It doesn’t mean a thing…

By: Matt | April 18th, 2008

YAS! Celtic supporters have been riding an euphoric wave ever since Wednesday’s dramatic win against the hated Rangers. Despite needing a late winner, Celtic controlled the game pretty well and finally showed what I have been saying all along, that Celtic is by leaps and bounds much more talented than Rangers. However, talent and a dollar will buy you a cup of coffee, but that is it. For the first time this year we saw that talent frustrate and worry Rangers. You don’t think Weir and Ferguhun were feeling it at the end of that game? They are worried, tired, and injured. They could have closed the door on the league and focused on the UEFA Cup. But they didn’t and it worries them.

However, all that means nothing if Celtic doesn’t get a result on Saturday. Aberdeen come in after getting a late winner against Falkirk to get into the craziness that is the top 6 of the SPL. They also come in with confidence that they can beat Celtic. It is pretty obvious that Celtic cannot come in flat. The golden phrase lately, getting an early goal, is the key again. Celtic’s foot needs to be on the Sheep’s throats from the beginning. Make it apparent that it is over early.

Scott Brown will still be unavailable for the game, serving the final game of his three game suspension. Even if he was available, I don’t think he would or should be in there anyway. Paul Hartley and Barry Robson (The Man of the Match on Wednesday for me until Strachan took him out) have had two solid games in a row working in the middle together and I see no reason to break it up after success. Gary Caldwell will also miss Saturday’s game after the ruck after the game with him and Weir each getting red cards. Likely replacement, Darren O’Dea, is out due to injury so Caldwell’s replacement will likely be either Bobo Balde or Steven Pressley. I’d rather see Bobo out there. He can win the aerial game and adds a certain toughness to the team. It’s a roulette game, as usual, with Gordon Strachan though. Other than that, I don’t expect to see many changes from Wednesday’s squad.

I think Naka rides the wave of the big goal against the Huns and nets a free kick gem and Scott McDonald continues to revert back to the Scott McDonald of old and nets one as well. My prediction: Celtic 2-Aberdeen 0