised to a 3-1 success in the Jambos’ backyard this term, they’re banker material at 2/5 via BetVictor.
Paddy Power’s 13/10 about a Celtic success ‘to nil’ looks set to attract cash given that only neighbours Hibs have managed fewer league goals than Hearts, however, Locke’s charges have found their scoring touch of late while the Hoops have managed just two clean sheets in 15 outings across all competitions so Ladbrokes’s 2/1 for Neil Lennon’s troops to prevail but also concede is a better bet.
In turn the clash looks certain to produce three or more goals (4/7, Stan James) and in Winner.com’s handicaps, with a relatively straightforward triumph for the visitors on the cards, a case can be made for the Bhoys, when kicking off a goal in arrears, at even money.
Celtic have tended to share the goals around this season but domestically, Kris Commons has struck six times in nine appearances, including a brace against Aberdeen last Saturday. Understandably then the Hoops man is just 9/2 in places to break the deadlock but the good news for punters is that bet365 quote a Commons opener at a far healthier 15/2 and also make him 21/10 to net at any stage.
Recommended Bets:
Kris Commons to score first – 15/2 (bet365)
Compare all Scottish Cup odds and bet at the best price.
