Mind the gap
Rangers moved level with Celtic at top of the Scottish Premiership at the end of 2018 thanks to a narrow home win over their old foes. But oh my, does that feel like some time ago now?
Celtic closing in
The loss to Rangers at Ibrox back in December happened to be the first and last Old Firm defeat of the man I dare to mention in relation to Celtic these days. Not that his departure has affected much at Celtic Park.
Neil Lennon has taken 10 points from possible 12 since stepping into the breach as interim boss. It’s not like he doesn’t know his way around after 11 years a Celtic man as player and then manager but it has been a fairly seamless transition nonetheless.
And just as he did frequently across his two previous spells, it’s expected Lennon will end the season with silverware.
A ninth victory from ten secured in dramatic fashion at Dundee, coupled with Rangers dropping points, took Celtic a huge TEN points clear at the summit prior to the internationals, leaving an eighth consecutive league title almost a formality. A win over their nearest rivals should seal it.
Stuttering Gers
You would’ve thought it was Rangers, not their opponents, whose manager had left for pastures new at the end of February.
The Gers have endured a torrid run through March dropping points with two draws against Hibs and Kilmarnock, as well as exiting the cup, after a replay, to Aberdeen. Those 4 games without a win means Rangers’ season is effectively over before the clocks have even moved forward.
Comfortably ahead of third place but too far behind Celtic, second best looks all that can be achieved by Steven Gerrard’s team who will look to delay the inevitability of yet another league title for their fierce rivals best they can.
Credit must go to the managerial debutant; Rangers haven’t pushed Celtic as hard as they have this season since 2012 and much is owed to the winning mentality of the former Liverpool and England skipper. This will be irrelevant to Gerrard however for whom second place represents nothing other than finishing the first-place loser.
Old Firm Pointers
- Celtic are unbeaten on home turf this campaign. The Champions reeled off 14 consecutive wins only to draw with Aberdeen in their most recent fixture.
- The hosts are also unbeaten in ten league and cup Old Firm games at Celtic Park
- Rangers haven’t so much as scored a goal on their last five visits to Celtic Park (three in the league and two in the cup), resulting in four losses and a draw.
- The two Old Firm matches so far this campaign have both featured just a single goal.
Betting tip
Rangers got pummelled in this fixture at the latter end of last season. That won’t happen under Gerrard’s watch, he won’t stand for any of that. This said, his team are still likely to come up short here.
Lennon’s Hoops have the chance to move 13 points clear at the top. There’s nothing like rubbing your rival’s face in it and Celtic are unlikely to pass up such an opportunity so my money’s on The Bhoys. The lack of goals around for both teams currently suggests this could be a tight one hence I’m adding Under 2.5 match goals for boosted odds of 3/1.
