Rangers vs Celtic – Three reasons why the smart money is on few Old Firm goals

May 25th 2012. This was the date of the last Rangers league victory over Celtic and that came at Ibrox against visitors who saw South Korean defender Cha Du-Ri sent off inside the opening half hour.

There have been 15 Old Firm derbies across all competitions since that 3-2 success, with Rangers’ ongoing 10-match winless streak in the Scottish Premiership being their longest such run in the top flight.

Celtic’s odds are 19/20 to make it five straight league victories at Ibrox since Rangers’ return to the top tier, although this seems a touch on the short side given that Brendan Rodgers’ men have only triumphed in two of their last five league road trips this season.

In fact, they have won fewer than half of their away outings this campaign – form not typically associated with an odds-on shot.

Rangers are the top-scoring hosts in the division with 27 goals in 10 Ibrox encounters and the 4/5 pick in the Double Chance market to either win or draw against Celtic is more appetising. Despite their recent Old Firm record, the 14/5 on Rangers beating Celtic is a fair price too and should the hosts win by four goals or more, they’ll overhaul the visitors at the summit of the table on goal difference.

Rangers are currently betting at 13/2 to be crowned champions. However, from a punting perspective, preference is for backing a low-scoring Old Firm derby, as it was in the previous encounter earlier in the season when Olivier Ntcham got the only goal in a 1-0 Celtic win.

Here are three reasons why under 2.5 goals at 8/11 makes the most appeal in the Old Firm odds.

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1) Rangers’ December in the doldrums

Prior to their goalless home Europa League draw with Villarreal to close out November, Steven Gerrard had watched his team notch 25 Ibrox goals in just seven league outings.

In the three home matches since, they’ve scored a grand total of two.

With Celtic having the best away defensive record in the Scottish Premiership, shipping only nine in 10 games, the hosts’ toothless streak has every chance of continuing.

2) Celtic’s recent scoring difficulties on the road

October was a great league month for the Bhoys, with their two away days bringing a 6-0 success at St Johnstone, followed by a 5-0 victory at Dundee.

Yet, they averaged only a goal a game in their next four on the road, which included firing blanks at Livingston and Hibernian.

Normal order was somewhat restored on Boxing Day with a hard-fought 4-3 win at Aberdeen, but based on recent results, this might be best seen as a bit of an anomaly.

3) Rangers rarely concede many at Ibrox

Celtic back in March of this year were the last opponent to help themselves to more than a solitary goal at Ibrox.

Some 22 teams have visited since in Scottish domestic action or in the Europa League, with half scoring just once and the other half failing to net at all.

Celtic scoring under 1.5 goals can also be backed at 8/11 in the Old Firm derby betting.