Derek McInnes insists he is anticipating a strong response from Celtic as Kilmarnock prepare to face the reigning champions this afternoon…
Kilmarnock head to Glasgow this morning, buoyed by their 2-0 victory against Motherwell at Rugby Park last Saturday, while Celtic come into the clash after suffering a surprising 1-0 defeat at the hands of St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Sunday.
“There’s no tougher game than going to Celtic Park”
However, Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes is fully aware of the tough test that awaits his side in their lunchtime encounter with the league leaders. Addressing the media ahead of today’s match at Celtic Park, he said: “Obviously, some games are more difficult than others, and there’s no tougher game than going to Celtic Park.
“We have just got to try and do a lot of what we feel we have to do when we go there. We expect a tough game, but equally, we need to try and make it difficult for them.”
“Saturday will be a totally different game”
“Saturday will be a totally different game. I thought we played in the right areas against Motherwell, we dominated a lot of the game, even with 11 men, I thought we were doing the most attacking. But Celtic average 74 per cent possession in the league – they dominate the ball, so it’s a different type of game.”
‘That result will have annoyed their manager’
McInnes added: “I don’t think there are too many weaknesses in this Celtic side. It was a bad day for them and a good day for St Johnstone. But what we’ve got to expect now is a tough game. Celtic are normally at the top of the league for a reason. That result will have annoyed their manager, so we have to expect a reaction. But equally, I want us to be a tough opponent.”
As it stands, Kilmarnock are placed ninth in the Premiership, holding a five-point cushion over bottom side St Johnstone, while trailing Dundee – currently in the relegation play-off position – by just a single point.
Brendan Rodgers’ men are just two victories away from securing a fourth consecutive league title, but they could seal it as early as this weekend if they beat their visitors in Glasgow and Aberdeen overcome theRangers at Pittodrie on Sunday afternoon.
Conor Spence
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