Celtic v Kilmarnock Betting Tip Over 3.5 goals – 24 September 2016

Celtic could run up a score at home

Sports Betting Tips

Saturday 24th September 2016 Kickoff: 1500hrs

Celtic v Kilmarnock

Football – Scotland – Premiership

Although we are only six games into the Scottish Premiership season (for most clubs) things are already looking ominous as Celtic have shot into a three point lead and are one of two teams to have played just five games. It could have been an even bigger lead had they not conceded in the last minute to only draw with Inverness last weekend, but they will be looking to get back on track with the visit of Kilmarnock and ahead of what will be another massive Champions League night against Manchester City on Wednesday.

It was nearly a flawless five out of five for Brendan Rodgers and his Celtic team in Premiership action this season but for that late equalizer. The Hoops were looking to follow up wins over Hearts, St Johnstone, Aberdeen and Rangers with victory over Inverness Caley Thistle last Sunday but had to make do with a point after missing a hatful of chances in the second half to kill the game off before the sucker punch. The league leaders were also guilty of passing up a number of good chances in their League Cup win at home to Alloa on Wednesday night but were able to find a way past eventually, scoring two late goals courtesy of James Forrest and Moussa Dembele. Attention switches back to league action and the chance to return to winning ways with a view to stretching their lead at the top. With the visit of a red hot Manchester City to come just four days later, any sort of confidence boost will be needed.

Kilmarnock survived the relegation playoffs last season with a resounding win at home to Falkirk in the second leg but it looks like they may well be in contention for further involvement in those end-of-season games come the end of this campaign. That may well seem somewhat presumptuous as we are only half a dozen games in but Killie are already lurking towards the bottom of the table and history suggests that’s where they will stay. Lee Clark has been at the club less than a year and this will be the first season he has started as manager but it’s following a very similar trend to previous seasons. The Ayrshire club have accumulated six points from the same number of games, managing just the one win. That victory came away to Hamilton on the second weekend of the season, but despite losing the game proceeding that, they have put together a run of three straight draws – including an impressive showing against Rangers at Rugby Park. Clark would have been disappointed with his team’s inability to hold out against Partick Thistle last week, having taken the lead twice at home. It’s that sort of game that will prove crucial come May and prove frustrating for the manager as he tries to steer the club clear of battling against relegation.

A real feature of Celtic’s play has been how quick they counter on teams and that was evident against last week as both Tom Rogic and Scott Sinclair’s goals came from breaking up play and driving at the space left by the opposition. Sinclair has now scored in each of his first five league games at the club and is proving to be the signing of the summer. His pace and clinical finishing have added a completely new dimension to Celtic’s attack and with his confidence returning following a dismal spell at Aston Villa, he will likely only get better which is a frightening thought for defenders in the Premiership. One thing Celtic will have to improve on is their defensive efforts as last week’s two goals conceded means they are yet to keep a clean sheet in the league this season and Saturday would be the perfect time to rectify that.

Kilmarnock have not had any trouble finding the net themselves this season having scored in all but one of their six league games. No surprises for guessing who has scored the bulk of those goals with Kris Boyd leading the way yet again on three goals. Now in his third spell at the club, Boyd remains an integral member of the team and the main source of goals despite being 33. He scored last week in the draw against Thistle, as did recent signing Souleymane Coulibaly who is making name for himself in Scotland following his move from Newport. He too has scored three goals and is beginning to form a partnership with Boyd that could cause the Celtic defence problems on Saturday. If Clark can keep them fit then there is hope yet that they are not plagued by the same problems of recent seasons.

Celtic v Kilmarnock Betting Tips

No matter how you dress this up, Kilmarnock face a daunting task as they travel to Celtic Park to take on the league leaders and champions. The Hoops have only played two home games in the league this term but have already scored nine goals in the process – against Aberdeen and Rangers, two teams expected to be much closer to the Bhoys come the end of the season than Kilmarnock. That said, Killie were able to frustrate Celtic on a number of occasions last season, and ended up drawing two of their three encounters, but this is a completely different proposition compared to that one, such is the confidence and style of football the Rodgers has overseen in his time at the club.

The obvious angle in this match is goals. All five of Celtic’s league games have seen at least three or more goals with four having four or more goals, and it’s difficult to see Saturday’s game not following suit. Although their scoring has been tempered in the last couple of games they continue to create as many chances and the likes of Dembele, Rogic and Sinclair will be desperate to add to their already impressive tallies. Kilmarnock are not without a hope of getting on the score sheet themselves with the form of their strikers so take the over 3.5 goals.

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