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Scottish Cup Losing Semi-Finalists v Scottish Cup Champions


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Following last nights tremendous win over second place Aberdeen, Caley Thistle go to Parkhead on Saturday to take on Celtic. Celtic Park hasn't been a happy hunting ground for us under John Hughes, to say the least. Since Hughes took over we have lost five out of five at Celtic, conceding 21 goals in the process and only scoring two (both of which came after we were 4-0 down earlier in the season).

On the positive side though, we've done OK against sides in the top six this season, picking up ten points from twelve against the sides in second and third. We looked fairly solid last night and showed real grit to pull back from a goal down. We'll need our spine to show that again. One thing I'd like to see is Miles Storey playing more centrally, he spent a lot of last night peeling out wide but we need someone to take chances if we are going to do anything on Saturday so I'd like him to take a strikers role.

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A point here would be a fantastic result for us - thought our defence held out well last night in restricting Aberdeen to just a few chances and they could do the same again here.

It will be good too for Yogi to meet up with all his old Parkhead pals again.

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I have a bad feeling about this 2-0 Celtic.

We always get stretched all over the gaff at Celtic Park, and usually do alright up until the hour mark, when Celtic finally wake up and put some quickfire goals past us.

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One thing I'd like to see is Miles Storey playing more centrally, he spent a lot of last night peeling out wide but we need someone to take chances if we are going to do anything on Saturday so I'd like him to take a strikers role.

Hughes mentioned last night that we effectively played without a striker, as Storey and Roberts were instructed to be 'inside forwards'. I assume this was to restrict the ball getting wide to Logan and Shinnie... instead letting the likes of Ash Taylor batter it up front for Warren/Devine to mop up. Worked well I think.

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Hughes mentioned last night that we effectively played without a striker, as Storey and Roberts were instructed to be 'inside forwards'. I assume this was to restrict the ball getting wide to Logan and Shinnie... instead letting the likes of Ash Taylor batter it up front for Warren/Devine to mop up. Worked well I think.

Yogi & Brian Rice set the team up and tactics spot on last night to defeat Aberdeen and also provide us fans with an excellent and enjoyable match. Let's hope we can provide another great performance this weekend against Celtic.

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Expecting pretty much the same kinda game we got from Ross County at the weekend. Caley Thistle will close us down, have a few wee spells in the game of passing it well but will do very little in the final 3rd. Think they too will be a bit of poor fouling like County did too...

However I still expect us to win it by 2 or 3-0 without looking anything overly special.

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Since Caley Thistle were admitted to the SFL in 1994 I have seen us play at Celtic Park ten times, two wins, two draws and six defeats.

The wins were the only two we've ever had at Parkhead, the 3-1 game and the 1-0 win a few years back under Butcher. The draws were us losing a 2-0 lead the season before last and coming back from 2-0 down in our first season back in the top flight and the defeats include a 6-0 league cup loss, our join heaviest defeat ever. When we came back from 2-0 down was also the round of games that the referees went on strike for.

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Expecting pretty much the same kinda game we got from Ross County at the weekend. Caley Thistle will close us down, have a few wee spells in the game of passing it well but will do very little in the final 3rd. Think they too will be a bit of poor fouling like County did too...

However I still expect us to win it by 2 or 3-0 without looking anything overly special.

This is probably about right, although obviously I hope not. We're actually closing teams down and doing the physical stuff a bit better now than we were at the start of the season: then we were sitting back far too much and standing off teams. The 4-2 scoreline at Celtic Park earlier in the season flattered us. We do still look a bit directionless in possession at times though.

At least with Roberts and Storey both in the team, we have pacey players that can run at defenders, so we might cause a few problems. If it's 0-0 or 1-1 coming up to an hour then we've got every chance of taking something - from what I've seen of them this season, Celtic don't really seem to have the extra gear that in the past you always assumed they could move into in the closing stages of games.

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This is probably about right, although obviously I hope not. We're actually closing teams down and doing the physical stuff a bit better now than we were at the start of the season: then we were sitting back far too much and standing off teams. The 4-2 scoreline at Celtic Park earlier in the season flattered us. We do still look a bit directionless in possession at times though.

At least with Roberts and Storey both in the team, we have pacey players that can run at defenders, so we might cause a few problems. If it's 0-0 or 1-1 coming up to an hour then we've got every chance of taking something - from what I've seen of them this season, Celtic don't really seem to have the extra gear that in the past you always assumed they could move into in the closing stages of games.

The problem with Celtic is knowing which Celtic will turn up. If we go through the motions then we'll dominate the possession & territory but rely on Griffiths & Commons for goals (if fit). If we are on form & looking in the mood, then it's a case of how many will we get.

Alternatively, there is a new Celtic this season who lose a goal & don't look interested enough to get a goal back. Thankfully there hasn't been many of those days.

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Hughes will lie down to Celtic

"Ye'sh canna beat the Glashgow Sheltic lads, just enjoy the atmoshphere and the wunderful shtadium and fansh"

Will be yogi's team talk

Now, now. Let's wait until after they meekly capitulate, grease themselves up, bend over and take hard from their big team before accusing them of lying down like the diving shitebags they are.

To be fair, we did do our best for you last season by taking four points off them while graciously allowing you to beat us in all four games we played against you. Not really our fault that you shat the bed every time you came up against Celtic last season - they really weren't that hard to beat. ;)

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To be fair, we did do our best for you last season by taking four points off them while graciously allowing you to beat us in all four games we played against you. Not really our fault that you shat the bed every time you came up against Celtic last season - they really weren't that hard to beat. ;)

Yeah but you cheated and your fans ran on the pitch and started pulling Celtic players down

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To be fair, we did do our best for you last season by taking four points off them while graciously allowing you to beat us in all four games we played against you. Not really our fault that you shat the bed every time you came up against Celtic last season - they really weren't that hard to beat. ;)

It's your lack of consistency this season that's really hurt us, bottlers. :)

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