Aberdeen v Celtic: Goals on the cards as Dons push for needed win
Aberdeen’s 2-1 victory with 10-men over Celtic back in September marked them as real title challengers, but to maintain that claim, they surely must channel that spirit again when the sides clash once more at Pittodrie.
Since that victory, the Dons results have been far less consistent, but Derek McInnes’ men remain just six points off the Bhoys in top-spot.
As the sides prepare to clash again, one expects that nothing less than a win will give the hosts a chance of causing a 20/1 shock and lifting the trophy in May.
They are 10/3 to bag the three points again to move to within touching distance with the Glasgow giants at the summit of the table, with the visitors 3/4 chances, and the draw 11/4.
Aberdeen are unbeaten in 10 in the Ladbrokes Premiership, winning seven, while Celtic have won their last four in the top-flight, scoring 16 goals in the process.
That form has seen manager Ronny Deila land the Ladbrokes Premiership Manager of the Month award for January as they look to bounce back from a disappointing exit in the League Cup.
They will surely be expecting the hosts to come at them, with a draw doing the second-placed side no favours at this point in the season.
Calling the result looks extremely tough, but one thing that looks very likely is for there to be plenty of goals.
Seven of the Hoops’ last 10 league fixtures have seen three or more goals, as have nine of the last 10 meetings between the sides.
With strikers of the quality of Adam Rooney and Leigh Griffiths – who between them have scored more goals (36) league goals than six other sides so far this term – both keepers are sure to be busy.
The events of the last few days only go to further strengthen that argument, with Celtic bringing in the attacking pair of Colin Kazim-Richards and Manchester City’s Patrick Roberts on Deadline Day.
It’s not all been plain sailing at Parkhead though, with news coming through on Tuesday that they are set to be without defender Jozo Simunovic for up to six weeks set to hit them hard.
The Dons will need to take advantage of his absence, and for those looking for a bigger, more speculative price than the 8/11 on the game going over 2.5 goals, backing the hosts to triumph again with both teams to score could be value.
Ladbrokes offer 13/2 on such an occurrence, and with none of Aberdeen’s last six victories over Celtic coming to nil, and the Bhoys looking strong up top, that could be the way to go for anyone expecting a home victory.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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