Celtic Match Preview

And so to today and a league cup last four tussle with Celtic.

The buddies go into this one as overwhelming underdogs with the bookies offering as high as 10/1 on us witnessing an historic Saints win this afternoon.

Few who witnessed our 4-1 capitulation to Ross County last weekend would argue with those odds, and with such a miserable recent record against Celtic you could argue that value on offer is actually somewhat meagre.

For Danny Lennon has presided over eight, yes eight, successive league losses to Celtic, conceding twenty two goals without reply in the process. Yip, without reply. Not a single goal. Nada, nil, none.

And yet, I STILL believe we can win today.

Why ?

This is St.Mirren. We are never comfortable with the favourites tag, always preferring and sometimes prospering with the tag of underdog.

Few will forget that we hammered Celtic 4-0 three days after losing that League Cup final of 2010. We beat the same opponents 1-0 in the Scottish Cup just a week after they spanked us 7-0 on league duty in 2009. It's the St.Mirren way.

The team that put up a pitiful show at Parkhead just a few weeks ago was compact without showing any attacking nous. It defended fairly well without ever threatening.

Today's line up will be crucially different. I reckon with four personnel changes in my starting XI to that which took to the field at Parkhead.

Former Celtic pair Garaham Carey and Paul McGowan will surely both start. Carey, playing at left back, will offer us a direct threat from set pieces, whilst McGowan's value to the team can never be questioned.

His ability to take the ball forward and crucially to retain possession will be vital.

I reckon Connor Newton will be handed a start in the middle of the park in what is, admittedly, an enormous gamble by Danny Lennon. The big 19 year old will be tasked with battling against messrs Brown and Wanyama for midfield possession. It's a huge ask but the manager has faith that this kid has it in him to handle the big occasion. With Goodwin still preferred in central defence (not I hasten to add a decision I necessarily agree with) and with Kenny McLean out injured, Newton has to play in my opinion.

And on the left will be Ismael Goncalves. I sense that the Portuguese winger seems set to be handed a sensational debut today as Lennon goes for broke. Little is known about Isma but pace and an eye for goal are what we have been promised.

If nothing else it's exciting, as Celtic won't know what to expect any more than we do !

My expected team;

Samson, Vanzy, Goodwin, Mcausland, Carey, Teale, Mcgowan, Newton, McGinn, Goncalves, Thompson

A 4-5-1 formation perhaps, but crucially one that can be fluid and can offer a threat. Celtic have some fantastic players but none of those play at the back. If St.Mirren can get at them then we CAN create chances, and with big Thommo having five goals in his last five outings who is to say we can't notch today ?

We need big performances, we need a flat Celltic, and we need some luck. It's a big big ask, but you never know.

Breaking both the Hampden and Celtic hoodhoo in one afternoon ? Yes please.

We believe. Let me know your team suggestions below.

#smfcbelieve