Jim Delahunt’s verdict on Celtic v Dundee United, Rangers’ trip to St Johnstone, the weekend’s Premiership action & acca

CHAMPIONSHIP leaders Ayr have home advantage for the game of the day against MORTON but I'm backing Dougie Imrie's players to head back up the coast with all 3 points.
The Greenock side travel to Somerset on a 5-match unbeaten run and they look great value at 3/1 to add Ayr's scalp to wins over Inverness, Raith, Hamilton and Queens Park since losing 5-1 at Partick 5 weeks ago tomorrow.
Lee Bullen's home side have been superb all season and they've actually won twice at Cappielow with a 2-1 league win followed by a penalties win in the League Cup.
Those games were back in September though and while Ayr have continued to impress with their league results, Imrie has overseen a massive improvement in his Morton side since that Firhill thrashing on October 1.
Morton have had an extra day since treating TV viewers to a 4-0 dismantling of Inverness last Friday which took their 5 match points tally to 13 and included a 4th straight clean sheet.
That run included a goalless draw at Dundee which should contribute to the players' confidence ahead of an equally tough away trip which their recent form gives them every chance of winning.
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KELTY went down with all guns blazing at Dunfermline last week and I'm backing John Potter's side to get back to winning ways at home to Alloa at 5/4 and better tomorrow.
Taking on the league leaders at East End Park was always going to be a tough gig for the League One new boys but they'd been magnificent in the build-up to that game and only went down 2-1.
Kelty had beaten Queen of the South, Clyde and Falkirk before losing to the Pars and they now have two home games and a trip to Airdrie before they face Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST suffered a 5-0 drubbing at Arsenal last Sunday but there was loads to like about their first half performance and their recent home win over Liverpool is fresh in the memory.
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Steve Cooper's side return to the City Ground for tomorrow's game against a Brentford side yet to win a match on the road and I reckon the Premier League's bottom side can notch a third home win of the season at a value 17/10.
SWANSEA only managed a point from away games at Bristol City and Preston last week but they're back in Wales to face Wigan tomorrow and Russell Martin's players can make it 5 straight home wins at 19/20.
The Swans boss reckoned they were better in defeat at Preston that they had been earning a point in Bristol and toiling Wigan have lost their last 5 in the Championship.
And free-scoring WATFORD can make it 4 league wins in a row by beating Coventry at 10/11 with 3 points likely to give them every chance of pushing into the top four.
Saturday SINGLE
There are bound to be a few juicy prices landed in the FA Cup but MORTON look way too big to ignore at 3/1 to beat Ayr United at Somerset Park tomorrow.
Weekend ACCA
This weekend's top five pays out a whopping 89/1
- Morton 3/1
- Kelty Hearts 5/4
- Nottingham Forest 17/10
- Swansea 19/20
- Watford 10/11
CELTIC V DUNDEE UTD
Celtic suffered a 5-1 humbling in Madrid on Wednesday but they return to domestic duties at a barely backable 1/10 to win at home to second bottom 25/1 shots Dundee United.
Rangers' trip to Perth tomorrow gives the champions a chance to pull 7 points clear and there's been little evidence shown by United in recent matches to suggest the usual whirlwind start from Celtic can be withstood long enough to be competitive.
Tony Watt's red card has, at least, been rescinded but Liam Fox will want to escape from Glasgow's east end without another 9-0 hammering and Celtic/Celtic half-time/full-time looks a solid bet here at 2/5.
ROSS COUNTY V ST MIRREN
The Staggies came up short against Hearts last Sunday but I'm still seeing enough from Malky Mackay's side to suggest they can hold their own in Dingwall and the draw appeals here at 11/5.
St Mirren were awful in a 3-0 defeat at Easter Road the day before and while there had been plenty to like in the build-up to that match from Stephen Robinson's players, avoiding defeat could be a big positive here.
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Saints' road record of 1-0-4 doesn't inspire confidence about the win price of 7/5 after last week's showing and while 2/1 County is bigger than its should be, the draw looks the way to go.
ST JOHNSTONE V RANGERS Sunday 12 noon, Sky Sports
St Johnstone helped us land the Acca last Saturday by beating Killie at 6/4 and I reckon they have a genuine chance of causing an upset here by winning at a general 10/1.
The usual proviso applies of course - play the Rangers team which is struggling badly at the moment and not the institution!
Stevie May and Nicky Clark have hit it off big-time for Saints and a similar performance to the one which oh so nearly earned a point against Celtic could be good enough to make it 3 straight league wins and pile the pressure on Gio Van Bronckhorst.
HEARTS V MOTHERWELL
Punters should be glad Hearts have finished their European campaign because this team is capable of winning a lot of games in the Premiership and tomorrow's should be one of them.
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11/4 Motherwell travel to Gorgie after a 4th road win in 7 league games at Tannadice last weekend but that was off the back of 4 straight defeats and Hearts can improve their home win record to 4 from 6.
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Stevie Hammell's players are more than capable of getting a draw here but Hearts have been unshackled form their European Conference campaign and Robbie Neilson can freshen up the tired legs to get the win at 19/20.
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