Live on Sky Sports 4: Sun 12.45: James Forrest can help Celtic (2/5, Stan James) beat Partick in the Scottish Premiership.
Having beaten high-flying Inverness last weekend, Partick will fancy their chances of causing an upset as they welcome leaders Celtic to Firhill, especially as the Hoops could only draw with Hibs last time out and bet365 make the Jags a 9/4 chance to avoid defeat this afternoon.
Neil Lennon’s boys however, will have had half on eye on their midweek Champions League assignment as they shared the spoils at Easter Road and having since chalked up a morale-boosting triumph over Ajax in that crucial European clash, they should frank that form by seeing off a Thistle outfit yet to prevail on their own patch.
Stan James rate the champions at 2/5 to collect another maximum haul and as the hosts have struggled for goals at home, managing just a couple in five outings, Celtic can also win ‘to nil’ at odds of 13/10 via BetVictor.
More specifically, Ladbrokes post 13/2 against the Hoops notching twice without reply and Lennon’s buoyant side are also an 11/10 chance in Skybet’s handicaps, where they kick-off a goal in arrears.
The Jags lack of cutting edge in front of their own supporters suggests that this won’t be a highs-scoring encounter and it’s perhaps a touch surprising that betway go as high as 11/10 about a match tally of fewer than 2.5 goals, although that bet will be under threat if the visitors do as they have done in four of their last five league matches and notch inside 22 minutes.
Bet365 actually give punters a bit more breathing space in that department, quoting the Bhoys at 5/6 to find the net in the opening 35 minutes and in terms of candidates to get on the scoresheet, there are worse bets out there than James Forrest.
The 22-year-old front man struck from the spot in the Champions League and bagged his side’s leveller at Hibs so he stands out at 9/4 (William Hill) to strike in this one; alternatively Hills price Forrest at an eye catching 15/2 to break the deadlock.
Recommended Bets:
Celtic to beat Partick ‘to nil’ – 13/10 (BetVictor)
James Forrest to score first – 15/2 (William Hill)
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