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I think there are three main factors. Firstly, Liam Polworth is a fantastic and fantastically committed player who has been wasted for most of the season by being played out of position when he has been played at all. The last couple of games have shown beyond doubt just what a difference this round peg can make when placed in a round hole and it seems that the manager has got the message and if he's continued to be played in his most effective position for the rest of the season I'm convinced he will reward the manager by continuing to make a difference. Secondly, Billy McKay brings with him not only his obvious goal threat but an ability and willingness to run tirelessly for 90 minutes getting into threatening areas and pulling defenders out of position in a way that the other strikers we've played this season, whatever other qualities they may have, simply aren't capable of. Thirdly, OFW has recently regained his confidence and, with it his form which in turn has made a big difference to the confidence of the defence in him. My only comment on Friday's defensive selection is that, as decent as Laing and McCart are, I would not play either of them ahead of a fit Gary Warren. I appreciate that Warren has not been in the best of form but neither had those around him and there's no reason why his confidence and form won't improve with the others. On his day, there are not many better in the league. We can't be complacent. There's no doubt that we are still in a bitter relegation dog fight but recent events make me, for one, think it's a fight that we have much more chance of winning than appeared likely at the beginning of the month after that abject defeat at Hamilton. Finally, we the fans must continue to play our part as we did on Friday.

You mean four points so far, the third of those games has yet to come and if we show the same skill, commitment and desire as we displayed on Friday then I see no reason why we can't take something from Wednesday as well.

He will be a loss but we have lost better players than him in the past and still gone on to improve and progress.

One of these days someone will start a preview thread for a Celtic match and call it Tic Talk..... While we wait, here's Richie's press conference from today. Stay tuned right to the end for injury news.

Not sure if your post is directly related to Greg Tansey but he will be a huge loss unless we can get a replacement equally as good.

Can only hope we do not employ the same tactics as we did a couple of weeks ago in the cup, that was absolutely suicidal. Same tactics, same formation as the last couple of games with only change being Warren for McCart. Hopefully both Tremarco and Mulraney fit again. Us taking points of Celtic still hurts Rodgers as he keeps still banging on how they were the better team, with the better chances, but what he never mentions is how the referee bottled it that day for the last man foul on Draper. Game changer in our favour.

The delegates are very enthusiastic at Kezia Dugdales speech at the Scottish party conference!

In Austria this afternoon (26 Feb), Lonsano Doumbouya scored his first goal (a penalty) for St Polten, in a 2-1 win over Sturm Graz

Our goal difference is one better than Kilmarnock and County and two goals poorer than Hamilton's. Goal difference could be crucial at the end of the season. It's fine being all gung-ho in a one off cup match but we can't afford to lose heavily in the league. We need a bit of realism here. We must accept that we will probably lose the game and the important thing is to not lose by much. Keeping things tight has to be the way to go. But with the pace of Mulraney (assuming he's OK) and Mckay up front, we have players who are capable of hurting Celtic on the break so we always have a chance of taking something from the game.

Let's see if we can make it a three horse race that excludes us.

Billy Mckay - not just for the reasons well set out above, but also because he makes it very plain what he thinks of the service he is getting - or not getting, and sets the bar for pressing and trying to win lost causes. It has to be said, whoever at the club got him back when they did deserves a massive pat on the back.

^^^ This, particularly the stuff about Mckay. Excellent post. Just last night's simple action of sticking with the same team from Tynecastle despite more experienced players coming back into the frame also probably had some impact, psychologically. McCart and Mulraney showed real increases in confidence on the field last night, having been shown that Foran has confidence in them. Mulraney in particular is starting to look like he could be the player we hoped he would be after his performances in the League Cup.

Small things all add up. Firstly, Richie has found a shape that works, packing the midfield with energetic players and pace out wide. Secondly, everybody has upped their game, fighting for every ball and covering for each other. Thirdly - and this cannot be over-stated - Billy Mckay. He hasn't scored many (yet), but his work-rate, intelligent runs, ability to hold the ball, link play and rush defenders, is massive. What a difference when the ball is cleared and a blue shirt is there first to bring in the midfield and get an attack going. Compare that to when we hat Doumbouya, when he rarely got to the ball and when he did, it bounced back to the opposition for them to launch another attack.