Last updated & checked: 10/08/2021
Table-topping Celtic welcome Hamilton Academical to Parkhead on Saturday afternoon, and Brendan Rodgers’ team will be looking to win and put more pressure on Kilmarnock and the rest of the pack chasing them.
The Bhoys have been boosted by two recent signings, in the shape of Scotland forward Oliver Burke and American striker Timothy Weah. Both of those players scored in the Celts’ emphatic 4-0 home win over St Mirren in midweek. Rodgers will have been pleased with that win, as the Hoops had lost their last league game, 1-0 at home to Rangers in December.
Martin Canning’s Accies team are faced with a different set of challenges to Celtic at the moment. Hamilton have not won in their last four games in all competitions. Their last point came from their 1-1 home draw with Kilmarnock on December 22. Their last victory was against St Mirren on December 1, when they won 3-1 in Paisley.
Celtic vs Hamilton Academical Prediction: Celts 4-0 Accies
When it comes to predicting the outcome of this game, it is very hard to see anything other than a convincing Celtic victory in the offing. The Celts are looking more confident now, and have added some serious firepower to their front line, in the shape of Oliver Burke and Timothy Weah. It would be no surprise to see both of those players score on Saturday, and we anticipate that the Celts will win this game easily. It is unlikely that Hamilton will be able to score a goal, and they look set to spend most of the afternoon defending. We think a 4-0 home win is likely.
Our recommended tip: Celtic 4-0
Our featured betting tip for this game comes from Coral. They are offering odds of 6/1 on Celtic matching our prediction of a 4-0 victory. There is very little good value to be had by betting on Celtic this weekend, with the bookies offering very long odds on any kind of positive result for the Accies. A 4-0 scoreline would usually carry odds much longer than 6/1, another sign that the bookies anticipate a convincing win for Celtic. Odds of 6/1 offer a good return, and Celtic certainly have enough in-form firepower to score at least four times.
Previous matches
These two sides have played each other on two previous occasions in the 2018/19 season, with both of those games coming in the Scottish Premiership. The first encounter was at Celtic Park on August 26. The home side won the game 1-0, with defender Dedryck Boyata scoring the game’s only goal in the 63rd minute.
The second clash between the teams was at Hamilton’s SuperSeal Stadium on November 24. Celtic were again the victors, this time triumphing 3-0. Goals from Ryan Christie in the 13th minute, an own goal in the 68th minute and Leigh Griffiths in the 82nd minute secured the points.
Top 3 Scottish Premiership Bookies
Players to watch: Oliver Burke & Mikel Miller
Scotland forward Oliver Burke made a big impression in his first Premiership start for Celtic in midweek. The 21-year-old, who signed on loan from West Bromwich Albion earlier this month, bagged a brace of goals in the 4-0 win against St Mirren on Wednesday evening. Many Celtic fans were sceptical about what the former RB Leipzig man could bring to the Bhoys, but he seems to be proving the cynics wrong so far.
Mikel Miller is Hamilton’s top scorer this season, with seven goals in all competitions. Four goals have come in the English striker’s 18 Premiership games, a sign of how much Martin Canning’s team have struggled this season in the league. If anyone has a chance of scoring for the Accies on Saturday, it is Miller. The Croydon-born forward is unlikely to enjoy many chances at Parkhead, though. If a chance comes along, he must be ruthless.
