Celtic v Saints preview

Last updated : 21 August 2010 By Stuart Gillespie

Our last victory at Parkhead - a 3-0 success 20 years ago - is immortalised in song, but what happened back in March was even more impressive. Just days after we'd lost the League Cup final in embarrassing circumstances, we destroyed Celtic 4-0 thanks to doubles from Andy Dorman and Steven Thomson. It was a joyous night and the end of Tony Mowbray.

Much has been made about Celtic seeking revenge for that night, but I can tell you now they will never achieve that. That Wednesday night in March is something fans of 40 clubs in Scotland dream of. I watched it in the pub and, despite not being a drinker, was close to having a pint or two at full time. I danced home while singing and would have done a cartwheel if it wasn't for the fact I could have ended up in a river. Celtic can put double figures past us tomorrow and it won't matter. We're expected to lose and there is no way they can give their fans the feeling I had that night, or give me the emotions of their fans. The only way they could get revenge would be to beat us in a cup final with nine men, and that's not going to happen. Again.

Anyway, that's all ancient history. Both sides have changed managers since then and now have someone in charge called Lennon. Our Danny version made his SPL managerial debut last week and did a pretty good job, being just minutes away from a victory. The side was pretty well set-up and we managed to keep Dundee United out until the final minute. It's early days, but there were encouraging signs. Tomorrow is effectively a free hit for him - no one is expecting anything, so a point would be a bonus.

Lennon does not have his problems to seek ahead of tomorrow. We may only be approaching the second game of the season, but we have many, many players out tomorrow. Deep breath and I'll begin: Paul McGowan is ineligible, Michael Higdon is suspended, strikers Craig Dargo, Gareth Wardlaw and Paul McQuade have been struggling and Steven Thomson and David Barron are definitely out. Dargo and Wardlaw have a chance of making it but it's looking like we'll once again go with a sole striker at one of the Old Firm - but this time it's not out of choice. If Wardlaw and Dargo don't make it, watch out for a youngster like Conor Ramsay or Graeme Ramage getting a first start. Thomson's absence could see Darren McGregor move into midfield with Marc McAusland or Lee Mair taking his slot in defence, while Garry Brady should start.

Celtic's Lennon is called Neil and owes his job to us, what with our victory getting Mowbray the sack and giving him a shot as caretaker. Under Lennon, Celtic have won every SPL game they've played. That's impressive considering the state they were in and Lennon's rookie status. However, things haven't gone so well away from the league as they're already out of the Champions League and they lost to Ross County in the Scottish Cup.

Once he was given the job on a permanent basis, Lennon wasted no time in shaping his squad, selling Aiden McGeady and Artur Boruc to Spartak Moscow and Fiorentina respectively. The pick of his many new signings so far seems to be Efrain Juarez, who played for Mexico in the World Cup and has already managed two goals. Daniel Majstorovic looks like he'll be a monster at the back and could add the sort of presence the Hoops have missed since Balde departed, while the returning Charlie Mulgrew and Korean Cha Du-Ri should provide competition for places in the fullback slots. Up front, Robbie Keane may have gone but Gary Hooper and Daryl Murphy have arrived from down south, while Joe Ledley should boost the midfield.

Celtic have plenty of threats at their disposal. Once Hooper and Murphy get things going they will bag a shedload up here, while Mulgrew's free-kicks have been a major boost for Aberdeen in the last few years. Georgios Samaras and Marc-Antoine Fortune are capable of causing defences problems when they are on their day, while Paddy McCourt can produce wonder goals from time to time. And there's also Shaun Maloney, who may be small but can split defences apart and can hit a mean dead ball.

Everyone is writing Saints off for this one tomorrow, and perhaps with good reason. But then, no one gave us a hope back in March...