John Girvan / 07 November 2008 Free Bet

Rangers blew the chance to regain top spot in mid-week after failing to beat Dundee United at Ibrox on Tuesday night and now sit two points adrift of Celtic after drawing the game in hand 3-3.

It's a big blow for the Gers in their aim to stop Celtic winning a fourth consecutive championship. Having already beaten their Old Firm rivals this season, Rangers will be disappointed at finding themselves behind in the title race. Celtic's lead at the top after just 11 games is testament to their excellent recent run of seven league victories in a row.

Celtic host Motherwell on Saturday and they look bankers to go five points clear on Sunday. Gordon Strachan's men restored some pride with a respectable 1-1 Champions League draw with Manchester United on Wednesday and they will be keen to continue their momentum in the domestic campaign. Goalkeeper Artur Boruc plays his last game before knee surgery on Monday but the home side take on their Lanarkshire opponents without McGeady, Loovens, Crosas, Samaras, Hesselink or Killen to choose from. The latter three have been missing for a few weeks now, are all strikers and as well as the side have been doing in their absence you would expect there to be an effect in the long term.

The Steelmen recorded a shock 1-0 win on their last visit to Parkhead in April and at the time it looked like the defeat all but handed Rangers their first league title in three years. Celtic recovered however and have been to Fir Park three times since winning 4-1, 2-1 and 4-2. Motherwell will remain unchanged from the side that defeated Hamilton last week and they are a massive [14.0] to record their third league victory on the bounce and their second consecutive win at Celtic Park. This is unlikely, and so is the draw at [6.0], but the [1.29] on Celtic in the match odds might only appeal to multiples backers.

So where does the value lie? Well four of the home sides five victories this season have been of the Celtic HT/FT variety. You can back this on Saturday at [1.86] but given how hard they worked in holding the European Champions to a draw in mid-week and bringing the injury situation into your thoughts it might be worth considering Draw/Celtic in the Half Time/Full Time Market at [4.7] or even Motherwell +1.5 on the Asian Handicap at [1.99].

Rangers will more than likely be five points worse off than Celtic when they make the short trip to Ayrshire on Sunday for the live Setanta clash with Kilmarnock. The Ibrox side have taken just four points from their last three league games and despite what happens at Celtic Park on Saturday it will be important for manager Walter Smith that his side leave Rugby Park with nothing other than three points. There are no new injury concerns for the visitors but the hosts will be without Invincible, Ford, O'Leary, Johnston, Russell, Hay and the suspended Pascali. Defender Frazer Wright could return to Jim Jeffries side but preventing a Rangers victory looks a tall order considering their form of only two wins in their last six outings.

Goals have been hard to come by for Kilmarnock this season with just 11 goals from their 11 Premier League ties. This could alert many to the [2.22] on offer for a Rangers Clean sheet but it could also be considered risky given the fact Dundee United breached the Gers defence three times on Tuesday night. Backing Rangers to win in the match odds at [1.49] looks a more assured choice given Rangers three season form here is four wins and one draw from a total of five visits. The fact we will most probably see a reaction from Rangers on Sunday makes Rangers/Rangers in the Half Time/Full Time Market worth considering at [2.22] and also Rangers -1.0&-1.5 on the Asian Handicap at [2.04].

Elsewhere, many will expect Hibernian to take all three points from their home clash with Inverness and few will argue. Second bottom Thistle are on a bad run at present with only one win in their last six league outings and Easter Road could prove a difficult venue to stop the rot of four consecutive defeats. Ok, Hibs aren't on great form themselves either with only two points from a possible nine recently but they have had a trip to Parkhead and an Edinburgh derby to contend with. The class should shine through here in a side that are due a win and Hibernian are available in the match odds at [1.77].