SPL - Saturday 8th Dec Team News & Thoughts

Kilmarnock v Celtic


Kilmarnock


Injuries - Kelly, Hay
Suspended - Pascali

Probable XI - Bell, Fowler, O'Leary, Nelson, Tesselaar, Racchi, Borja, Johnson, Harkins, Sheridan, Heffernan (4-4-2)



Celtic


Injuries - Commons, Lustig, Stokes, Paddy McCourt, Forrest


Probable XI - Zaluska, Matthews, Ambrose, Wilson, Mulgrew, Ledley, Kayal, Samaras, Wanyama, Hooper, Miku (4-4-2)




Prediction : Kilmarnock 1 - 2 Celtic


Once more Celtic go into another match after midweek heroics in the Champions League. Tiredness must again be a big concern here, they will have a fresh Wanyama but unless they look to their squad players there will be a few playing with heavy legs from the start.  I also have a sneaky feeling that Forster may be rested for reserve keeper Zaluska as he was a slight doubt before the Spartak game. I've had a good look into Kilmarnock's stats and added to the fact that they have had recent success against Celtic I note that they have only failed to score in 2 games this season (both 0-0 draws) and have only not scored in 1 game at home which was the season opener. So I'm looking at BTTS @ 2.0 (Boyle Sports) as certainly worth a punt.


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Hearts v Aberdeen


Hearts


Injuries - Holt , McGowan, Grainger,Hamill
Doubtful - Barr, Novikovas

Probable XI - McDonald, McGowgan, Zaliukas, Webster, McHattie, Taouil, Walker, Robinson, Stevenson, Paterson, Sutton (4-4-2)



Aberdeen


Injuries - Fraser, Naysmith, Hughes, Jack, Milsom, Clark, Robertson, Osbourne


Probable XI - Langfield, Considine, Anderson, Reynolds, Rae, Hayes, Shaughnessy, Magennis, McGinn, Fallon, Venon (3-4-1-2)




Prediction : Hearts 1-0 Aberdeen

Hearts enjoy a great record in this fixture and in fact against Aberdeen in general over the last couple of years. So good that the Jambos are unbeaten in the last 8 games (5W 3D)  and Aberdeen amazingly haven't even scoring a goal!!! With that stat and the fact that Hearts are currently unexplainably playing without a striker every week and I can see why the under 2.5 goals price is so low. I would suggest it will come in and I will be looking to hammer it if there did happen to be an early goal as I would still be confident there would not be 3 scored. I'm having a tiny punt on under 1.5 goals @ 3.2 (Paddy Power) as crazy as it sounds, it should certainly be tradable.
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Inverness v Hibs


Inverness


Injuries - Ross, King, Hogg

Probable XI - Reguero, Raven, Warren, Meekings, G. Shinnie, A. Shinnie, Draper, Tudur-Jones, Doran, Foran, McKay (4-4-1-1)



Hibs


Injuries - Deegan, McPake, Clancy
Doubtful - Griffiths

Probable XI - Williams, Maybury, Hanlon, McGivern, Stevenson, Wotherspoon, Tiawo, Claros, Cairney, Doyle, Caldwell (4-4-2)




Prediction : Inverness 2-1 Hibs


These 2 teams are the surprise package of the SPL in my book this season and have both had absolute turnabouts in terms of team members and performance since last term. I've seen a lot of Inverness this season and I have to say they really impress me. They are all playing for each other, have goals throughout their attacking players and are a big and physical side. Only downfall for them is they do concede a lot of silly goals, especially when in seemingly commanding positions in matches. Indeed they are the league joint worst in defence.

Big question here is will Griffiths play? I suspect Hibs will be a completely different outfit without him, lacking any real threat up front as I dont rate Doyle and Caldwell, who would replace Griffiths, is shit.

This game could end up in a slugfest but I'm going to side with Inverness and hope Griffiths is missing. Home Win @ 2.3 (William Hill)


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Motherwell v Ross County


Motherwell


Injuries - Saunders
Suspended - Randolph

Probable XI - Hollis, Hateley, Hutchison, Cummins, Hammell, Humphrey, Lasley, Law, Murphy, Higdon, Ojamaa (4-4-2)



Ross County


Injuries - Duncan, Corcoran
Doubtful - Boyd, Kettlewell


Probable XI - Brown, Kovacevic, Tokeley, Munro, Fitzpatrick, Brittian, Vigurs, Quinn, Fotheringham, Morrow, Glen (4-4-2)




Prediction : Motherwell 2-1 Ross County

Motherwell have finally started to pull a bit of form together and have gone 5 unbeaten in all competitions. And thank god as there really was no explaination for their performances at the start of the season. I say all this and they are actually only 4pts from 1st place.  I think it's all down to confidence as they generally field the same team each week and certainly the same tried and tested formation. They should prove to much for Ross County who have not won in their last 6 games away from Dingwall. HOME WIN @ 2.2 (Stan James) looks a steel(men).......lol
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St Mirren v St Johnstone


St Mirren


Injuries - McGowan, McGregor

Probable XI - Samson, Van Zanten, Mair, McAusland, Dummett, McLean, Reilly, Goodwin, Imrie, Guy, Thompson (4-4-2)



St Johnstone


Injuries - McCracken, Beattie, Adams, Robertson
Suspended - Mackay

Probable XI - Mannus, C.Davidson, Wright, Anderson, Miller, Millar, M.Davidson, Craig, Cregg, Tade, MacLean (4-4-2)




Prediction : St Mirren 1-2 St Johnstone

I'm not going to be fooled by St Mirren's latest change in fortune, the fact that they have won 2 and drawn 1 of their last 3 matches, simply because they were against poor teams, namely, Brechin, Ross County and Dundee. I still think St Mirren are not very good. St Johnstone should be able to welcome Cregg back into the team, a player I like and makes them tick. They do have Mackay suspended but they regularly chop and change in defence so that is not such a big worry to me. Only thing that worries me is that 3 out 4 St Mirren wins this season have come at home so I'll opt for the saftey of St Johnstone DNB @ 1.87 (Boyle Sports)


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