Celtic v Hamilton
Football: Scottish Premier League
Saturday 26th December Kick Off 3pm

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Celtic (2nd) Home Record W5 D2 L0
Hamilton (9th) Away Record W2 D2 L4

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Celtic suffered a shock 2-1 defeat last week at Hearts and fell further behind Rangers in the SPL title race. They now sit 4 points behind and also have Hibernian only a further point behind them in third place. Celtic started well and led 1-0 but the game changed when Gary Caldwell was sent off for a proffesional foul that led to a penalty scored by Hearts Michael Stewart. Despite going on to lose and playing with 10 men, Celtic didnt play too badly and had great chances at 1-1 from Mcgeady and Samaras.

This defeat came at a time when Tony Mowbray's side looked to be getting back onto form. Their Strikers in particular Giorgos Samaras and even Marco Antonio Fortune who had looked like a real flop had began hitting the net. Fortune scored a brilliant winner 2 weeks ago when coming on as sub in a tricky tie against Motherwell. Gary Caldwell will be suspended for the visit of Hamilton.

Billy Reid's Hamilton side did themselves very proud last season when surviving their first season back in the SPL. After a terrible start they found some form during the season and survived comfortably enough in the end. Star player James McCarthy left to go to Wigan in the Premier League and James McCarthur may also be on his way south in the near future.

But despite this the Accies are battling on and have lost only 1 in their last 5 SPL outings. They go to Celtic Park on Saturday on the back of 2 wins on the trot. They won 2-1 at Aberdeen last time out through a winner scored by midfielder James Wesolowski who netted his first Hamilton goal. The Accies had to soak up lots of pressure at Pittodrie that day but took their chances well when they got them.

Hamilton certainly needed them wins as they had only 2 wins from the previous 10 games before that. They are only 2 points off the top 6 with a game in hand but are also only 4 points ahead of bottom side Falkirk. Hamilton will be without long term injury casualties Derek Lyle and James Gibson.

CELTIC LAST 5
Hearts 2-1 Celtic
Rapid Vienna 3-3 Celtic (Europa League)
Motherwell 2-3 Celtic
Celtic 3-0 Aberdeen
Celtic 3-1 St Mirren

HAMILTON LAST 5
Aberdeen 1-2 Hamilton
Hamilton 2-1 Hearts
St Johnstone 1-1 Hamilton
Falkirk 2-0 Hamilton
Hamilton 2-2 Motherwell

VERDICT

Despite Hamilton's improved form of recent weeks, I think they will get the backlash of Celtic's shock defeat last week. CELTIC TO WIN this by a couple of goals. Take Celtic to win at a -1 Handicap which is available at 8/13.

The Pick :

Celtic 4-1 Hamilton

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

CELTIC -1 TO WIN