SAINTS HEAD TO CELTIC AIMING TO SECURE SEMI-FINAL SPOT
26th July 2016
After Saints “Great Escape†in the Highlands, they head to Parkhead for the first time this season, in the Scottish Communities League Cup quarter final tie, writes Aidan Smith.
Celtic come into tonight’s game after beating Raith Rovers 4-1 at Parkhead in the last round, whilst Saints eased past Queens Park by the same margin at McDiarmid Park.
In the Saints camp it’s not looking too promising for Gregory Tade who had to come off during the second half of Saturday’s game with a leg injury. Frazer Wright was also taken off as he sustained a broken nose. These two injuries have added to the long list Saints already have, with Peter Pawlett (hamstring), Craig Beattie (thigh), Jamie Adams (back) and Paddy Cregg (hamstring) all still out – Aberdeen loan man Pawlett is cup-tied in any case.
Celtic will welcome back club captain Scott Brown who has recovered from a hip injury. Georgios Samaras is making good progress on his recovery from an ankle injury, so it is likely for him to be involved. Lassad and Dylan McGeouch remain on the sidelines.
Saints and Celtic have met a total of seven times in the League Cup. Saints have won three of the fixtures whilst Celtic have won four.
The last time these two met in the competition was back in October of 2010. Celtic went three goals ahead within the first thirteen minutes with a double from Anthony Stokes, and a tap in for Niall McGinn. However a goal just before half time from Sam Parkin gave Saints hope. The men in blue played Celtic off the park in the second half and were rewarded when a bullet header from Murray Davidson reduced the deficit to only one. Saints pressed furiously in the search for an equaliser and Myrie-Williams looked to have scored in injury-time but Forster stabbed it clear as Celtic held on to book their place in the last four.
Tonight’s game is a 7:45 Kick Off at Celtic Park and tickets are on sale from McDiarmid Park until 5pm. The referee is Bobby Madden.
PHOTO: Chris Millar and Steve Lomas have their eyes on the Scottish Communities League Cup.