Jim Delahunt gives his Celtic v Gers predictions ahead of Scottish Cup classic

CELTIC won the “league decider” between these two at 17/20 just two weeks ago and the new Premiership champions can become double winners by beating Rangers in 90 minutes tomorrow at a general 4/5.

Brendan Rodgers side took 10 points out of 12 against their biggest rivals in the league this season and they even had the upper hand without away fans at Ibrox when they led 2-0 and 3-2 before a 3-3 draw prompted a Rangers lap of honour.

James Forrest‘s re-introduction and the return from injury of skipper Callum McGregor played major parts in swinging the title back Celtic‘s way and Rogers has promised the fans that title celebrations were only partial with today’s game fully in focus.

Forrest has forced his way back into Steve Clarke‘s plans for Germany next month and is a best-priced 4/1 with Bet 365 to score anytime today but McGregor is always likely to get a shot or two away in these games and the general 8/1 shot to score anytime is a massive 12/1 with Hills and an even bigger value 16/1 with Skybet.

Philippe Clement has been plagued by end-of-season injuries in the final few days building up to tomorrow’s showdown but he’s also been afflicted by several Gers players losing form completely and while 11/4 might look a massive price about any side in an Old Firm game on neutral territory, it’s probably an accurate reflection of Rangers‘ current woes.

Jack Butland‘s superb form in goal for Rangers is a major plus of course but Joe Hart‘s only recent blip has been a penalty miss against Aberdeen in a game Celtic won and I fancy Butland’s going to be the busier keeper on a day when both teams to score looks a fair insurance wager at 7/10.

The FA Cup Final goes head to head with the action at Hampden on terrestrial TV and Manchester City backers will be rewarded at a best-priced 1/3 with Bet 365 for a 90 minutes Wembley win over their 8/1 opponents United.

City clinched the title officially last weekend but their return to form had made that success look ever more likely in the weeks building up to a 3-1 win over West Ham and they’ve come a long way since going in a goal down at half-time to United at the Etihad in early March.

City came back out and won that match 3-1 but Manchester United only lost once in their next 9 games after that (4-3 at Chelsea) before a crushing 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.

Ten Hag steadied the ship with wins over Newcastle and Brighton in their final 2 matches before this afternoon’s repeat of last year’s Final which City won 2-1 and United’s recent efforts would suggest both teams to score looks a likely winning bet at 4/5 with City scoring for fun but always likely to concede.

Phil Foden would be my other main bet to score anytime at a generous looking 7/5 but Manchester City and both teams to score is single value at 8/5 and that looks the best bet with City looking more capable of stepping up a gear when it matters.

United at their best should be capable of making the match less one-sided than the betting suggests on a day when an 8/1 win in 90 minutes for the Reds would be the biggest shock since City lost 1-0 to Wigan in this match 11 years ago.

Sunday SINGLE

SOUTHAMPTON have bounced back from 3 straight defeats in April which killed off automatic promotion and I fancy them to beat Leeds in 90 minutes tomorrow at 21/10.

CELTIC V RANGERS    3pm BBC Scotland

Celtic are my selection to win this in 90 minutes at a general 4/5 but anyone wanting to insure against extra-time and/or penalties can back the league champions at a much shorter 4/9 to lift the Cup with Rangers available to win anytime at 7/4.

Both teams to score is a general 7/10 shot with NO to this outcome at 6/5 and the prices against either side winning the Cup Final to NIL are 13/5 Celtic and 7/1 Rangers, an achievement last recorded in 90 minutes by St Johnstone against Hibs 3 years ago.

Kyogo Furuhashi is in his usual position as favourite to score anytime at a general 13/8 with team-mate Adam Idah at 9/5 but 22-goal Cyriel Dessers will be popular at 3/1 and penalty king James Tavernier is a general 7/2 chance to make the scoresheet.

MANCHESTER CITY V MANCHESTER UTD    3pm

The outright betting on tomorrow’s Wembley showdown has City at a general 1/6 and United at 4/1 but most betting will be focused on the 90 minutes and United fans or supreme optimists won’t be able to resist a bet at 8/1.

I’ve indicated my preference for both teams scoring and City to win at 8/5 but my anytime scorer Foden is just one of a number of scoring options for Pep Guardiola and United’s Bruno Fernandez must come into the anytime equation too at 5/1 with Bet 365.

Scott McTominay has 10 goals for United this season ahead of Scotland‘s Euros campaign in Germany and another one today would pay out at a general 4/1, with Paddy Power bigger at 5/1 and Bet 365 a standout 6/1 in the anytime market.

ROSS COUNTY V RAITH ROVERS     Sunday  12 noon Sky Sports

Sam Stanton’s late strike for Raith kept this tie alive going into Sunday’s second leg but County looked in total control in Kirkcaldy on Thursday and I can’t see them slipping up despite Ian Murray’s promise that Rovers will go all out to save the tie from the start.

Goals from Hearts bound Yan Dhanda and Jack Baldwin gave the Staggies a deserved and comfortable advantage going into the closing stages of that first leg but Rovers have kept it interesting and County will have to be fully focused.

Don Cowie’s players were recording their first away win since success at Kilmarnock last September and they’ve shown enough in recent weeks to suggest that Thursday’s superiority can be confirmed with another win at 8/13, WITHOUT the nerve-shredding dramas of 12 months ago.

LEEDS UTD V SOUTHAMPTON    Sunday    3pm  Sky Sports

Both sides negotiated their semi-finals in style with goalless draws away from home and convincing second leg victories and I’m going against the grain a bit here by backing Southampton to reach the Premier League.

The 90 minutes betting has Leeds at 13/10 and Saints at 21/10 and punters expecting a long Sunday afternoon can back Leeds to prevail at 7/10 and Saints at 6/5.

Both sides have enough goalscorers to make BTTS the banker here at 3/4 but Southampton have done the double over Leeds this season, including at Elland Road just 3 weeks ago and I reckon Russell Martin’s team can win in 90 minutes with Che Adams and Adam Armstrong the key players and Ross Stewart in reserve to make an impact.

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