Given our poor fortune of late this is hardly the fixture that our managerless team would choose but maybe it’s best to get it behind us before facing the future with a new boss in charge.
If any comfort can be drawn from the last few weeks it could be seen in the team’s first half showing against Dundee United last weekend. There was energy, willingness and a goal to offer some fleeting hope that we might not leave the cup at the first hurdle. Sadly, defensive weaknesses led to a second half collapse that might easily have been worse had it not been for some outstanding goalkeeping. No doubt this week’s training exercises would be targeted at the frightening habit of allowing the opposition unchallenged headers following crosses and corners.
The loss of Lawson early in the second half was a blow and there’s no news yet of his progress. Hammell must be close to a return but interim manager Black will still have the core of the team available.
The visitors are now clear at the top of the table and on a six game winning run. Their squad can easily cope with the demands of regular midweek games and we can discount any fatigue following the Wednesday night win over Partick Thistle.
Celtic will be mindful that we left Parkhead with a 1-1 draw in September and they are unlikely to make a repeat of the wholesale changes to the starting eleven that gave us an opportunity on that occasion. They top the goal scoring chart and have the best defensive record. In short, the odds of 9/1 on a ‘Well win seem mean.
Shocks do happen in football and there’s no reason to suppose that our boys won’t give their all in the cause but it looks like a respectable defeat could be our best hope with a 2-0 loss.