TalkCeltic - The Ultimate Celtic FC Forum

Jubilant; an adjective that many Celtic fans could have attributed to themselves following last weekend’s 7-0 thrashing of a St Mirren side that looked bereft of ideas. Ecstatic – another word that was used following the Champions’ return to the top of the SPL table, after a hard-fought victory over Kilmarnock midweek.

Distraught. That is how all Celtic fans will be feeling this Monday afternoon, after subsequent elimination from the Homecoming Cup at the hands of the same team who were dispatched with consummate ease only a week before.

With the exception of the absent Lee Naylor – replaced at left back by Darren O’Dea – Gordon Strachan fielded his preferred starting eleven, as Celtic looked to...

St Mirren Vs Celtic
Scottish Cup 6th Round.
Saturday 7th March 2009.
KO 12:15 (Live on Sky Sports 1)

Celtic travel to St Mirren Park this weekend as the hunt for the domestic treble continues. With a place in the Semi-Finals of the Homecoming Cup up for grabs, Celtic will be looking to take their winning run to Paisley while leaving the striking crisis behind. The last time these sides met was just 7 days ago at Celtic Park. If the strikers in that game were suffering a drought, then the midfield were struck by a monsoon, scoring six of the seven goals that destroyed a hapless St Mirren side.




One Celtic forward not short of confidence is Scott...

Kilmarnock 1 – 2 Celtic
Attendance: 6,712
Match Official: C Thomson

Following the 7-0 demolition of St Mirren at the weekend, all across Scotland the talk was of goal-difference and how crucial it may become. But tonight was a stark reminder of the importance of nailing down 3 points, as Celtic toiled against a rugged Kilmarnock as the title chase hottened up at Rugby Park.

The goal-scoring hoodoo over Celtic's strikers was exacerbated by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's suspension, with Georgios Samaras stepping in. Meanwhile Lee Naylor's hamstring injury forced Gordon Strachan to utilise Darren O'Dea at left-back. The rest of the Celtic team remained unchanged from Saturday.

In the opening period, the away side looked like picking up where they left off,...

After a truly magnificent performance at the weekend, which brought 7 much needed goals, SPL Champions Celtic will be looking to build yet more momentum when they travel to Rugby Park this Wednesday.

Playing a Kilmarnock side that have not been victorious in the Premier League since the 27th of December, expectancy levels amongst the Celtic faithful will be high – manager Gordon Strachan will be keen to ensure there are no further slip ups, having witnessed a substantial 7 point lead at the top of the table dissipate in recent weeks.

CELTIC: Boruc; Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor(O'Dea 22); Nakamura, Brown, Crosas, McGeady, McDonald(Samaras 67), Vennegoor of Hesselink(Hutchinson 76)
Subs: Fox, Loovens, Flood, Hartley.
ST MIRREN: Smith, Ross(Sent off, 22), Haining, Potter, Camara; Murray, Dorman, Mason, Brady, Thomson; Mehmet(Dargo 67)
Subs: Howard, Wyness, Hamilton, Barron, McGinn, Burns



As the scoreline suggests Celtic were intent upon closing the goal difference gap on their arch rivals at the top and with Rangers having defeated Hamilton 1-0 in the earlier kick off, it was important for Celtic to record their first win in four SPL games. Scoring of late has been a huge problem for Celtic, and they would no doubt be keen to mend this fault.

The first...