Hearts v Celtic
Wednesday 27th February 1945rs
Football – Scotland – Premiership
Pick Over 2.5 goals
Bookmaker Marathon Bet
Odds: 5/6 (odds taken 20.20 GMT, Tuesday 26th February)
Scottish Premiership Betting at Marathon Bet
This will be Celtic’s first game since the dramatic departure of manager Brendan Rodgers and it could barely be a tougher test as they travel to face Hearts at Tynecastle on Wednesday in a game that could have big ramifications for the league title.
Hearts Preview
Craig Levein will no doubt have been licking his lips at the prospect of facing Celtic considering all the goings on at the champions in recent days. Hearts have been at best inconsistent in the league this season, but they always ensure a difficult game for Celtic when they come calling. The Tynecastle club will be disappointed on the back of dropping points away to Motherwell and at home to St Mirren in the past couple of weeks, which has seen them failing to take advantage of dropped points from Kilmarnock in fourth. That looks to be their most realistic target in terms of a finishing position in the league and a win on Wednesday would certainly help them in that pursuit. Levein and his players biggest aim, however, will be progress in the Scottish Cup – a competition they face Partick Thistle in the quarter final of at the weekend. In terms of tomorrow’s game, despite winning only two of their last five, Hearts will take a lot of belief from their win against Celtic earlier in the season at this venue when Kyle Lafferty’s stunning strike was enough to give them the win. They have lost heavily on two occasions against Celtic since then, however, but will be looking to make home advantage count once again.
League Cup Betting at Marathon Bet
Key-Facts – Hearts v Celtic
- Neil Lennon will be in the dugout for the first time since taking over from Brendan Rodgers as manager of Celtic
- 14 of the last 16 meetings between these clubs have had three or more goals scored in them
- Celtic will be looking to maintain their eight point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership
Celtic Preview
Despite having played as recently as Sunday and entering what will be a massive three months of the season, Celtic find themselves under new management with the departure of Rodgers to Leicester City. Neil Lennon has been brought in on an interim basis as his replacement and will be assisted by John Kennedy and Damien Duff. It’s been a whirlwind couple of days for the champions, who’s support will be in shock as well as angry at how things have transpired. The players and new coaching staff have to find a way to rise above all of that now, though, as they face a massive 10 days in the context of their season. A trip to Hearts in the league is traditionally one of the most difficult fixtures Celtic face each season whilst they will then face Hibs (Lennon’s old club) in the quarter final of the Scottish Cup, a match followed by Aberdeen at home in a week’s time. Those three games will go a big way to defining the club’s season and determining if they can record what would be a historic ‘treble treble’. Should they do that, it would be very difficult for the board to look beyond appoint Lennon on a more permanent basis.
Hearts v Celtic Betting Preview
It’s always a fiery encounter when these two teams meet and that is even more evident when it’s under the lights at Tynecastle – one of Scotland’s most atmospheric grounds. It’s also the venue where Lennon has been attacked on two separate occasions – once as Celtic boss and earlier this season when in charge of Hibs, so it could barely be a more intense game to begin his second spell as Hoops’ manager.
Form wise, Celtic have been excellent in 2019 and have won all nine domestic matches and conceded just one goal in the process. Lennon has an excellent group of players to work with, but the question will be how Rodgers departure has affected the squad. Hearts will definitely be ready to take advantage of any slip-ups and Levein certainly knows how to set his team up against the champions when playing at home, having won two of the last three at Tynecastle against Celtic. One constant in this fixture down the years is goals. 14 of the last 16 meetings have seen three or more goals scored and that’s the standout bet for me on Wednesday. The game is always action packed and the recent developments will only further ensured we’ll see another dramatic 90 minutes once again.
