Game on: Expect an invigorated Celtic at Fir Park
Neil Lennon takes his troops to Fir Park to face Motherwell in the unfamiliar position of third in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
Likewise, Stuart McCall’s men are in new territory as they lead the Parkhead side at the top of the table by two points.
The former Rangers midfielder has played down his side’s chances of maintaining a challenge at the summit of the SPL, believing that achieving a European spot would be deemed a successful season for the Lanarkshire club.
The Hoops have an ever demanding support and one that has not been at all impressed with domestic displays so far this campaign.
The Scottish Champions have been lacklustre and pedestrian in many of their opening league games and it is something that they will want to quickly shake off if they are to have any impact on the European stage.
A poor display in Perth led to a 2-1 defeat to St Johnstone in Celtic’s last away outing which was followed up by a gritty and determined performance in Champions League action against Benfica.
The Hoops cannot afford to keep churning out these disappointing displays at the weekend and expect to be firing on all cylinders for midweek European matches.
That is why you should expect an invigorated Celtic at Fir Park, in what will be the Hoops first 3pm Saturday away game for seven years.
The players will know that Neil Lennon will not accept a repeat of their shambolic performance in Perth, so expect a fast-paced attacking style from the start from the Parkhead side.
Motherwell will be licking their wounds from their League Cup exit to third division Rangers midweek.
Many had tipped the Fir Park side to defeat Ally McCoist’s men but it was the Ibrox side who looked far hungrier and ended up comfortable victors.
Much has been made of Motherwell’s record against both of Glasgow’s big two since Stuart McCall took over, and there can be no denying that one win against Celtic in seven matches and one draw against Rangers in eight matches makes poor reading.
The Steelmen will be out to prove a point and show that they can perform on the big stage but on this occasion I feel they are going to come up against an even more determined side.
With a visit to Russia for Tuesday night’s Champions League encounter with Spartak, some would think that Neil Lennon will be tempted to rest players ahead of such a crucial match.
The opposite will probably be true, Lennon will be looking for a convincing domestic display, and result, from his men that he hasn’t been given all too often so far this campaign.
The thumping League Cup victory against Raith Rovers was a worthwhile exercise for the Parkhead men with Efe Ambrose impressing on his debut and Gary Hooper grabbing all four goals.
With Hooper full of confidence, expect Celtic to be in the mood for goals but Motherwell can cause problems at the back for a Hoops side that hasn’t looked clever at times in defence so far this season.
Prediction
Motherwell 1 Celtic 4
Ladbrokes Bet – £5 on Celtic (-1) I expect Celts to be amongst the goals on Saturday and can see a convincing victory as they aim to climb to the top of the table.
SPL Accumulator:
Dundee Utd to beat Inverness 13/10
St Mirren to beat Ross County Evs
Hearts to beat Kilmarnock 10/11
Aberdeen/Hibernian draw 23/10
Dundee/St Johnstone draw 23/10
£5 returns £478.17, or split the £5 on five fourfolds for a maximum return of £191.60.
Likewise, Stuart McCall’s men are in new territory as they lead the Parkhead side at the top of the table by two points.
The former Rangers midfielder has played down his side’s chances of maintaining a challenge at the summit of the SPL, believing that achieving a European spot would be deemed a successful season for the Lanarkshire club.
The Hoops have an ever demanding support and one that has not been at all impressed with domestic displays so far this campaign.
The Scottish Champions have been lacklustre and pedestrian in many of their opening league games and it is something that they will want to quickly shake off if they are to have any impact on the European stage.
A poor display in Perth led to a 2-1 defeat to St Johnstone in Celtic’s last away outing which was followed up by a gritty and determined performance in Champions League action against Benfica.
The Hoops cannot afford to keep churning out these disappointing displays at the weekend and expect to be firing on all cylinders for midweek European matches.
That is why you should expect an invigorated Celtic at Fir Park, in what will be the Hoops first 3pm Saturday away game for seven years.
The players will know that Neil Lennon will not accept a repeat of their shambolic performance in Perth, so expect a fast-paced attacking style from the start from the Parkhead side.
Motherwell will be licking their wounds from their League Cup exit to third division Rangers midweek.
Many had tipped the Fir Park side to defeat Ally McCoist’s men but it was the Ibrox side who looked far hungrier and ended up comfortable victors.
Much has been made of Motherwell’s record against both of Glasgow’s big two since Stuart McCall took over, and there can be no denying that one win against Celtic in seven matches and one draw against Rangers in eight matches makes poor reading.
The Steelmen will be out to prove a point and show that they can perform on the big stage but on this occasion I feel they are going to come up against an even more determined side.
With a visit to Russia for Tuesday night’s Champions League encounter with Spartak, some would think that Neil Lennon will be tempted to rest players ahead of such a crucial match.
The opposite will probably be true, Lennon will be looking for a convincing domestic display, and result, from his men that he hasn’t been given all too often so far this campaign.
The thumping League Cup victory against Raith Rovers was a worthwhile exercise for the Parkhead men with Efe Ambrose impressing on his debut and Gary Hooper grabbing all four goals.
With Hooper full of confidence, expect Celtic to be in the mood for goals but Motherwell can cause problems at the back for a Hoops side that hasn’t looked clever at times in defence so far this season.
Prediction
Motherwell 1 Celtic 4
Ladbrokes Bet – £5 on Celtic (-1) I expect Celts to be amongst the goals on Saturday and can see a convincing victory as they aim to climb to the top of the table.
SPL Accumulator:
Dundee Utd to beat Inverness 13/10
St Mirren to beat Ross County Evs
Hearts to beat Kilmarnock 10/11
Aberdeen/Hibernian draw 23/10
Dundee/St Johnstone draw 23/10
£5 returns £478.17, or split the £5 on five fourfolds for a maximum return of £191.60.
All odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.
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