Rangers v Hibernian
Wednesday 26th December 1500hrs
Football – Scotland – Premiership
Pick: Both teams to score
Bookmaker: Unibet
Odds: 10/11 (odds taken 18.45 GMT, Monday 24 December)
Scottish Premiership Betting at Unibet
Boxing Day is one the busiest days of the footballing calendar in the UK and there are two massive games in Scotland. One of them takes place at Ibrox as Rangers face off against Hibs for the second time in the space of a week. It was goalless at Easter Road last Wednesday but one of the most entertaining games that didn’t contain a goal you’re likely to see. Games between these two are usually filled with action and I’m expecting similar on Wednesday. Continue reading with a match preview of Rangers v Hibernian with a selected best betting tip.
Rangers Preview
Rangers secured a crucial win away to St Johnstone on Sunday to ensure they stayed one point behind leaders Celtic at Christmas. Two goals from Alfredo Morelos, one of them coming late on, completed a much-needed comeback for Steven Gerrard’s men and meant they avoided dropping points for the third successive away game. Their two final games of 2018 are huge with the second Glasgow derby of the season to come following this match against Hibs. They could yet end up top of the table at the winter break which would be a significant step forward under Gerrard compared to the previous seasons when they have been well adrift. Performances have been somewhat inconsistent, of course, as have results but we’re at the stage of the season where the only important things is gaining the three points. The manager has stated that he’ll looking to help his squad by brining in some new faces in the winter transfer window in an attempt to push Celtic, and any other rival, all the way in the race of the SPFL Premiership title.
Hibernian Preview
Neil Lennon can never be accused of lacking passion and a winning attitude but he questioned one of his key players’ attitude after another disappointing result at home to Livingston on Saturday. Lennon has been critical of his team on a number of occasions throughout the first half of the campaign as Hibs have failed to maintain a level of form that Lennon has come to expect. The club’s current position of seventh in the league is indicative of just that with much better things expected of them at the outset. It may be five games unbeaten now following that draw, but looking at it through another lens and it’s just two wins in their last 11 league games. The situation looked to be improving having taken four points from successive home games against Celtic and Rangers but a missed penalty against Livi prevented Hibs from moving above that opponent in the league and Lennon was not slow in pointing the finger of blame. The Hibs boss singled out Florian Kamberi who was guilty of missing the spot kick, claiming he’s not been at the level that he’s capable of. It’s clear attempt to motivate the Swiss forward ahead of their trip to face Rangers, and as his goal against Celtic proved earlier this month, Kamberi is usually one of the big games.
Rangers v Hibernian Betting Advice
You have to go all the way back to 2008 for the last time these two clubs played out a goalless draw before the match at Easter Road last Wednesday. Both Rangers and Hibs missed a hatful of chances and the formers, particularly, will be wondering how they never managed to find the net. Hibs would have been the happier of the two considering the way the game panned out and they would just as likely take a point on Boxing Day – although they did win on both visits last season. Rangers only dropped points at home this season came in a loss to Aberdeen but other than that, they’ve been very strong at Ibrox. Hibs’ brought an end to four away games without a win in the league when narrowly beating Hamilton but they will need a much better display to take points in this encounter.
The previous eight meetings before last week’s draw had seen both teams finding the back of the net and it’s usually a fixture that guarantees goals, there was even 5-5 on the final day of last season. But for poor finishing there would have been plenty of goals last Wednesday and I’m expecting that we’ll see both teams on the scoresheet at Ibrox on Boxing Day. It’s been a regular occurrence between Rangers and Hibs in recent times and both teams to score is the selection once again.
