Its that time of year again folks! When it gets dark at around 4pm and you don’t leave your heavily heated homes unless you’re geared up like an alpine skier on a warm up.
No, not Christmas! I was talking about Celtic travelling to Tynecastle!
Hearts away is the number one attraction for the away day squad, it was probably still the main away day even when the team formally known as Rangers were still around. Theres three main reasons for this.
1. Its murder to get a ticket.
2. The crowd is basically on the park the stands are that close.
3. We’ve always really hated Hearts.
The last three trips to Tynecastle for Celtic have probably been the most vicious in a long line of memorable trips to the capital city.
On a night which should have been remembered for a terrific Celtic display in a cruising three-nil win, the night was marred by our manager Neil Lennon being attacked on the pitch. Five months later, a rash Kris Commons lunge resulted in a red card and a reaction from both sets of supporters but Celtic didn’t draw inspiration and lost two-nil. Then in February of this year. Celtic well on their way to the title demolished Hearts four-nil and were three up before half time. But the Hearts fans, sad that their first team were about to head into financial oblivion, dished out venomous hate towards their opponents. Scott Brown, ex of Hibs and booed every time he picked the ball up, danced away in delight after putting Celtic a goal up about ten seconds after Hearts thought they had scored. All this in the first five minutes? Fortunately, like the previous encounter, nothing major had occurred between both sets of fans and we were left largely to discuss the footballing matters.
With Rangers disposed of Hearts have became our number one enemy. They knocked us out of the cup on a dubious penalty and were enamoured by their goalscorer’s celebration so much they brought out t-shirts and songs relating to it. But just like their Glasgow Cousins, they too have had their financial scares and with their own rivals Hibs currently high up the SPL table, its not rainbows and smiles at Tynecastle right now.
Now you would be forgiven for thinking this would mean Celtic will stroll into Tynecastle with a point to prove and beat Hearts convincingly. But Hearts have been pushed a fair few times recently, they will see Celtic at home on a cold Wednesday late November night as the perfect tonic to kick start their season, and kick a few Celtic players. Celtic, a week away until the judgement day clash with Spartak Moscow in the champions league, have a home tie against Arbroath on Saturday in the Scottish Cup and although Lennon will rest the first teamers, if recent times are anything to go by, the players tomorrow night will have Moscow on their minds. This can’t happen. This will be our toughest game of the season. Celtic never get it easy at Tynecastle no matter how well or not well Hearts are doing, tomorrow night will be the hardest its probably ever been.
Our last game against Hearts started off brightly and with ‘fiver on him at five to one’ Samaras opening the scoring it seemed it would be a good day. What followed was Celtic effectively playing out the game and settling for a one nil win. I’d take one nil if you offered it to me right now.
How will we line up Tomorrow?
Samaras is a cert to start tomorrow and so is Scott Brown *if* he is fit. I can see us going with.
Forster, Lustig, Ambrose, Mulgrew, Matthews, Brown, Kayal, Wanyama, Ledley, Samaras and Miku.
Commons would be my player to watch from the bench. If it does prove to be a tight and tense affair he will probably be brought on to play off of the main striker and most likely use his shoot on sight policy to test the Hearts goalkeeper. No Watt, Lassad, McGeough etc for me. They all start on Saturday v Arbroath with Gary Hooper who should prove his fitness ahead of Moscow.
What is the bookies offering us?
Celtic to win at 4/6, if all goes to plan, has Christmas money written all over it.
Celtic to win 1-0 (11/2)
Draw ht/Celtic ft (7/2) would be my bet of the evening followed by Celtic -1 (17/10) or -2 (9/2)
Efe Ambrose first goal (25/1)
Charlie Mulgrew anytime (7/2) may represent some value for all you Mulgrew fans out there
All prices were from William Hills and selections were from what I think is most likely the outcome.
So. Ambrose first goal after half time and Celtic to win 3-0 with Mulgrew scoring either the second or third goal.