Prediction v Celtic (h)

Last updated : 14 February 2003 By Phil Swainston

Incredibly it would be another three months before we tasted victory in the league again.

The worry was that our victory against Rangers on Boxing Day had heralded another winless streak after consecutive defeats against Kilmarnock and Dundee Utd. Fortunately Saturday’s result against Hibs halted the mini slide and this coming Saturday we have the pleasure of trying to win two league games back to back for the first time this season against Celtic at Fir Park.

It would be a tremendous achievement if we could beat them again this season and I do get the feeling that it is a good time to be playing Celtic. They seem to be a little under pressure at the moment with Larsson’s injury and the fall out between the manager and Hartson. They struggled to beat Livingston at home last week and with Rangers continuing to pick up points they may be beginning to feel that the title is beginning to slip away. If we can increase the pressure they are under from the off on Saturday we may be rewarded but only if we approach the game the same way we approached it last time in September.

We will of course still be missing talisman McFadden who tends to produce his best form in games against the Old Firm. Lehmann will hopefully be back to increase the physical presence up front but to get anything from the game all 11 will have to play as if their lives depended on it for the full 90 minutes. At the end of the day I can see the suspension of McFadden being crucial as we slip to a narrow defeat.

Motherwell 0 - 1 Celtic