Kilmarnock - Celtic
Acid Test
Jim Jeffries was handed the Manager of the Month award for August after bossing his Kilmarnock side to four wins from five without conceding a single goal. It was a dramatic turnaround from last season's dismal form.Killie went to Ibrox last week with some predicting that the Ayrshire men would be brought down to earth with a bump.
However, they hardly disgraced themselves and were perhaps unlucky not to get something from a match in which they took the lead before sinking to defeat thanks to former charge Kris Boyd's brace
.The visit of Celtic, then, could be the real acid test in terms of progress at Rugby Park. If a good team can't become a bad one overnight, can a bad one really come good?
Ulcers
Visitors Celtic, meanwhile, looked to have turned a corner last week. A poor start to the season was compounded by a 4-2 Old Firm humbling at the hands of Rangers.
After the international break, though, they were four up on Motherwell before the interval, having played some tantalising football.
Then, Gordon Strachan was reminded that there are still ulcers in the bowels of his squad. He dropped Aiden McGeady to the bench, reportedly due to a feud, and saw his impotent Bhoys fail to break down stubborn Aalborg during the midweek Champions League stalemate.With Shunsuke Nakamura angling for a January exit, McGeady reportedly in the Lennoxtown doghouse and set-piece maestro Barry Robson missing a crunch penalty against the Danes, Strachan is running out of players to provide a much-needed spark.
The Rugby Park contest will certainly be an interesting test for two sides on completely different paths.
Head to Head
Incredibly, Celtic have won 19 of the last 20 meetings between the sides, with one goalless draw at Parkhead last August the only deviation. Still, Celtic's away form remains somewhat patchy, despite the fine win at Fir Park last week, while Killie are unbeaten in eight games at home. However, they lost 5-1 here to the Hoops in February.
Kilmarnock
Striker Allan Russell is still at least a couple of weeks away from returning, whilst Ryan O'Leary is a long-term crock.However, Jeffries has no other pressing concerns ahead of the Celtic clash.Former Celtic striker David Fernandez will hope to gun down his former employers.
Last starting XI (vs. Rangers): Combe, Fowler, Ford, Wright, Hay, Invincibile, Pascali (Hamill 89), Bryson, Skelton (Sammon 75), Taouil, Fernandez (Simmonds 86).
Celtic
The midweek European action will have tired out the Hoops. Aside from a couple of minor knocks, though, there are no new injury concerns. Strachan has spent the latter part of this week defending his underperforming Bhoys, chiefly
Last starting XI (vs. AaB): Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Robson, Maloney (Vennegoor of Hesselink 72), McDonald (McGeady 63), Samaras.
I think Celtic win take a narrow win. 2-1 or 1-0 most likely
Jim Jeffries was handed the Manager of the Month award for August after bossing his Kilmarnock side to four wins from five without conceding a single goal. It was a dramatic turnaround from last season's dismal form.Killie went to Ibrox last week with some predicting that the Ayrshire men would be brought down to earth with a bump.
However, they hardly disgraced themselves and were perhaps unlucky not to get something from a match in which they took the lead before sinking to defeat thanks to former charge Kris Boyd's brace
.The visit of Celtic, then, could be the real acid test in terms of progress at Rugby Park. If a good team can't become a bad one overnight, can a bad one really come good?
Ulcers
Visitors Celtic, meanwhile, looked to have turned a corner last week. A poor start to the season was compounded by a 4-2 Old Firm humbling at the hands of Rangers.
After the international break, though, they were four up on Motherwell before the interval, having played some tantalising football.
Then, Gordon Strachan was reminded that there are still ulcers in the bowels of his squad. He dropped Aiden McGeady to the bench, reportedly due to a feud, and saw his impotent Bhoys fail to break down stubborn Aalborg during the midweek Champions League stalemate.With Shunsuke Nakamura angling for a January exit, McGeady reportedly in the Lennoxtown doghouse and set-piece maestro Barry Robson missing a crunch penalty against the Danes, Strachan is running out of players to provide a much-needed spark.
The Rugby Park contest will certainly be an interesting test for two sides on completely different paths.
Head to Head
Incredibly, Celtic have won 19 of the last 20 meetings between the sides, with one goalless draw at Parkhead last August the only deviation. Still, Celtic's away form remains somewhat patchy, despite the fine win at Fir Park last week, while Killie are unbeaten in eight games at home. However, they lost 5-1 here to the Hoops in February.
Kilmarnock
Striker Allan Russell is still at least a couple of weeks away from returning, whilst Ryan O'Leary is a long-term crock.However, Jeffries has no other pressing concerns ahead of the Celtic clash.Former Celtic striker David Fernandez will hope to gun down his former employers.
Last starting XI (vs. Rangers): Combe, Fowler, Ford, Wright, Hay, Invincibile, Pascali (Hamill 89), Bryson, Skelton (Sammon 75), Taouil, Fernandez (Simmonds 86).
Celtic
The midweek European action will have tired out the Hoops. Aside from a couple of minor knocks, though, there are no new injury concerns. Strachan has spent the latter part of this week defending his underperforming Bhoys, chiefly
Last starting XI (vs. AaB): Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Robson, Maloney (Vennegoor of Hesselink 72), McDonald (McGeady 63), Samaras.
I think Celtic win take a narrow win. 2-1 or 1-0 most likely
posted by Midnight Sun @ 00:58,
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