Falkirk co-manager David McCracken has said that Saturday’s Scottish Cup game against Celtic could be viewed as an opportunity by the Bairns to inflict another defeat upon the four-in-a-row holders after a poor season.
The League 1 leaders travel to Paradise on Saturday night knowing that they will be up against it from the start but that they should dare to dream against a Celtic side that haven’t maintained consistency this season. Speaking to The Glasgow Times, McCracken acknowledges that Celtic still have the quality to hurt his side but he is hoping to catch them off guard.
“It’s been a tough season for them, 100 per cent. There’s a lot of issues behind the scenes, a change of management and where they’re at just now. You could say there’s an opportunity there because they’re not playing as well as they have done in recent years.
“But let’s be honest – they are still a quality team and a level above where we are and will probably be for another couple of years at least.
“The standard of player they have we are a fair distance from. But that doesn’t mean we’re going to go into the game and think like that. We will give them respect but there’s no reason being there unless you go and try to win the game.
“We tell the players to express themselves and see where it takes you. This is Celtic’s last opportunity to get some silverware this season. They won’t take us lightly but that adds to the experience for our players as well.”
Celtic have endured a torrid season so far but they will be looking to continue their dominance of the Scottish Cup, especially with Scott Brown leaving in the summer. The veteran captain will leave after fourteen years and twenty two major trophies meaning that the opportunity to leave on a high will be an added boost for the rest of the team as well as John Kennedy.
Eddie Howe is nearing his appointment as Neil Lennon’s replacement but interim boss John Kennedy has insisted that the club are committed to winning the trophy and making sure that the season ends with a trophy.
