Why Celtic will beat Motherwell and return to SPL summit
After losing to Rangers at Ibrox on Wednesday, Motherwell's Glasgow nightmare looks set to continue at Fir Park on Saturday.
Before last weekend, Celtic faced the unusual prospect of heading towards October languishing in fifthplace in the SPL table.
After last weekend’s results, however, Neil Lennon’s men now have the opportunity to regain top spot if results go their way on Saturday.
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Motherwell currently lead the way despite having won only three of their opening seven league fixtures, but last Sunday’s late collapse at Pittodrie means that defeat on Saturday will see the champions leap-frog them in the standings.
If that happens, only a win for Hibernian at Aberdeen will delay the Hoops’ inevitable assent to the SPL summit where, you imagine, they will then stay for the duration of the campaign.
| Champions League | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dortmund | 1-2 | Bayern Munich | £155.00 | (27/4) |
| Dortmund | 0-1 | Bayern Munich | £160.00 | (7/1) |
| Dortmund | 0-2 | Bayern Munich | £175.00 | (31/4) |
| Dortmund win | £76.00 | (14/5) | ||
| Draw | £85.00 | (13/4) | ||
| Bayern Munich win | £35.00 | (3/4) | ||
For now, though, the Glasgow side must acknowledge that they travel to Fir Park on Saturday to face the country’s top team, although it appears to be in name only after a terrible week for Stuart McCall’s side.
Motherwell have only scored one goal in their last six meetings with Celtic, conceding 17. Their 2-0 win over the Green and Whites in February 2011 was their only victory in the last 18 meetings between the sides – a run that has seen Celtic keep 11 clean sheets.
Their defensive deficiencies were shown up in their last two games as they conceded twice in the last five minutes to fling away a two-goal lead against Aberdeen, before being undone by Third Division Rangers in the League Cup at Ibrox on Wednesday night.
And to add to their woes, their record against Saturday’s opponents gives them little reason for optimism.
Motherwell have only scored one goal in their last six meetings with Celtic, conceding 17. Their 2-0 win over the Green and Whites in February 2011 was their only victory in the last 18 meetings between the sides – a run that has seen Celtic keep 11 clean sheets.
With this in mind, backing Celtic to win 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 in the multiple correct score market looks a great option at odds of 21/20.
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In four games between the teams last season, Michael Higdon was the only Motherwell player to get on the scoresheet, so if the Steelmen are to find the net (an outcome that is priced at 53/100) then they will rely heavily on the SPL’s top scorer to do the business.
For the visitors, Gary Hooper found the net twice against Motherwell last season and is on fire after scoring four goals against Raith Rovers in the Scottish Communities League Cup on Tuesday.
If you fancy Hooper and his team mates to breach the Motherwell rearguard on Saturday, backing Lennon’s men to score the first goal at 1/2 looks like a good shout, compared to the much shorter odds odds of 3/25 on them scoring at any time.
In the 3-way betting market, Celtic are the favourites to win the match at 3/5, while Motherwell are 4/1 and the draw is 13/5.
Recommended bet: Celtic to beat Motherwell 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 @ 21/20
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