Celtic vs Rangers Betting Preview

For the fifth time this season Rangers and Celtic clash, this time in a crucial league encounter at Celtic Park that could go a long way to determing who wins the HBOS Premiership. At present the two bitter rivals are on the same number of points. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />After a couple of season of Celtic dominance, Rangers have enjoyed some success this term winning two of the four games. However, the other two at Celtic Park have gone in favour of the Hoops. The bookies are expecting another home win this time. This particular Old firm clash has the added twist of the probability of Craig Bellamy making his much anticipated debut. Since signing on loan from Newcastle, the pacy striker yet to play for one reason or another. It is expected that Martin O'Neill will drop Chris Sutton back into midfield to allow Bellamy the opportunity to play alongside his Welsh teammate, John Hartson. Also likely to start for the first time is Stephane Henchoz in place of the injured Agathe.For Rangers, they will have the services of Barry Ferguson for the first time in a couple of seasons for the Glasgow game. According to the play himself, this is precisely the match he dreams about and was why he couldn't remain at Blackburn. As seems to be the theme for Sunday's live games, the bookings is a market that will be the focus of many. With these two playing so consistenly, there is a vast amount of data to get our teeth into. The average make up for the past four seasons has been a shade over 50, not far off the spreads quote of 52-56. The Old Firm game can be split into two categories - ones that Hugh Dallas has officiated, and ones that all the other referees have overseen. When Hugh is in charge, the average make-up has been 41, the rest have averaged 59. Unfortunately Mike McCurry, who is in charge of Sunday's game is the one other referee yet to lose his cool in an Old firm game during the past four seasons. His two appearances have seen a total of four cautions. That is of course not to say there won't be a requirement to take the names of several players on Sunday. With the title race being so tight, there is arguably even more at stake than normal, Add in the debut of Bellamy, and the return of Ferguson, and a repeat of what we saw in the last league meeting of several booked and two sent off cannot be ruled out. Try a small buy of the books at 56 with Sporting.