Jim Delahunt tips up Celtic v St Mirren and Rangers’ trip to Ross County among a packed SPFL fixture card and 31/1 acca
NOTTINGHAM FOREST banked a valuable point at Wolves in December and the Tricky Trees can take all three against their Midlands rivals in today’s reverse fixture. Nuno Espirito Santo‘s players have been saddled with a four points deduction which leaves them just above the bottom three. AlamyNottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo could make up ground on their relegation-threatened rivals[/caption] Willie VassCounty host the Gers on Sunday lunchtime[/caption] Kenny RamsayCeltic have won each meeting with St Mirren this season – but drew 2-2 last May[/caption] But they gave Spurs plenty to think about last weekend and have taken four points from their last two home games against Fulham and Crystal Palace. Wolves lost at West Ham before going on a seven-match unbeaten run after that draw with Forest but they’ve only won one of their last 6 after the Hammers did the double over them last week and Forest look to be in better form. Forest’s closest relegation rivals have difficult games this weekend with Luton 22/1 “no-hopers” at Manchester City and Everton going to Chelsea on Monday night so today’s headline bet can take advantage by landing the money at 11/10. Aston Villa‘s trip to Arsenal tomorrow should give SPURS a huge incentive to go and win today’s lunchtime game at Newcastle at 13/10 and last week’s disappointments BOURNEMOUTH can bounce back by beating Manchester United at 7/5. Ipswich have had a tough week in the Championship as they battle Leeds and Leicester for the two automatic promotion spots and it could get worse for the Tractor Boys if they lost to in-form MIDDLESBROUGH at Portman Road. Leicester played at Plymouth last night and 1/3 Leeds host Blackburn in today’s lunchtime kick-off but Ipswich lost the East Anglian derby to Norwich before a goalless draw against Watford and ‘Boro arrive on a late push for the play-offs and a value price at 16/5. There was no fluke about MILLWALL getting all three points against Leicester on Tuesday and Neil Harris can continue his successful return to The Den with another win at 5/6 against Cardiff. Ryan Longman’s goal against The Foxes meant the returning Harris had taken 10 points from his first four home games second time around and today’s visit from the Bluebirds can see that record stretched to 13 from five as the Lions stretch comfortable clear of the relegation zone. Huddersfield’s trip to 13/10 BRISTOL CITY looks a tough one for the Championship’s fourth bottom side, especially with third bottom SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY at home to sixth bottom Stoke. Wednesday came back from 2-0 down to take a point against high-flying Norwich on Tuesday and today’s game against the Potters gives them an excellent chance to back that up with a win at 13/8 which would improve their recent home record to one defeat in EIGHT as they battle to exit the bottom three. CAMBRIDGE weren’t disgraced away to Blackpool last week and Garry Monk‘s new side look a value price at 2/1 against mid-table Charlton as they continue to pull away from the bottom four in League One. Further up England‘s third tier, third top BOLTON can have the edge over leaders Portsmouth by winning at 5/4 with second top Derby way too short at home to Leyton Orient and the draw an attractive alternative at 16/5. Saturday SINGLE Michael Carrick’s MIDDLESBROUGH could only draw at Hull midweek but 16/5 looks excellent single value against today’s hosts Ipswich. DONCASTER took their winning run to seven games with victory over Wallsall on Tuesday and a once unlikely play-off push can continue with a home win over Accrington at a general 8/11. A win for CRAWLEY over Colchester would dent those Doncaster hopes whatever happens against Stanley but the games are totally unrelated for betting purposes and I’m taking Crawley at 23/20 with 1/3 WREXHAM completing a League Two treble at just short of 4/1. Raith’s Championship title challenge appears to have crumbled after two defeats in their last three and third top PARTICK look the 2/1 value at Starks Park despite the injury to Steven Lawless at Dunfermline last week. Celtic v St Mirren The jury’s still out on whether Celtic dropped two points against Rangers or picked up the point most pundits said they’d be grateful for beforehand. But the one certainty is that the need to beat St Mirren to press home their advantage at the top of the table. 14/1 Saints booked a well-deserved top six spot despite losing to Hearts last week but they’ve come up short against Celtic three times this season and the 13/2 draw could be well beyond them as well. The plus for Saints is their top six place is on the bag but Celtic should have taken plenty from a match which saw Rangers appear to celebrate earning a draw and they look a 20% mark-up for the acca. Weekend acca
NOTTINGHAM FOREST banked a valuable point at Wolves in December and the Tricky Trees can take all three against their Midlands rivals in today’s reverse fixture.
Nuno Espirito Santo‘s players have been saddled with a four points deduction which leaves them just above the bottom three.
But they gave Spurs plenty to think about last weekend and have taken four points from their last two home games against Fulham and Crystal Palace.
Wolves lost at West Ham before going on a seven-match unbeaten run after that draw with Forest but they’ve only won one of their last 6 after the Hammers did the double over them last week and Forest look to be in better form.
Forest’s closest relegation rivals have difficult games this weekend with Luton 22/1 “no-hopers” at Manchester City and Everton going to Chelsea on Monday night so today’s headline bet can take advantage by landing the money at 11/10.
Aston Villa‘s trip to Arsenal tomorrow should give SPURS a huge incentive to go and win today’s lunchtime game at Newcastle at 13/10 and last week’s disappointments BOURNEMOUTH can bounce back by beating Manchester United at 7/5.
