SPL Bet of the day: Motherwell should claim a victory against Hibernian

Motherwell can maintain their chase for a Champions League spot by grabbing a crucial victory when struggling Hibernian visit Fir Park in Wednesday’s Scottish Premier League clash.

Stuart McCall's men have enjoyed a fine season so far but looked likely to be aiming for, at best, a Europa League place.

However, second placed Rangers slipping into administration and subsequently incurring a 10-point penalty has breathed fresh life into Motherwell’s European ambitions.

The hosts can move within three points of the Ibrox club with victory, and are 7/10 (1.70) at Sportingbet to do just that. Hibs, who led the original fixture 1-0 before a small electrical fire led to the match being abandoned, are 19/5 (4.80) to claim victory with the same firm. The draw is rated as a 13/5 (3.60) chance.

The hosts were in thoroughly convincing form at the weekend as they brushed Hibernian’s Edinburgh rivals Heart of Midlothian aside by a 3-0 margin, despite having combative midfielder Keith Lasley sent off after 50 minutes.

Pat Fenlon's men had enjoyed a mini-revival by recording a 1-0 victory over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup and a 0-0 draw against Aberdeen in the SPL, but their defensive frailties were brutally exposed by champions-in-waiting Celtic, who hammered them 5-0 on Sunday.

Matches at Fir Park have been unusually tight this season with Motherwell scoring just 16 goals and conceding just 13 in 13 home matches, so the quote of 4/5 (1.80) from Sportingbet for fewer than 2.5 goals to be scored should have punters licking their lips.

Another tasty offering is the 13/10 (2.30) on the visitors failing to score for a third consecutive match. Value hunters will be enticed by Sportingbet’s quotes of 5/1 (6.0) for a 1-0 home victory and the juicy 13/2 (7.50) for Motherwell to win 2-0.

The home side have a glorious opportunity to pile the pressure on Rangers and they can be trusted to do so against a Hibernian side currently bereft of confidence.

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Willie Duncan is a freelance sports journalist. Willie, from Edinburgh, has covered Scottish football for over 10 years and he specialises in football betting markets from across Europe. You can also follow Willie on Twitter here.