Tougher February – Protect six point lead and win Scottish Cup tie, Valencia is a bonus

MIND THE GAP. The league table makes for much more pleasant reading at the start of February than it did at the end of December and that is a consequence of Celtic picking up nine points from nine in January while others faltered.

And that game in hand that we always had up our sleeves? You know the one that the BBC never mentioned? Turns out it was worth three points to Celtic after all.

If January was perfect, February though looks much tougher and if we can end the month with our six points lead in tact then that would be a fantastic outcome.

On Sunday Celtic have the first away day challenge of 2019, against the St Johnstone side who didn’t have a single shot at Scott Bain’s goal in midweek. At home you would expect them to be a little more attack minded but that could end up suiting Celtic. It has to be noted however that our away form this season has been pretty dodgy to say the least so nothing can be taken for granted.

After the trip to McDiarmid Park, where we have actually won twice already this season (1-0 in the Betfred Cup and 6-0 in the league), Hibs visit Celtic Park on Wednesday.

There will be no Neil Lennon in the dug-out, no Scott Allan or Efe Ambrose on the pitch and no love lost in the boardroom. Celtic’s 100% home record in domestic football should be extended if all goes to plan.

And a week on Sunday it’s St Johnstone again, this time in the Scottish Cup and it’s back at Celtic Park. Given what we saw from them on Wednesday night, you have to consider Celtic to be overwhelming favourites to go through.

On Valentine’s Night – Thursday 14 February – Valencia are the opponents and without Benkovic and Boyata it is going to take some performance from Celtic to get something from this game.

And as always happens after a tough European encounter, Celtic are away from home for the next game – on Sunday 17 February Celtic travel to Rugby Park to try to avoid a third consecutive defeat on that plastic pitch. That’s a 4pm kick-off incidentally.

Then it’s the return leg of the Europa League tie at the Mestalla Stadium where there will be more Celtic Fans in the home end that in the away section so backing should not be the problem. Defending might though.

If we come through this challenge still in the competition it will rank as among Brendan Rodgers’ biggest achievements so far.

At least we have a home game after the trip to Spain and it’s Motherwell who are the visitors to Celtic Park on Sunday 24 February. The month end with a trip to Tynecastle on Wednesday 27 February – again we’re looking to avoid another defeat to Craig Levein’s side, having lost twice there recently.

Scotty Sinclair, who has been speaking to this week’s Celtic View, reckons that the increased goalscoring threat The Celtic now have can be significant. He’s been on a pretty decent scoring run himself and there has been plenty of fire-power added with the likes of Burke and Weah getting off the mark, Edouard coming back from injury and new signing Bayo getting ready to contribute.

And James Forrest, who grabbed four the last time Celtic played in Perth, is also likely to chip in with his fair share of goals.

“I go into every game wanting to score, and obviously where I’m at now, and where I’m playing, I’m confident in every single game I’m playing that I’ll get a chance and an opportunity to do that,” Scotty said.

“But it’s about the team, it’s about playing well as a team, and keep playing the way we know we can. If we keep performing the way we do, then hopefully we can keep getting results.

“It’s great for Jamesy too, and I think it’s great for all the wide and front players to chip in. Jamesy has scored some quality goals this year, and it’s great for him to get his tally up,” Sinclair noted.

And he’s been impressed by the contribution of new signings Weah and Burke and just as pleased to welcome Nir Bitton back after being out for almost a year with a knee injury.

“The new boys have been great,” Scotty continued.

“For them to come to a new club and to hit the ground running in the way they have done, that’s the best thing to do as a new player and they’ve done that. They’ve scored goals, and they’re exciting to watch.

“It’s great having boys coming back in from injury too, and while I think it gives players competition for places, it’s been great for Nir as he’s been out for so long.

“For him to come back is great, and he looks in great shape and he looks like he’s raring to go and adds that quality to the team.”

*Read the full and exclusive interview with Scott Sinclair in this week’s Celtic View, which is on sale now.

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