Celtic return to the scene of a disastrous result last time out at home, but will be determined to see off the challenge from one half of Edinburgh at least. A win would leave the Celts ten points clear of third-placed Hibs and turn the league title into a two-horse race.
It would also leave them 20 points clear of Rangers, who could be down to sixth (if Inverness win at Hearts) or even seventh (if Aberdeen also beat Dunfermline by seven goals) by the time they kick-off on Sunday. OK, a bit unlikely but wouldn?t that be hilarious?
Such is the interest in the game that Hibs have sold out a live beamback at Easter Road (presumably this means the away section at Celtic Park will be full for once). Celtic used to do this for games, no idea why it stopped.
Vital Quotes:
?I think the players will go there believing that they can get a result. You have to go everywhere believing you can get a result and I think our players do believe now.?
– Tony Mowbray, believing.
?If we can stop them and keep a clean sheet then I’m sure we can win the game because we’ve got the players who can get goals?
– Ross Wallace, sooking in with his colleagues.
Celtic Team News:
Still only Kennedy and Beattie definitely out with Sutton doubtful, giving Gordon Strachan a selection poser especially with Shaun Maloney desperate to start again after injury. Didier Agathe had to go off in a reserve match earlier in the week but could be available. Not that it will make much difference as he is a forgotten man at the moment.
Ross Wallace will hope to continue in Camara?s place and McGeady will also be keen to continue in the starting eleven. Both performed well last week so the team could be unchanged, which would make it:
Boruc;
Wallace, Balde, McManus, Telfer;
McGeady, Lennon, Petrov, Nakamura;
Hartson, Zurawski.
Subs: Marshall, Camara, Thompson, Lawson, Virgo, Maloney, Sutton.
Player to watch: Shunsuke Nakamura
Back from illness last week and influential in almost everything good Celtic did.
Hibernian Team News:
Antonio Murray, Michael Stewart, David Murphy and Ivan Sproule all missing.
Tony Mowbray won the SPL Manager of the Month award of November, courtesy of two wins, one of which was against Livingston. They lost their other game at home to Falkirk. Oh, and they also crashed 3-0 to Dunfermline in the CIS Cup. Well deserved then.
Player to watch: Derek Riordan
Top-scorer linked with a move to Celtic, will be all out to impress. But not too hard if you want a move Derek OK?
Match Facts & Stats
Hibs win last April was their first at Celtic Park since 1992.
Their recent win over Rangers was their only victory in their last four games.
Ref Watch:
The return of the dreaded Kenny Clark to Paradise. Be very afraid.
Match Prediction:
Celtic surely can?t suffer another poor home result, so after last week?s correct prediction for Pittodrie (hope you all went straight down the bookies) I?m again going for:
Celtic 3, Hibernian 1
Zurawski is 9/2 to score first, which is tempting.
Next Fixtures:
Inverness vs Celtic 18/12/05
Hibernian vs Motherwell 17/12/05