Aberdeen isn’t doing as good as they would maybe want. In the 5 matches played in the league this season, they have a draw and 2 wins. They recorded the last win back at the start of August in the round 2. At home, the last time they won was in the first round against the newbies in the league. They also played a very bad and tough match at home against lower division side in the cup, barely winning by 3:2. I think that the home pitch doesn’t mean too much for them, especially knowing they will host the defending champions eager for wins, more precisely for their 6th in a row this season but we’ll see if Aberdeen can find the recipe for the aggressive game of the Glasgow side.
Playing excellent
Rangers is undefeated since the derby game against Celtic played last May. They have 5 out of 5 wins this season in the Premiership. In the last game they played in the cup, they won as much as 7:2 at home. In Champions League, they held Manchester United at Old Trafford to a goalless draw, taking at least 2 points away from one of the group favorites in that way. They’re playing excellent and that’s the only conclusion. They don’t have too many major injury problems so we’re ought to expect yet another great game by them.
The champs continue winning
Rangers is playing excellent in the true champion manner. Aberdeen on the other hand isn’t playing up to the expectations really so I think they don’t even have too much advantage at home, especially not against a team as strong as Rangers is. My advice for this early afternoon Sunday match is the away win. Good luck!
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Prediction:
Tip: 2 AH (-1)
Odd: 2.06
Bookie: Pinnacle
Celtic have won all of their domestic games in Scotland so far this season and to be honest they did not even find it hard to walk straight ahead. Scott Brown is available after a game he missed in midweek and he`s very likely to come straight in line-up instead of Ki Sung Yueng. Izaguirre is out this game and Charlie Mulgrew could be in line-up to replace him. Considering that Mulgrew is more effective on the offensive part of the game as a full back,this could be a major advantage for Celtic against a poor defensive side at Parkhead. Anthony Stokes will be facing his former team for the first time since he`s parted his ways.
Poor and getting poorer.
Hibs did not get into this season with high hopes and promises though. John Hughes were not given a large budget to bring new players who he immediately needed. Especially at the heart of defence,they were too short last seaon and they did nothing for that. As Sol Bamba is still rated as doubt,Hibs might face another defensive crisis at Parkhead this afternoon. Derek Riordan carried his team on the offensive end of the game but his individual efforts came short to take his team on the winning end of the scoresheet since quite a while. Striker DArryl Duffy is out again along with Marouane Zemmama,who could have been a key member of this Hibernian team.
Celtic are heavy faves vs. this unshaped Hibs side
Hibernian was a team who,somehow,can manage to stay in games thanks to their really potent strike force with Riordan and Stokes. As Stokes has left the club,they`ve got a lot shorter handed and they now have a depleted roster in all thirds of the line up. Zemmama is out so Derek Riordan has to play a lot like an offensive midfielder instead a centre forward. Edwin de Graaf can`t play in his actual position and he was pushed back as an anchor by John Hughes,but it`s a position he was used to. But Celtic on the other hand , looks a lot more organised than previous season. Despite Scott Brown is still underperforming and too far from meeting expactations , at Parkhead they are more than capable to go to goals with their skillfull forwards. This Hibs side,with their well-known defensive weaknesses don`t really convinme me not to bet against.
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Prediction:
Tip: Celtic to score 4 or more
Odd: 4.20
Bookie: Sportingbet
Tipster: ulich
To be honest,i dont`t really think there were a big crowd who believed in Killie for a decent hot start to season with 5 points out of first 4 games,whereas,many were nominating them for the 1st place for relegation battle. For me,they are still one of those few clubs to fight for relegation and at the end they will be fortunate to be competing in the same division with St.Mirren when they avoid relegation within 2-3 weeks to the end of season. They are limited. Just limited. Mixu Paatelainen took more than his teams capability with his recent results but having lost Kevin Kyle to Edinburgh side,it`s really tough for Killie to produce goals and they are and they will be playing with no winner on the court. They have defended well and build solid defensive performances so far but it won`t last forever,for sure. They`ll be missing new signing David Silva and James Dayton for a clash against an Old Firm Giant and fellow new signing Sissoko is a a doubt at the back end of the line up.
Pushed the gas button.
Celtic,with its new faces,are much stronger than last season`s losing side. They are trying and are very motivated to bring the trophy to where it belongs and every single points till the the first old firm of season are must collect points for them according to Neill Lennon. Gary Hooper and Joe Ledley are decent signings just like central defender Majstorovic who has been supposed to organise steady Celtic defence but it seems a bit tougher to do when he plays alongside Glen Loovens. Anthony Stokes joined those long newcomer list and he`s been the best move for Celtic for me. He made his debut but this could his first game that he`s on scoresheet. Lennon has an almost fully fit squad.
A clear Celtic win
Killie has 6 points but this is just a fake table that does not really reflect the truth. Celtic had successive wins and clean sheets and got the wind behind them. With lots of men joint top of the line-up , they are really more than capable to create chances but the difference is that they brought a lot of dynamisn in midfield to cover those fields left by the front-men and avoid possible dangers for the defensive line. Biram Kayal could be given a first team place alongside Effrain Juarez and it`s the key for a very clear Celtic win for me. Even the midfield pair is made by Scott Brown and anybody , with Stokes and Hooper up-top,Celtic is still to strong for the Rugby Parkers.. I do expect another clear Celtic win with another clean sheet even if Celtic have had hard time at Rugby Park in the past. I know that the past is the past.
