There are three Celtic games you can watch on television this weekend, if you aren’t heading through to the Tony Macaroni on Sunday morning for the midday kick-off. It’s going to be very much a case of third time lucky for Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou who hopes to mark his 50th game in charge with a win over David Martindale.
Since losing at Livingston last September defeat has been a stranger to Postecoglou’s side in the Premiership as lost ground was caught and a three point advantage established, with a significantly better goal difference thrown in for good measure. By the time the Livingston v Celtic kicks off on Sunday that goal difference will be what’s keeping Celtic top IF theRangers can do something they’ve not managed to do either this season in beating their opponents on Saturday. Hopefully Scott Brown will have a significant say in the outcome of that one, but it’s ultimately down to the Celtic players to banish the Livi hoodoo and get the three points.
They will feel significant.
Here’s Ange talking to Sky Sports earlier today as a preview for Sunday’s match in West Lothian…
🏆Scottish Premiership manager of the month
🦁Finding a way to beat Livingston
🍀50th game in charge
📺Livingston v Celtic, Sunday 12pm live on Sky SportsCeltic manager Ange Postecoglou is relishing the title run in as he reaches a milestone as manager. pic.twitter.com/bgEgEvDRsa
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 4, 2022
CELTIC B v theRANGERS – PENNY CARS STADIUM, AIRDRIE, SATURDAY (behind closed doors) KICK-OFF 3PM – LIVE ON PASS TO PARADISE!
Before all that plays out on Sunday, there’s an extra special treat For Celtic season ticket holders on your Pass to Paradise. Tommy McIntyre’s high flying young Celtic B team – which will probably feature Karamoko Dembele will take on theRangers B team in the Glasgow Cup with a 3pm kick-off.
This cup-tie is being played behind closed doors at the Penny Cars Stadium in Airdrie so the only way to watch the action is via your Pass to Paradise. This is the first chance that the Celtic B team has had to play theRangers this season as both league games having been postponed.
Speaking to Celtic TV Celtic captain Dane Murray said:
“All the boys are more than ready so we look forward to it and I hope we’ll step up. We need to play the way we always do – high intensity and high tempo, and I think we’ll be more than capable of getting the win.”
Tune in from 2:45pm on Saturday, as Celtic TV’s Gerry McCulloch, and Celtic legend Tom Boyd will be live with all the pre-match build-up. They’ll be bringing you highlights from the young Celts’ recent victory over University of Stirling and catching up with the Celtic B team manager, Tommy McIntyre, in a live pre-match interview. It’ll then be over to Celtic TV’s Daylin Docherty and Celtic Academy’s Willie McNab for commentary on all the action.
And Tommy McIntyre also outlined his thoughts ahead of his young Hoops team taking on theRangers on Saturday afternoon…
“You find in these games you don’t really need to get them going. They’re generally and naturally excited about the game. We’re in a good place just now so we’re really looking forward to it. For us, we will focus on what we do,” Tommy said.
“Our game-plan never changes with the way we want to play, in possession and out of possession. We will stay focused and it’s all about us, what we do and that won’t change.
And Tommy McIntyre believes that it can only be beneficial for the players as they look to progress through the ranks at Celtic.
“You never ever want to hold anyone back, and if they’re good enough then they’ll get promoted and do well and we’ve seen that so far this season,” the manager said. The Lowland League’s been brilliant for us, particularly when you look at the fact our average age in the Lowland League has been about 17.4.
“This Glasgow Cup fixture is against our greatest rivals, so you don’t need to get them up for the game. They will naturally be prepared for the game mentally and physically. It brings a different edge to the game and that’s a really good thing, and it will hopefully bring the best out in our players.”
Hopefully the young Celtic Bhoys in the B team can get a good win tomorrow against theRangers and remember it’s available for you to enjoy on Pass to Paradise with the kick-off at 3pm, Saturday afternoon.
ABERDEEN v CELTIC FC WOMEN – BALMORAL STADIUM, SUNDAY, KICK-OFF 4 PM LIVE ON @BBCSPORTSCOT
The third Celtic game of the weekend is Sunday afternoon’s SWPL 1 clash between Aberdeen and Celtic FC Women up at the Balmoral Stadium in Aberdeen with a 4pm kick-off. This is a dress rehearsal for the Scottish Cup Quarter Final tie at the same venue in a few weeks time and Fran Alonso’s Ghirls will want to pick themselves up after last weekend’s disappointing result (not performance) against the league leaders.
Celtic defender Cheyenne Shorts has enjoyed has battles with the Aberdeen girls this season. The 23 year old American star made her debut for Celtic against the newly promoted Dons last September in the opening match of the new season. Celtic won that one 4-2 and repeated the trick in the home game with a 3-1 victory last November. So can we expect a couple of goals on Sunday?
“I hope so!” told Paul Cuddihy, The Celtic View Editor earlier this week . “Two at least! It’s weird because it feels like so long ago, but also just like yesterday because the time has gone by so fast. But, playing-wise, it does seem like a really long time ago, especially now that I’m more adjusted and in with the team, and lucky enough to have been starting a decent amount of games.
“That was my first start, back in September, although I had made my debut in the Champions League when I came on as a substitute. And I got an assist as well, so I don’t know what it is with Aberdeen.”
The next game can’t come quickly enough after a derby defeat, an unusual occurrence for this Celtic side incidentally, so all the more painful. “At this point all we can do is focus on ourselves,” Cheyenne explained, “and getting the three points from here on out is the most important thing, so we just go one game at a time and all our focus is on Sunday.
“Last Sunday we were disappointed with how that game went, but you have to take what you can from it – what worked and what didn’t – and take that into the next game, which is good because then you have something to look forward to.
“On the Sunday night I gave myself that time to mope and then the next day, it was looking ahead while also trying to learn from the previous game. What I try to do is not to get too high or too low – obviously there are big highs, like when we won the cup final, or when we beat (the)Rangers, so you’re on a really big high, and then there’s disappointment as well.
“But I try to stay as level as I can with it and focus on the things that I can do to improve and what we can do as a team to continue improving, so that’s how I try to look at it.”
NEWS | Sunday’s @parksmotorgroup SWPL 1 match between @AberdeenWomen and @CelticFCWomen will be live on @BBCSportScot 📺⬇ #ParksSWPL pic.twitter.com/Vw8XHU1dOd
— Park’s Motor Group SWPL (@SWPL) March 4, 2022
