Celtic v Airdrie
Saturday 19th January 1715hrs
Football – Scotland – Scottish Cup
Pick: Celtic and Over 3.5 goals
Bookmaker: Betway
Odds: 5/6 (odds taken 21.30 GMT, Thursday 16th January)
The Hoops have won the previous two Scottish Cups in the midst of their domestic dominance in Scotland and set out on their road to what they hope will be a third on Saturday. Match preview of Celtic v Airdrie with a selected best betting tip, below.
Scottish Cup Betting at Betway
Celtic Preview
2018 was another really successful year for Celtic under Brendan Rodgers, winning all three domestic trophies on offer and ensuring European football after Christmas. It ended on a really sour note, however, with defeat to Rangers at Ibrox, a result that means they are tied on points with their rivals but with a game in hand. They will continue their quest for an eighth successive league title next midweek but their immediate focus is the home cup tie with Airdrie following a three-week winter break. Rodger has used the break to bring some new faces into the club including a loan deal for the exciting Timothy Weah who joins from PSG. There has been a lack of options in attack for the Scottish Cup holders this season so the new arrivals will certainly give them more diversity going forward. Celtic have not lost a Scottish Cup tie under this manager, of course, with their last loss in this competition coming in 2016. Indeed, Celtic have reached at least the semi-final in each of the last four seasons and no other club has won more Scottish Cups in history. On paper it looks like being a nice match for Celtic to return to as they bid to put that Rangers defeat behind them.
Key-Facts – Celtic v Airdrie
- Celtic have won the previous two Scottish Cups and are undefeated in the competition under Brendan Rodgers
- These clubs contested the 1995 Scottish Cup final, with Celtic winning 1-0
- The Hoops have been dominant at home winning all nine league games thus far
Airdrie Preview
Whilst the Premiership clubs enter at this stage of the Scottish Cup, League One teams (of which Airdrie are) have already played a tie to reach to make it into the fourth round. Airdrie were emphatic winners against Dumbarton – also of League One – winning 3-0 at home back in November. It set up this tie against Celtic which not only means a share of the tickets, but it will be televised as well so it’s bound to be a real shot in the arm for the club’s finances which is much needed for clubs playing at this level. It’s a competition that has not been kind to Airdrie in recent years, with the win over Dumbarton just their second victory in the last six seasons so they are in some unfamiliar territory. Manager Ian Murray was vastly experienced as a top flight player with both Hibs and Rangers and will be relaying some words of wisdom to his squad ahead of what is going to be one of the biggest games of their lives. Airdrie have been in decent form of late, though, with three wins in their last four, so they will make the short trip to Glasgow in good spirits, with the hope of putting up a good display.
Celtic v Airdrie Betting Advice
This fixture conjures memory of the 1995 Scottish Cup final, when Celtic edged out their lower league opponents 1-0. What was significant about that game was it was the Hoops’ first trophy in six years and a sign of how much Scottish football has transformed in the past two decades. Airdrie will attempt to be the first time in nearly three years to defeat Celtic in a domestic cup competition and end that dominance, but it looks to be a tall order. The holders have been in imperious form at home this season and have won all nine league games so far, with an aggregate scoring of 26-4. That’s the size of task that awaits the visitors, but they have travelled well this season and have picked up six wins from 10 matches.
Although it’s been three weeks since Celtic last played, the winter training camp in Dubai would have kept them ticking over and there will be a real desire to begin this year in much better fashion than the last one ended. Their home form combined with the level of opposition they face should make this straightforward. Four of their nine home wins have come with four or more goals in them and that’s the selection on Saturday.
