Can Hibernian leapfrog rivals and grab second in Ladbrokes Prem?
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No other Ladbrokes Premiership side can hold a candle to Hibernian’s recent form.
Neil Lennon’s men have picked up 13 points from their last five games, and will be eyeing up that coveted second spot. As it stands, they’re 12/1 to clinch it.
January arrivals making their mark
The wily Lennon made the most of the January transfer window, bringing in a string of loan captures. And those additions have paid instant dividends.
Grashoppers loanee Florian Kamberi has been perhaps the most exciting one. The Swiss forward is powerful, a smart reader of the game and a terrific finisher.
He’s found the net in three of his first five outings for the Cabbage, including a thundering opener in the victory over Motherwell.
Australian international Jamie Maclaren has also impressed since his January arrival, bagging an eye-catching brace against Rangers.
Strength-in-depth is evident too, following useful cover in the form of keeper Cammy Bell and former Heart of Midlothian full-back Faycal Rherras.
Top-six record and fixture list
The upcoming split could certainly favour Lennon’s charges. Their Head-to-Head record against fellow top-six sides is pretty strong.
They’ve played three of them in recent weeks, drawing at Kilmarnock and beating Aberdeen (2-0 at home) and Rangers (2-1 at Ibrox).
However, they’ll also be pleased to have a pretty generous run of pre-split games. While their rivals will be taking points off one another, Hibs’ last four games are all against lower-half sides – including all of the bottom three.
Hibs look solid as rivals falter
Right now, it seems to be a case of when not if Hibernian overtake Aberdeen. The Dons have failed to score in their last three Premiership games, losing two of them. Last weekend saw them give struggling Partick Thistle a first clean sheet of 2018.
Catching Rangers is a tougher ask, but the gap is far from insurmountable. The Gers are seven points ahead, but have played a game more. And Lennon and co. will be hoping their home defeat to 10-man Celtic on Sunday will unsettle the Ibrox club.
As it stands, the men from Leith have a better defensive record than either of those sides this term. And that’s likely to continue improving. They’ve conceded just five times in the last seven matches.
Hibernian are 12/1 in the Betting Without Celtic, and could take another big stride towards their pursuit of second spot at St Johnstone on Friday night.
It’s Evens for a Hibs Win, while the odds make Kamberi the 17/10 favourite to Score Anytime.
With that game preceding Saturday games for Aberdeen and Rangers, the Easter Road club could really put the pressure on…
Click here for the latest Ladbrokes Premiership odds.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
