Celtic dominant but Old Firm rivals look best of rest

With Celtic on course to have the title wrapped up as soon as possible after a whirlwind start by Brendan Rodgers, the race for the best of the rest is the only meaningful market.

Rangers look best-placed to get that second spot, albeit at a skinny price.

Celtic have dominated the league and are a class apart from the rest of the teams. Rodgers has brilliantly managed to succeed with players who failed under Ronny Deila and the Parkhead side deserve great credit for making the title race a procession.

Mark Warburton’s side took far too long to adjust to life in the top flight – not helped by him bizarrely adapting his side’s previous style of attractive football. The Joey Barton debacle didn’t help matters either.

But there are signs they are turning the corner, as illustrated by two recent home wins over their rivals for second spot – Aberdeen and Hearts.

Rangers will probably dip into the transfer market or at least get a significant loan on board and with a far higher budget than their Pittodrie and Tynecastle rivals, they really should get second spot.

If they can get Joe Garner firing and reignite Martyn Waghorn’s form from last season, they can push on.

Hearts may take time to adjust to the high-tech methods of new boss Ian Cathro, although he still has a settled squad.

Aberdeen fans are grumbling with manager Derek McInnes after an abject capitulation to Celtic in the Betfred Cup final, which was quickly followed up by a limp defeat to Rangers in Glasgow and a further subsequent drop in form.

Disquiet is growing about his tactics and increasingly odd team selections and that doesn’t make for a happy environment.

St Johnstone should finish in the top six and continue to punch above their weight.

Recommendation
Rangers without Celtic
3pts 1-2 bet365

Pre-season advice
Rangers
2pts 7-2 general
Aberdeen without Old Firm
4pts 4-5 Sky Bet
Kilmarnock to finish bottom
2pts 7-2 Betfred
St Johnstone top-six finish
2pts 11-8 Sky Bet
Motherwell bottom-six finish
2pts 4-7 bet365
M Dembele top scorer
2pts 13-2 BetBright
J Dodoo top scorer
0.5pt e-w 33-1 Betfred
G Cummins top scorer
0.5pt e-w 80-1 Betfred