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HALF-FULL STADIUM THAT
YOU CAN'T BUY A TICKET FOR
March 22nd 2008 I will be going along to Almondvale tomorrow where our tickets originally printed for Fir Park are valid but many people who would like to be there will not be going. With the uncertainty surrounding Gretna's future plus the state of the Fir Park pitch, many fans were waiting for some clarity before parting with their cash for tomorrow's match which was only switched to the Almondvale venue earlier this week leaving little time to buy tickets unless you happened to live in the Glasgow area. If anyone has not already got their ticket then they have had it as the Celtic Park ticket office is now closed until Tuesday despite CE Peter Lawwell saying only yesterday "I thank our fans for their continued support and ask them once again to get right behind the team for the title run-in." Slightly difficult for some people to get right behind the team Peter if they can't buy a ticket anywhere, and to Gordon Strachan who wonders why there are small crowds at matches - there is one reason for you. Livingston FC are selling tickets ONLY to Livingston season ticket holders who must produce their season ticket, match ticket and some other form of identification at the turnstile on Sunday - do they think anyone will actually pay £20 to watch two teams they have no interest in especially when it's on television? At least the TV cameras will be on the opposite side of the park to the Celtic support so it may not look so bad to the watching world. Despite going out of the Scottish Cup to Aberdeen and everyone thinking the end is nigh Celtic are still only 15/8 to win the SPL. I may be in the minority here but I didn't think Celtic played badly at all at home to Aberdeen nor even in the first game at Pittodrie. They were unlucky against Dundee United the week before at Celtic Park as well and better finishing in all three games would have seen three wins for sure. Scott McDonald had been doing fine until the arrival of Georgios Samaras then he went off the boil but Samaras had the opposite effect on Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. Samaras and Vennegoor of Hesselink may start against Gretna and the former is widely available at 4/1 to score first while the latter is 10/3 with Skybet. Celtic are 1/10 to win the match which they must do or the SPL title is all but gone. A 3-0 Celtic win is 13/2 with Coral, 4-0 is 8/1 with Party Bets, 5-0 is 15/1 with the same firm who also offer 50/1 for 6-0. Ladbrokes offer 6/4 Celtic in the handicap with Gretna having a three goal start but can the Celts win by four? Elsewhere, it's really tricky this week to see any standouts. Hamilton look like they should beat Stirling but they have won only one of their last seven away games and none in the last five. Queen of the South who had been doing well have failed in their last two, Dundee are a bit erratic away from home and Brechin City who had a great spell have gone four without a win. On top of that Airdrie are two without a win, Ross County are inconsistent, Ayr have four straight away wins but haven't won at home for two months and are at home today while on-form St Johnstone are away to Partick who are unbeaten in seven including a recent draw at Lodge1690. I am going to have to pass this week unless a change of odds somewhere persuades me to change my mind or something comes up in play. Bets so far
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