Ross Hardie has been named the man in the middle for tonight’s Scottish Premiership clash between Celtic and Dundee at Paradise…
Table toppers Celtic
Tony Docherty’s side travel to Celtic Park having struggled to replicate their top six form of last season so far in this campaign. Dundee sit 8th in the table after nine matches, and have only two league wins to their name.
The Dens Park team suffered a late defeat on Saturday afternoon against their Tayside rivals St Johnstone. Managing in the dugout for the first time, Simo Valakari led his Saintees side to a 2-1 victory in the City of Discovery.
Table toppers Celtic will be aiming to continue their relentless start to the season perfectly summed up by a routine performance at Fir Park on Sunday.
Brendan Rodgers has a 100% record
Brendan Rodgers has had a 100% record versus Dundee since his return as Hoops manager for a second spell last summer. That included Celtic’s 7-1 thrashing of Tony Docherty’s side the last time tonight’s opposition visited Glasgow’s East End.
Luke McCowan, who deserves to start this evening against his former club, was on the wrong end of the result on all four occasions versus his current employers last season. The 26 year-old playmaker has really settled into life since arriving at his boyhood club from Dundee on transfer deadline day.
Meanwhile, Ross Hardie has been appointed as the whistler for tonight’s encounter with the Dark Blues at Paradise. He will be assisted by Assistant Referee 1 Graeme Stewart, and Assistant Referee 2 Paul McAvinue.
At Clydesdale House watching for any key match incidents is Matthew MacDermid who is on VAR, and he will be joined by Andrew McWilliam who takes the role as AVAR.
Heavyweight officials are at Pittodrie
All the referee and VAR heavyweights are at Pittodrie this evening and Celtic fans will be keeping one eye on their phones for updates on that one as second plays third. That kicks off 15 minutes after the Celtic v Dundee game as the match at Pittodrie is live on Sky TV. Celtic are doing a PPV this evening for supporters in Britain and Ireland whereas Celtic TV subscribers based outside of Britain and Ireland can watch the game as usual.
COYBIG
Conor Spence
Celtic in the Thirties (Volumes One and Two) are both published next Tuesday 5th November. Order your signed copies now and treasure these landmark Celtic titles brilliantly researched and written by Matt Cor. Order at Celticstarbooks.com…
This still remains one of these games, where we are expected to just show up and claim the 3 points?
So our mentality has to be right first tonight, and can’t allow complacency to become an issue tonight?
Thankfully very rarely is that ever an issue within our team, and don’t expect to see it on show tonight either?
Couldn’t care less what is going on within the scum match, especially as what goes on within other Scottish teams, holds no real relevance to ourselves, with winning a “Proper 55” title?
A few selection dilemmas are in operation for tonight, not only in the starting line-up, but with game management also?
To make that easier for Rodgers, hopefully we can get this win, secured early in the game, to make it another very comfortable game for ourselves?
Suppose another scum loss would be very entertaining for ourselves, with the expected explosion from the scum cheerleaders and zombies alike?
Even if a bit of breathing space would be welcome also, with the schedule of games we still have to overcome before the international break?
But our focus has to remain upon ourselves, and ourselves only imo?
It is quite obvious why the so-called “heavyweights” are at Pittodrie tonight. All eyes should be on them as they have previous in “influencing” matches involving the club formed in 2012. It will be interesting to see what they do that may influence the result.
Hopefully our so-called “rookie” ref will have a good game and show the others up.