Tennents Scottish Cup Quarter Final
Sunday 27th February 2005
Broadwood Stadium
Kick Off 3pm, Live On BBC Scotland
So it's onwards to Cumbernald for Celtic tomorrow, where we will look to pick ourselves up from a very disappointing last weekend. Clyde are the opponents, in the Scottish Cup Quarter Final. A Semi-Final tie at Hampden awaits the winners.
Last week should be forgotten about. We need to look ahead, not backwards. There is a long, long way to go in this Championship, and do not forget that.
Tomorrow is Scottish Cup day, and for the life of me, I do not understand why Rangers are playing in league duty today. This will give them the chance to go six points clear at the top of the league. I wonder if the shoe was on the other foot, would Celtic be playing today? I doubt it.
Games in hand do not worry me. If we are any good we will win them and look back, realising there was no need to panic. They may have a psychological effect but I can't see it bothering Martin O'Neill and his players one bit. Don't believe the hype surrounding this.
Anyway, to tomorrow's game. Clyde are sitting second in the First Division and have been playing well this season. However, if they were to even take a draw off us tomorrow it would be a major shock. They struggled to beat Ross County in the last round of the competition, and we should be looking for a comfortable win tomorrow.
Martin O'Neill has surely learned his lesson from Inverness a couple of seasons ago. We simply cannot field a weakened team tomorrow. Okay, he done so against Falkirk and they ran riot, but tomorrow is an away tie and Clyde will be up for the game.
The likes of Sylla and Fernandez should not play, but I would like to see Juninho getting a run out. Forecasting a side for the game is tricky, and it will be interesting to see who gets played.
On the goalkeeping issue, it looks as though O'Neill will keep Rab Douglas in goal. I disagree with this completely, but we have to get behind Rab if he is the Celtic goalkeeper.
We should be looking to progress to the Semi Finals with ease tomorrow. Clyde will crumble at an early Celtic goal. If we get this, hopefully we can bang in a good few.
Come On The Hoops!
Prediction: Clyde 0-4 Celtic