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Prediction:
Tip: 2 AH (-1.5)
Odd: 2.18
Bookie: 10Bet
St.Johnstone have come pointless in their last 3 games after a good start with 1 point out of Hearts game at Tynecastle on the opening day. They did not look impressive on the court and did not look organized yet,however they can still be competitive against a possible relegation rival as they have their best player back to team. Jody Morris is a key player for St.Johnstone and his return is more than crucial for them on their way first win of the season.
Just no strikers.
Having parted ways with Gus McPherson who took them up to Cup final during his long spell as a manager,Saints have appointed Danny Lennon from lower league side Cowdenbeath and sent almost all key players of McPherson`s first team. Billy Mehmet to Turkish side G.Birligi , Andy Dorman to C.Palace , Chris Innes to Inverness , Jack Ross to Hamilton and skipper Darren Barr to Hearts. But,they could not sign good enough players to replace them. With 3 players from Cowdenbeath,St.Mirren and Danny Lennon are and will be trying to avoid relegation. Moreover , Michael Higdon,on loan Celtic forward Paul McGowan and Craig Dargo are all out this game. Meaning,St.Mirren will have no fit forwards to put in the line-up.
Home win is worthy
Neither team has finished season warm-up yet. But St.Mirren lost a lot and did not bring quality into this team that`s managed by a very inexperienced coach. Given no fit forwards do St.Mirren have today , first win of season for St.Johnstone looks very juicy to me.
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Prediction:
Tip: 1
Odd: 2.10
Bookie: Stan James
Motherwell won twice this season but none of those wins came in front their home crowd at Fir Park. They lost 2:3 to Hibs on the opening day and 0:1 to Celtic by a late goal. They,however,managed to grab 6 points out of 2 road games vs. Killie and St.Johnstone. Motherwell lost an important player,Lukas Jutkiewicz to Coventry but they brought Blackburn`s young starlet Blackman and already having John Sutton&Jamie Murhpy,they still have a good rotation in front-line. Craig Brown and Archie Knox got to know their team better and The Well looks a lot better than many SPL teams including Aberdeen.
Injuries again.
Aberdeen made a very hot start to season with 2 wins out of 2 , but then again , they got into a losing streak and coming off 2 straight defeats. Young midfielder Fraser Fyvie is a long term absentee and unfortunately winger Sone Aluko has joined him in injury list. Another big loss is Peter Pawlett. Now Mark McGhee is held to just a few key players to bring creativity on the court.
The well to get first home win
Motherwell convinced in all games including two losses at home. They may be nothing,but a lot better with their forwards and know to keep their net clean. Aberdeen`s heavy loss against Dundee United from last league game could be a key factor for them to be motivated up to this game,but at the end,hosts are more than capable of taking a point out this game,even a win.
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Prediction:
Tip: 1 AH (0)
Odd: 1,70
Bookie: Interwetten
The Dons have yet conceded a single goal and won all games they played so far. with Paul Hartley addition,they seem more and more organised at the midfield and it was their main problem last season. Sone Aluko was on a good form up-top but he picked up an injury during midweek`s CIS Cup match and is out this game along with youngster Fraser Fyvie. Aberdeen is keen to extend their 3 games winning run at home against one of the weakest sides of the SPL but have in mind that they are an as good offensive team as the stats say. 3 penalty goals in the opening match of the SPL and a late strike against Dundee the weeks before were their fortunate goals.
Do not show signs of improvement
Mixu Paatelainen is a guy who loves attacking football but this Killie side is far away off that attacking quality cause they seem to have no attackers. They are coming off a 6:2 win over Airdrie in midweek but it`s not a good filter for a SPL side,imho. They conceded 2 goals even from a lower division side and i think this deserves more and more to be paid.
A tight game
Neither team is on their best shape up-front. Offensively,both teams have been lacking since years and this time things are not so different. With Sone Aluko out for Aberdeen,The Dons might struggle of putting the ball to the back of the net even if they have a dominance on the court. Killie,following Kevin Kyle`s departure,has already no domaninant man up-front and their preliminary goal is likely to be sitting at the back and defending their net. I don`t really expect many goals in here.
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Prediction:
Tip: First 70 Minutes Under 1.5
Odd: 2.09
Bookie: 10bet
Thistle are the newcomers of the SPL but their hot start to season and spectacular wins they collected so far did not show any signs of being a newcomer. Having started to season by a 3:0 clear CIS Cup win over Queens Park they were so ambitious up to their debut SPL game versus Celtic at home. Despite giving a hard fight against the old firm side,they couldn`t escape a Paddy McCourt strike that put them 1 goal down which they couldn`t cover until the final whistle. Then again,they were out to Tannadice to face strong Dundee United but they did not find it as hard as they predicted and won it by 4 goals. And their last game brought another clear victory for the Thistle at home against Peterhead for a CIS Cup outing. With Adam Rooney kept his hot form up to SPL,ICT still has a potent strike force despite having an arguably weak defence for SPL class.
lost,just desperate.
Hamilton boss Bily Reid must not be having good days with his teams current quality level. They had to release a lot players and brought almost none. moreover they still battle with some major injuries and especially at the defensive end of the line-up,Accies will likely find it really tough against any opposition in next few weeks. New signing Graham from lower division side S.Albion and youngster McQueen will join Buchanan at the back trio and it seems very very weak against a red hot ICT attacking line. The other thirds are neither better for the Accies and they seems way far from competition for a single point.
a clear home win
Accies will sure be playing to get their dreadful run snapped up but it all comes to the quality you have. ICT is not that team who could easily be nominated for the top 6 but Accies could easily be nominated for the relegation at the of season. With current shapes of each team,ins and out,injuries and suspensions,forms,mental situations, this is a clear home win for me.
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Prediction:
Tip: 1
Odd: 2.10
Bookie: Bet770
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