Preview - Celtic(h)

Last updated : 08 September 2002 By Firparkcorner

Terry Butcher
Terry Butcher is well aware of the psychological games to be played in the run in to big games and he has already dismissed the result of the game as “irrelevant”.

He argues “come the end of the season, we’ll be judged on the results we achieve against the teams around us in the table”. But he says “All I want from my players is to go out against Celtic and give a good account of themselves and if they can do that then I’ll be happy.”

On Celtic’s last visit we lost by four after a second half collapse in front of more than ten thousand and Stephen Pearson managed to see red.

This time the visitors will find a different team. Corrigan, Hammell, Lasley, Pearson and McFadden (all faced Celtic last time) will fancy their chances and be looking to take something from the game. Faddy says, “Celtic is the type of match every player wants to feature in and it's a chance for us to try and frustrate them. We're at home, so of course we'll go out to win.”

Adams and Leitch are reported in the local press as “nursing minor knocks” but are expected to be in the starting eleven. Our three Scotland U21 players seem to have survived the outings against Israel and N Ireland without mishap so it looks like we will have the option of playing the same team for the third game in a row.

There is a possibility that Daneil Sengewald may play some part in the game. His ankle seems to have recovered from injury and he now has some match practice under his belt.

The less said about the opposition, the better. Their form so far this season has been impressive and they do not seem to concede many goals.

Looks like our goal difference will slip into the red! FPC forecasts a 0-2 loss for the ‘Well.

Remember the last time Celtic were at Fir Park?

Have a look at the Motherwell v Celtic history.