Ladbrokes Premiership: Can Hearts find cure to Celtic hoodoo?
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A full programme of Ladbrokes Premiership fixtures features this Saturday afternoon with Celtic hosting Hearts arguably the pick of the bunch.
The visitors will be eager to halt their recent slide in the league but may find it tough against opposition who’ve shown no mercy in recent meetings.
Without much further ado, here’s your weekly preview…
Celtic v Hearts
Hearts boss Robbie Neilson has promised that Celtic will face a different Jam Tarts side to the one that was brushed aside in the cups last season.
That’s fighting talk but it may not be enough to salvage anything from Parkhead.
Hearts have lost their last three in the league conceding eight goals in the process while they’ve conceded three or more goals in six of their previous 10 matches against the Hoops.
Another avalanche could be forthcoming in the east end of Glasgow.
Dundee v Ross County
Last weekend’s pasting at the hands of Celtic will have rocked Dundee and life may not be about to get any easier against in-form Ross County.
The visitors are on a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions, winning five of those contests.
Jim McIntyre’s men thrashed Falkirk 7-0 in midweek with Liam Boyce helping himself to a first-half hat-trick.
The Northern Irishman has netted five goals in eight league games so far this term and looks set to make an impact in this fixture.
Best Bet: Liam Boyce to score at any time @ 15/8
Inverness CT v Aberdeen
Table toppers Aberdeen enjoy a good recent record in the Highlands and they won’t be fazed by this trip to face struggling Inverness.
The Dons have taken maximum points in three of their last four visits to the Caledonian Stadium and they can do so again this weekend.
They may have to work hard for the win though having been down or level at half-time in five of their previous eight league games this season before going on to secure victory.
Best Bet: Draw/Aberdeen @ 7/2
Kilmarnock v Hamilton
Killie have gone some way to arresting a worrying early season slide but will that extend to beating Hamilton?
Accies have been pretty wretched on the road of late, losing four of their last five in all competitions while shipping nine goals in the process.
The hosts have hardly been inspiring in front of their own fans though, with just one win in their last eight Premiership encounters at Rugby Park.
And that’s why we’re sitting on the fence and plumping for a draw.
Best Bet: Draw @ 12/5
Motherwell v Partick Thistle
Managerless Motherwell may have found the ideal opponents in Partick as they begin life without Ian Baraclough.
Rock-bottom Thistle’s recent form is a sea of red having lost on each of their last five outings. They remain winless this season and their fortunes against a marginally more impressive Well outfit.
A lack of goals has been the Jags’ problem with none scored during that losing sequence so backing them to draw another blank appears to be a sensible option.
Best Bet: Motherwell to win to nil @ 3/1
St. Johnstone v Dundee United
The pressure continues to mount on United boss Jackie McNamara as his stuttering charges desperately search for some consistency.
By contrast, their Perthshire hosts are fresh from beating Rangers at Ibrox and have a spring in their step this term as they aim to break into the top-six.
Tommy Wright’s side are unbeaten at McDiarmid Park this season and can’t be discounted from notching a third straight win on home turf.
The fact that they’re also yet to keep a clean sheet is perhaps more eye-catching though hence our selection.
Best Bet: Both teams to score @ 8/11
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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