Features

Old Firm face title threat

Author: John Harris
Date: 04/12/2009
Football betting

At first glance the SPL table has a familiar look to it with Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers occupying the top two positions, but both are finding it tough to shake off the early challengers a third of the way through the campaign.

Celtic lead the way with Rangers two points adrift of their fierce rivals as Walter Smith's Gers look to retain their crown.

However, Tony Mowbray, in his debut season at Celtic Park, is still stamping his mark on the Bhoys.

Historically, the pair usually open up a gap between themselves and the chasing pack but this season the margin is decreasing, which makes Scottish football that little bit more appealing so far this season.

Since the SPL's inception in 1998 only the big two have won the competition - Celtic claiming six wins to Rangers' five - and the pair have won the elite Scottish title every year since 1985 when Aberdeen, managed by Sir Alex Ferguson, took the honours.

Celtic are current sportsbook favourites to win the league this term with Rangers, as expected, second favourites.

Hibernian, under the guidance of John Hughes, are flying high in third place and what is more impressive is that they are level on points with Rangers.

With the Scotland national managerial position still up for grabs, many are tipping Hughes to succeed George Burley, who was sacked last month.

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Derek Riordan is in fine goalscoring form for the Easter Road outfit and with Liam Miller, Kevin McBride, Merouane Zemmama, John Rankine and David Wotherspoon offering excellent support from the midfield, the future is looking rosy for the club, who have not won the Scottish League title since 1952.

Dundee United are making a fist of things as they occupy fourth position, sitting just four points from the summit.

The Terrors last won the Scottish Premier League title in 1983 and with manager Craig Levein at the helm, they are continuing to impress in the higher reaches of the league.

Levein has transformed former Everton starlet Danny Cadamarteri and David Goodwillie is impressing up front, with a resurgent Jon Daly starting to hit the back of the net.

United have picked up four points out of a possible six against Celtic and with just one defeat against their name, they are proving a tough nut to crack.

Motherwell, in fifth place, have also lost just once, but their inability to turn draws into wins has hampered them as they lag seven points behind the leaders.

It will be interesting to see if the SPL pretenders can realistically challenge the might of Celtic and Rangers this season or whether the early-season promise will grind to the expected halt.

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