Will the Celtic Manner be enough to get past Hamilton?
Shoehorned title kicks off our weekend previews
Yes, that’s a fairly awful link between the Celtic Manor golf course which was supposed to be hosting the Ryder Cup this weekend (it’ll get there eventually no doubt) and the build up for this Saturday’s matches.
Being absent from European football may have meant Celtic fans have had to watch other teams in action this midweek to satisfy their need for football but the bhoys are back in action at Celtic Park against Hamilton Academicals on Saturday.
With 6 wins out of 6, Celtic should be confident of making it a magnificent 7 league wins at the start of the season but as always, complacency could be the biggest hindrance to Neil Lennon’s squad.
Hamilton started the season poorly, shipping 8 goals in their first two games but they were missing players through injury. Since then, they have gotten back some of the resilience which has been a major factor in their SPL survival. In fact, survival is a harsh term because the Accies have been better than merely just avoiding the drop; they have pushed to be the best of the bottom half since their return to top flight football.
There hasn’t been much news emanating from Celtic Park this week regarding the status of injured players so selecting a squad is still hit and miss at the moment. Jamie Forrest is said to be further back than expected in his comeback trail but players like Paddy McCourt, Niall McGinn, Charlie Mulgrew and Emilio Izaguirre are the more pressing concerns for Celtic. If any of these players are fit to return, especially the left-backs, the Celtic side may start to form a recognisable shape and look.
Well, you know the vast majority of Celtic fans will be heading along to Celtic Park in expectation of a few goals but at this stage of the season, Celtic just need to keep winning. The international break provides some space but after Hamilton, Celtic have two massive tests with a trip to Tannadice and then the visit of Rangers to Parkhead.
For now though…Neil Lennon must guide his team past Billy Reid’s men, who will be just as desperate for the points.
How do you see Saturday’s game going?
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This should be the stickiest-on banker of all the stick-on bankers of a home in on the coupon but events of the last couple of years mean that I am a long way away from autonatically assuming 3 points from any fixture.
If the Jekyll Celtic team turn up we should win by at least 3 or 4. If the Hyde Celtic team swallow the potion and make an appearance then we could be in for some nervy moments indeed. Young Hasselbaink looks quite nippy indeed and could pose some problems to our shoogly defence ( I forever have visions of Glenn Loovens being turned 180 degrees one way and the other more than once).
My prediction? No potions to be swallowed and a 3-0 win for the Hoops.