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Home Bhoys Face Jambos Test

Discussion in 'TalkCeltic News' started by Taz, Dec 1, 2021.

By Taz on Dec 1, 2021 at 9:15 AM
  1. Taz Blind Justice Gold Member News Writer

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    Home Bhoys Face Jambos Test
    ~~~~~~~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~~~~~~~

    [​IMG]
    Callum McGregor's blocked clearance proved an unusual and bizarre match winner

    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
    Thursday, 2 December 2021
    19.45 GMT
    Celtic Park

    The Hoops go into this contest very much with a point to prove, as well as needing the three points on offer to keep the pressure on the league leaders.

    This is the third time that these sides have met this season, with the Edinburgh side securing the points on the opening day of the league campaign, and then the Bhoys got a measure of payback for that, with a win in the League Cup, back in August.

    But Ange Postecoglou's side have seen a number of personnel changes since that first league meeting in particular, and while the scoreline in the Cup match at the end read 3-2, in truth the Hoops were by far the dominant side on the day, with Tom Rogic in especially good form that day.

    However, all of that is in the past, and with the Hoops only narrowly ahead of third placed Hearts on the league table, this could be a real testing challenge.

    Although the Jambos are sitting so high on the table, their away form has cooled, losing their last two games and have not won away from Tynecastle since their trip away to Dundee United at the end of August.

    Celtic will be looking to once again build up some momentum, after securing a 2-1 win over Aberdeen at the weekend, even if Callum McGregor's bizarre winning goal is one that the skipper will hardly want to have featured too prominantly in his career highlight reel.

    But a win is a win, as they say, and if the Hoops can turn in another performance like they did the last time these two sides met, it will be another marker for Ange Postecoglou and his side and continue with renewed confidence, as they slalom through a congested December fixture list.

    [​IMG]
    Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton could both return to action on Thursday

    Team News

    Celtic will be bolstered for the visit of Hearts on Thursday by the return of Tom Rogic for the first time in just over a month, with the Australian midfielder having fully recovered from a hamstring strain. And there was further good news when the manager revealed that Nir Bitton could also be in consideration, after missing the match at the weekend.

    Ange Postecoglou commented that “Hopefully Nir should be available again and Tommy Rogic will definitely be available for Thursday”, before continuing:

    “Carl Starfelt isn’t too far away, Greg Taylor isn’t too far away, so we are getting some troops back. We’re going to need them, it’s a heavy schedule and we don’t want our level of performance to drop.”

    Elsewhere, there was raised anxiety all around Celtic Park on Sunday, after a heavy collision with Christian Ramirez which left Joe Hart floored for several minutes.

    Thankfully, the former England International was able to eventually continue, and given the alternative options available, it is with a sense of relief that there have been no sustained or delayed ill-effects for the 34 year old shot stopper.

    Despite Postecoglou's positive revealations about Greg Taylor (shoulder) and Carl Starfelt (hamstring), both are expected to be unavailable for Thursday evening, as is Greek striker Giorgos Giakoumakis and the big Frenchman, Christopher Julien, both recovering from knee issues.

    As for Hearts, manager Robbie Neilson has confirmed that midfielder Beni Baningime will miss Thursday's match, however defender Taylor Moore is once again available, after serving his one-match suspension for the red card he was shown against Motherwell the previous week.

    [​IMG]
    Joe Hart recovered from a heavy knock on Sunday with Dons' forward, Christian Ramirez

    [​IMG]~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~ [​IMG]

    Overall
    P: 333 W: 181 D: 75 L: 77

    Home v Hearts
    P: 164 W: 104 D: 39 L: 22

    Last 5 Meetings
    W L W W W

    Home v Hearts
    W W W W W

    [​IMG] ~~~~ 2021/22 Form ~~~~ [​IMG]

    Overall
    W L W W W ~ W L W L D

    SPFL
    W W D W W ~ W L W L D

    CEL Home ~ HTM Away
    W D W W L ~ L L D D D
     
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