Kilmarnock v Celtic Betting Tip Celtic to win to nil – 19 August 2017

Celtic can rack up another three points with little fuss

Scottish Premiership Betting Tips

Saturday 19th August 2017 Kickoff:1230hrs Kilmarnock v Celtic Football – Scotland – Scottish Premiership  Having all but sealed their place in the group stage of the Champions League following a 5-0 thumping of Astana on Wednesday night, it’s a return to league business for Celtic when they travel to Ayrshire to face a Kilmarnock team yet to register a point after their first two league games. The sides have already met this term as Killie were also on the receiving end of five in the League Cup earlier this month – they’ll be hoping for a much better performance and result in front of their own fans.

It has been a really disappointing start to the season for Lee McCulloch and his Kilmarnock team who find themselves on the bottom of the table after the first couple rounds of the 2017-18 season. A 2-1 defeat at home to St Johnstone on the opening day was followed by another loss at Rugby Park against Hearts last week. When you add in the hiding they got at Celtic Park in the cup 10 days ago, and losing to local rivals Ayr in the group stage of that competition, the pressure is most definitely mounting on McCulloch who only took charge earlier this year. The manager will also be without one of his key summer signings for this one as Kirk Broadfoot was sent off last week and will be suspended as a result.

Even the most optimistic of Celtic fans could not have envisaged winning 5-0 on Wednesday against Astana. The fairytale goes on under Rodgers, though, and as that result makes the return leg on Tuesday a virtual non event, the Celtic manager can probably play a stronger team than he had originally planned in this one. Celtic have not been at their best yet in the league but they still have maximum points from their two games thus far and will be looking to extend their unbeaten domestic run which stretches back to 2015/16. There will be no let up under Rodgers and with the confirmation that Stuart Armstrong has signed a new deal at the club the feel good factor will be even greater for the travelling support.

Kilmarnock v Celtic Betting Tip

Celtic would be the last team that Lee McCulloch would want to face at this point in time as his players confidence will almost certainly be low following their poor start to this campaign. Rodgers was able to make nine changes for the League Cup game and fielded a number of youngsters in that match. They were still far too good for the Killie team, who will have to play far better and hope that the plastic pitch and playing Celtic in between European games has some sort of impact in their favour – I doubt it will though.

The absence of Broadfoot and the experience he brings will make it even more difficult for the hosts in this one and with the form that James Forrest, Scott Sinclair and Leigh Griffiths showed on Thursday, it’s hard not to see them enjoying themselves once again at Rugby Park. At the other end of the park there has been little to trouble what, at times, has been a makeshift Celtic defence with Hearts the only team to score against them in eight competitive games thus far. Kilmarnock have struggled to get any real momentum going in an attacking sense and will find opportunities hard to come by once again. Celtic to win without conceding is the most appealing bet in this one – something they managed on their last visit to this ground towards the end of 2016.

Celtic to win to nil 5/6 @ Paddy Power