Into the Lions Den



On our last visit to Parkhead we drew 0-0 after ninety minutes. Unfortunately it wasn't Celtic we played that day but Aberdeen in the League Cup final. This time it's the real thing on Sunday as we play our second of five top-six fixtures.

Our first Parkhead game this season saw us take a two goal lead but we were pegged back and the game ended all square. Doran and Foran were scorin', but Mulgrew and Mathews earned Celtic a point. The second visit is one to forget as Leigh Griffiths scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 rout, a game that could have ended up in double figures.

Richie Foran will not be scoring this time. His knee injury and clean up operation will see him miss the rest of the season, and Mulgrew and Mathews could suffer the same fate as Foran, both struggling with hamstring injuries, but likely to be included in the squad.

Our form of late has been patchy to say the least and in our last ten games we can only boast three wins, and two of them were against County. The other a 1-0 win over Partick Thistle. Twelve points from a possible thirty over that series of games is the weakest in the top half of the table.

Celtic are somewhat imperious, only one defeat to show in their last ten and gaining 23 points during that spell that also saw their only league defeat, a 2-1 reverse against the Dons. We could of course take heart from neighbours Ross County who drew at Parkhead at the end of March. Celtics last game was an exciting 3-3 draw with high flying Motherwell while we were drawing 0-0 with Aberdeen on the Friday night.

Dundee United are the first team to make a hugely positive step in the top-six race for points with a 5-1 hammering of a sorry Motherwell. That moves them to within three points of third place which means we must win at Parkhead to harbour any hopes of overtaking them. St Johnstone move to one point behind us, sounds familiar.

It's D day for our old gaffer as Hibs play Hearts in what is now a crunch game at the relegation end of the table. How times have changed.

Inverness will be without Richie Foran and David Raven is a possible non starter having picked up a groin injury in training. That's our only worry as Graeme Shinnie will return from suspension.

Celtic hope Mathews and Mulgrew will be fit enough to join the squad along with Mikael Lustig after his operation. Nir Biton, James Forrest and Derk Boerrigter remain out.

tm4tj Prediction:- Let's get this game over and done with. Not one I look forward to with great relish and the form book does not lie. It's a big ask to take all three points, but if we can dig deep and hope to catch the champions on a relaxed Sunday afternoon jaunt, then the possibility of a point is there. 1-1 if we keep it tight.