Skysports 1: Sat 12.15 & Sun 12.45: In the Scottish Cup semi finals, Aberdeen are 11/1 (Blue Square) to edge out Hibs in extra time.
Aberdeen last met Hibs in the Cup in 2007 when the pair drew their first encounter 2-2 at Pittodrie, only for the Edinburgh side to emerge as 4-1 victors following a replay at Easter Road.
More recently, it’s been significantly quieter on the goalscoring front. The sides have met three times in the SPL this term and have managed just one goal between them in 270 minutes of football.
Despite this, Aberdeen arrive at Hampden Park tomorrow lunchtime priced as BetVictor’s lengthy 7/5 favourites to overhaul Hibs and book a place in the Cup final. A draw at 90 minutes is priced at 23/10 by Stan James.
Punters anticipating a low-scoring affair can get 4/6 (Boylesports) about tomorrow’s semi final yielding fewer than 2.5 goals, while Coral rate the chances of only one side scoring at 11/8.
The Easter Road side kick off as Skybet’s 23/10 underdogs, but when handed the benefit of a one goal artificial advantage, they’re odds-on (8/13) at Paddy Power to ‘win’ the match.
Two of the pair’s three encounters this season have finished goalless, a record which accounts for large numbers of punters supporting the draw in various guises, although bet365’s 5/1 odds for it to finish 1-1 is the most-backed outcome in the correct score markets, while Stan James considers the chances of it ending 0-0 at 90 minutes to be a 9/1 shot.
Backing one side to win after 90 minutes appears to make sense. Blue Square price the Dons at 11/1 to win in extra time (Hibs are 12/1 in the same market), while for those who enjoy excitement up to the very last minute, Ladbrokes chalk 10/1 against Aberdeen winning on penalties.
Not surprisingly, Boylesports install Neil Lennon’s championship-winning Celtic side as their 4/9 favourites to beat Hearts in the second Cup semi final on Sunday afternoon, though some punters may consider this a hasty conclusion to make.
Though Hearts start as Paddy Power’s 7/1 outsiders, it’s worth noting that they’ve beaten Celtic once in the league already this term, a performance which suggests that at the very least, BetVictor’s 10/3 for it to finish all square at 90 minutes is worthy of further consideration.
Punters can get even money (Skybet) against Celtic retaining a clean sheet, while William Hill chalks an attractive-looking 6/5 against them winning without conceding.
Each of these wagers has proved popular because in the pair’s last seven meetings, only one side has scored – though Hibs are a 16/1 shot at Ladbrokes to win 1-0 inside 90 minutes.
However, it’s difficult to see Celtic, now with one eye on securing a league and cup double, slipping up.
Punters who agree can get 11/10 (Blue Square) about them leading at the end of both halves, while bet365 chalk an intriguing 7/2 against them winning when kicking off with a two goal disadvantage.
Once again, the correct score markets have been popular. Here, William Hill post 5/1 against a 2-0 Celtic victory and Coral chalk 7/1 against them winning 2-1.
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