St Johnstone v Celtic match odds

Jan 22 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

FRESH from their comprehensive cup win at Forfar, St Johnstone have little reason to be awe of Celtic when the pair meet in Sunday's live televised match, despite not having beaten the Glaswegian giants at home since 1999.

Based on their last eight league matches, St Johnstone would be fourth in the SPL table and Celtic would be third, a point above Saints. But this has not prevented Ladbrokes from installing Tony Mowbray's men as their 4/9 favourites.

Celtic have won just two of their last six matches and already lost three league fixtures away from Parkhead, yet Betfred offer St Johnstone at an enormous 7/1 to secure three points. Betdaq posts a similarly tempting 7/2 against the draw.

Of course, the Saints were on the receiving end of a 5-2 hammering when they played Celtic in August and those anticipating another goalfest may fancy the 4/6 offered by Totesport for Sunday's duel to yield more than two.

Elsewhere, 888Sport post 4/5 about both teams scoring and bet365 consider the chances of the home side notching the opener at 5/2.

Confident locals, mindful of each side's current league form, will be tempted by Stan James's 8/5 for St Johnstone to win when handed a one goal start, while William Hill's 7/1 for the home side to enjoy a one-goal margin of victory has attracted steady support.

In the correct score markets, Partybets post 7/1 in favour of the match finishing 1-1 and online firm Jaxx.com mark a huge 25/1 about it ending 2-2. For punters anticipating St Johnstone's first home win over Celtic in more than a decade, Paddy Power's colossal 18/1 for then to secure a 1-0 victory looks worthy of further consideration.

Odds supplied by Betrescue