Ipswich have had a tough week in the Championship as they battle Leeds and Leicester for the two automatic promotion spots and it could get worse for the Tractor Boys if they lost to in-form MIDDLESBROUGH at Portman Road.
Leicester played at Plymouth last night and 1/3 Leeds host Blackburn in today’s lunchtime kick-off but Ipswich lost the East Anglian derby to Norwich before a goalless draw against Watford and ‘Boro arrive on a late push for the play-offs and a value price at 16/5.
There was no fluke about MILLWALL getting all three points against Leicester on Tuesday and Neil Harris can continue his successful return to The Den with another win at 5/6 against Cardiff.
Ryan Longman’s goal against The Foxes meant the returning Harris had taken 10 points from his first four home games second time around and today’s visit from the Bluebirds can see that record stretched to 13 from five as the Lions stretch comfortable clear of the relegation zone.
Huddersfield’s trip to 13/10 BRISTOL CITY looks a tough one for the Championship’s fourth bottom side, especially with third bottom SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY at home to sixth bottom Stoke.
Wednesday came back from 2-0 down to take a point against high-flying Norwich on Tuesday and today’s game against the Potters gives them an excellent chance to back that up with a win at 13/8 which would improve their recent home record to one defeat in EIGHT as they battle to exit the bottom three.
CAMBRIDGE weren’t disgraced away to Blackpool last week and Garry Monk‘s new side look a value price at 2/1 against mid-table Charlton as they continue to pull away from the bottom four in League One.
Further up England‘s third tier, third top BOLTON can have the edge over leaders Portsmouth by winning at 5/4 with second top Derby way too short at home to Leyton Orient and the draw an attractive alternative at 16/5.
Saturday SINGLE
Michael Carrick’s MIDDLESBROUGH could only draw at Hull midweek but 16/5 looks excellent single value against today’s hosts Ipswich.
DONCASTER took their winning run to seven games with victory over Wallsall on Tuesday and a once unlikely play-off push can continue with a home win over Accrington at a general 8/11.
A win for CRAWLEY over Colchester would dent those Doncaster hopes whatever happens against Stanley but the games are totally unrelated for betting purposes and I’m taking Crawley at 23/20 with 1/3 WREXHAM completing a League Two treble at just short of 4/1.
Raith’s Championship title challenge appears to have crumbled after two defeats in their last three and third top PARTICK look the 2/1 value at Starks Park despite the injury to Steven Lawless at Dunfermline last week.
Celtic v St Mirren
The jury’s still out on whether Celtic dropped two points against Rangers or picked up the point most pundits said they’d be grateful for beforehand.
But the one certainty is that the need to beat St Mirren to press home their advantage at the top of the table.
14/1 Saints booked a well-deserved top six spot despite losing to Hearts last week but they’ve come up short against Celtic three times this season and the 13/2 draw could be well beyond them as well.
The plus for Saints is their top six place is on the bag but Celtic should have taken plenty from a match which saw Rangers appear to celebrate earning a draw and they look a 20% mark-up for the acca.
Weekend acca
Five homes across three divisions this week with the acca paying out at 31/1.
- Nottingham Forest 11/10
- Millwall 5/6
- Sheffield Wednesday 13/8
- Celtic 1/5
- Motherwell 17/10
Motherwell v Hibs
The Steelmen’s come from behind win at Dens meant they’d only suffered one defeat in five since losing 3-1 at Celtic and Hibs‘ humbling by St Johnstone points to a home win at Fir Park.
Hibs’ need for points in the now complicated battle for the final top six place means Motherwell are bigger than they should be here and the celebrations at Dens suggest this Motherwell team will be well up for messing up another club’s ambitions.
Georgie Gent got man of the match honours in Dundee but striker Theo Bair was scoring for the third time in four games and Motherwell can bank another three points at 17/10 and wait for Dundee’s result at Pittodrie.
Aberdeen v Dundee
Dundee can negate anything Motherwell or Hibs do with a 13/5 win at Aberdeen but the Dons have gone three matches unbeaten on the way to next week’s Scottish Cup semi-final and they can take all three points here at Evens.
The draw at 5/2 would match the Dens Park side’s point in a 1-1 draw here back in January and a 1-0 win at Dens last month should give Tony Docherty’s side hope despite last week’s capitulation at home to Motherwell.
Only VAR stopped the Dons leaving Livingston with a third straight win last weekend but cancelled scorer Bojan Miovski has notched 83% of his Dons goals at Pittodrie and 6/4 anytime with Bet365 looks rock-solid.
Ross County v Rangers
Sunday 12pm Sky Sports
Rangers will know they’ll probably be four points behind at kick-off tomorrow and County’s recent home form suggests the visitors will have to make a better start than they did against Celtic last weekend.
Don Cowie’s side is unbeaten in their last four home games with wins over Hearts and Livingston and draws against Hibs and St Mirren but their average win price is 11/1 with another draw a general 11/2.
Rangers comeback from 2-0 down seems to have completely shrouded their first half showing in the game that really mattered against Celtic but missing Wednesday’s swamp at Dens Park might prove to have been a blessing and they really should take all three points here at a best-priced 1/4 with Bet365.
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