Our next two games are vital, but ones we can relish…
Photo by Robert Perry/Shutterstock Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic scores goal. Celtic v Dundee, Cinch Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 16 Sep 2023
It has to be said, we’ve had a tough run of fixtures at the start of this league campaign and to be sitting top of the league four points clear of our fiercest rivals is certainly satisfying.
Considering we have had to play at two of the toughest away fixtures at Pittodrie and Ibrox in the opening five games, and to be currently sitting top, we can’t be anything but pleased. That said, the tricky part starts now with a tough trip to Livingston for a game on David Martindale’s magic carpet tomorrow lunch time.
It will be difficult make no mistake, the Livi manager loves to set up his side to get in about us and tomorrow will be no different. We’ve had a bit of a hoodoo there in recent years, but have since exorcised that with a few wins, after Ange sussed out Martindale’s tactics after his initial defeat there in September 2021, so let’s hope that continues tomorrow under Brendan Rodgers.
Celtic v Dundee – cinch Premiership – Matt O Riley is congratulated by Kyogo Furuhashi after scoring the third goal of the game during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park on Saturday September 16, 2023.Photo Andrew Milligan
Then the following week another tough trip awaits us in the shape of an in-form Motherwell side at Fir Park.
That’s two tough games and ones that can be considered just as tough as our trips to Pittodrie and Ibrox proved to be, in fact they might turn out to be tougher. Brendan Rodgers confirmed yesterday that he has no new injury worries nor any players returning from injury in time for the trip to the Toni Macaroni.
Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic cscores his team’s only goal during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between theRangers and Celtic FC at Ibrox on September 03, 2023. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Six points is a must in these two matches, but domestically the side is starting to settle into Brendan’s way of playing so we can go into these games with confidence. The manager though will also have one eye on the Champions League match against Lazio at Celtic Park in the Wednesday after we play Motherwell. He has to get a viable central defensive pairing bedding in for that game given the injury and suspension situation ruling out so many players for those positions.
Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Rangers FC and Celtic FC at Ibrox Stadium on September 03, 2023. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
But we are Celtic and we will go to West Lothian and Lanarkshire expecting to win and to get the six points that will put us in a excellent position regarding in the league and hopefully sets us up for another go at turning Lazio’s world upside down, just like we did the last time home and away. Bring it on.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy