BOOKIE BASHER
Jim Delahunt’s top tips for Celtic v Kilmarnock, Aberdeen v Rangers, other Premiership action plus his acca
He fancies a big upset in the bottom six battle of the Scottish Premiership
NOTTINGHAM FOREST suffered a rare blip with last week's defeat at Aston Villa but the Tricky Trees can get right back on track for a sensational season with a home win over Everton today.
Villa were recording a 7th straight win ahead of their midweek Champions League defeat at Paris St Germain but Forest fought back well after losing two early goals and were unlucky not to add another point to their already burgeoning total in third place.
2
2
The defeat was Forest's 4th in their latest 5 games on the road but a 17-6-8 overall record has been bettered only by Liverpool and Arsenal this season and an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley beckons 2 weeks tomorrow against Manchester City.
The Toffees have been excellent under David Moyes and the club has plenty to look forward to next season but Forest should be keen to keep winning in case Arsenal get complacent and 11/10 looks excellent value for a side which has beaten Manchester City and Manchester United in their last two games at the City Ground.
I tipped Everton to draw with ARSENAL at 13/5 here last Saturday but I'm back with the Gunners as banker material to win at home to Brentford tonight after their midweek Champions League heroics against Real Madrid.
Mikel Arteta's players may be as preoccupied as the supporters with the 3-0 lead they have to defend in Spain on Wednesday but any fringe players given a chance tonight should be looking to shine and 3 points should come their way against the Bees at a general 8/13.
Read more sport stories
PORT VALE did us proud with the Saturday Single at 5/2 last weekend and the Valiants can build on that win over League Two title rivals Walsall with another 3 points at home to Bromley at 8/11.
Darren Moore's side are on a mini-roll after their previous midweek win over Bradford and mid-table Bromley could find this too tough a task, despite impressing in last week's 4-0 home win over third bottom Accrington.
Vale's win over last week's league leaders paved the way for BRADFORD to go top of League Two with early and late goals in a 2-0 win over Crewe and Graham Alexander's side can cement their pole position with a lunchtime road win at Swindon.
The Bantams are 6/5 and better for the early kick-off away to their mid-table opponents who look to be in for a far tougher Saturday than last week's 4-0 win at Fleetwood and the league leaders could kick-start a 17/2 League Two treble with Port Vale and a WALLSALL side which can bounce back to winning form away to Barrow at 6/4.
Most read in Football
This column has been well across READING as the Royals have climbed into League One play-off contention and Noel Hunt's players can produce another big result away to Northampton by winning at a value 19/10.
Today's hosts are nicely clear of the relegation places but well short of the play-off equation and last week's Jekyll and Hyde showings from the Cobblers featured a 2-0 home defeat to Rottherham and a 4-0 road win at equally hot and cold Peterborough.
Tony Docherty One-on-One Why Dundee boss will always stay in touch with stars like Luke McCowan and Lyall Cameron and why he can't go to the Co-op
Reading have worked themselves into the final play-off spot ahead of Bolton going into today's fixtures and back to back wins over Wycombe and Shrewsbury look good pointers to completing a hat-trick of successes at Sixfields.
WYCOMBE have closed the gap on Wrexham in the second automatic promotion spot to just 3 points and I'm backing the Chairboys to add another 3 points to their tally with a home win over Stevenage at a general 8/15.
The third placed side didn't lose much credit when they went down to that Readpenalty last Saturday and the midweek win at Huddersfield thanks to a single goal from Daniel Udoh should have bolstered confidence for another win today.
Last week's suggestion that PETERHEAD were rock-solid banker material proved correct with a 5-0 win over Bonnyrigg at 4/9 and the Blue Toon make the top 5 again today for another home win over Spartans at a likely 8/13.
Saturday SINGLE
PORT VALE landed last week's bet at 5/2 and Championship bottom club PLYMOUTH look value at 9/2 to extend Sheffield United's losing run to 3 matches in 8 days.
Weekend ACCA
3 homes and 2 aways across 4 divisions combine for an acca payout of 25/1.
CELTIC V KILMARNOCK 12.30pm
Celtic were beaten by 18/1 St Johnstone last weekend but Brendan Rogers has spent the week rallying the troops for the title run in and Killie could be the side to suffer the backlash.
The treble-chasing champions elect are a best-priced 2/9 to resume winning ways against 12/1 Killie with the draw as big as 13/2 for anyone who believes Derek McInnes' side can take a point.
The visitors showed massive improvement on their previous performance at St Mirren to beat Motherwell last week but this looks a home win and a re-booted Celtic could win to nil at 11/10 and better in places.
ABERDEEN V RANGERS Sunday 12 noon
I tipped 6/5 Aberdeen to beat Ross County last week with Shayden Morris' goal proving the difference between the sides in Dingwall and Jimmy Thelin's players look decent value to record another Pittodrie win over Rangers.
The Gers' European performances continue to outstrip their domestic form and whatever the mouth music coming from Ibrox ahead of this game, the priority has to be Thursday's trip to Bilbao.
Aberdeen have work to do to catch team of the moment Hibernian despite the gap being just a point but victory tomorrow would be huge whatever happens to Hibs against Dundee later and the likely 5/2 seems a fair price.
MOTHERWELL V HEARTS
St Mirren fans will have an ear on this match as long as their own team is winning at home to Ross County and I fancy Motherwell to do Saints a favour by beating a Hearts side which slipped up at home to Dundee United last weekend.
Motherwell's grievances over Kofi Balmer's red card at Kilmarnock proved fully justified and the Fir Park side are back on home turf at generous looking 3/1 to beat the Jambos.
Hearts have their top 6 fate in their own hands but they've been making heavy weather of it and the Steelmen's 2-1 win at Rangers should still be fresh enough in the memory for Lennon Miller and his colleagues to inspire a victory this afternoon.
HIBERNAN V DUNDEE Sunday 2.30pm
I only tipped Hibs to get a draw at Ibrox last week but David Gray's side were impressive winners as they extended their unbeaten league run to 16 games and another 3 points await here.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
Dundee's quest to escae the pay-off position was aided by last week's 2-0 win over St Mirren and while Simon Murray's Scotland prospects have been a big talking point ever since, Hibs' renaissance has been one of the season's highlights.
Last week's 2-0 win over Rangers was without any hint of a fluke in the end and a buzzing Easter Road can witness more sunshine on Leith at a general 8/15.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page