St Johnstone have recently earned a reputation for being a rather dour side, yet recent matches have bucked this trend. Indeed, over the course of the season, two-thirds of their league fixtures have brought over 2.5 goals, and that trend should continue when they tackle Hearts on Wednesday.

Callum Davidson’s Saints have seen four of their last five league games bring at least three goals. Indeed, both teams have scored in each of these games and that is on offer at 1.8 for this encounter.

Hearts, meanwhile, have been involved in a string of high-scoring games this season. Their 17 matches of the season have brought 57 goals – comfortably averaging more than three per games. Five of their last seven have seen more than 2.5 goals, including a 2-2 draw against Dundee United away from home on Saturday.

The guests will have an added complication in that they have lost inspirational goalkeeper Craig Gordon due to a serious injury. The Scotland international had been arguably their best performer this season, and though understudy Zander Clark is a strong replacement, he has virtually no game time this season.

On top of this, Craig Halkett and Stephen Kingsley, two key defenders, picked up first-half injuries at the weekend and are liable to miss out. Although the defence is not exactly threadbare, the overhaul will be difficult to manage.

Meanwhile, this is a fixture with a recent track record for goals. Both teams have scored in four of the last five, while each of the last couple of matches have produced more than 2.5 goals – including a 3-2 win for Hearts in August. The odds on a reoccurance at more than evens are too strong to pass up.

Hibs may have come back from the international break with renewed vigour, but Celtic have returned like a train and should comfortably win in Edinburgh before their big Old Firm meeting with Rangers on January 2.

The capital club had lost four in succession before beating Livingston 4-0 with surprising ease on Christmas Eve. A red card after 15 minutes for the visitors’ Jason Holt made their task a relatively simple one on that occasion. Their previous form, which saw them lose seven of eight matches, was rather more representative of what they have been about in recent months, although their home form does remain relatively robust.

Celtic, meanwhile, have been in spectacular form all season. They have won 17 of their 18 previous Scottish Premiership fixtures and had no problems dispatching St Johnstone by a 4-1 margin at the weekend. That was a warning shot to their rivals, with the Perth Saints having been in strong form prior to the trip to Parkhead.

It was just the second time that Celtic had won a league fixture by more than two goals since a 4-0 home win over Rangers in early September. One of those two fixture was against Hibs, who were smashed 6-1 in Celtic’s biggest home win of the season. It does not bode well for the hosts ahead of this encounter.

Given the strong home form of Hibs and the fact that Celtic have won only one of their last six away league matches by more than one goal, backing the Hoops on the nose is the way forward here.