Straw clutching as Charlie Nicholas highlights Celtic vulnerability
Soccer Football - Scottish League Cup - Final - Rangers v Celtic - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - February 26, 2023 Celtic's Callum McGregor lifts the trophy alongside teammates as they celebrate after winning the Scottish League Cup Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
On the back of 11 successive victories Charlie Nicholas believes that Celtic are walking into back-to-back draws against Hearts although they are tipped to squeeze through in the Scottish Cup.
It seems that Sunday’s 5-1 win over St Mirren displayed a vulnerability that Hearts can exploit.
Celtic were behind against St Mirren for around 50 minutes but ran out comfortable winners with BBC Scotland reporting that Ange Postecoglou’s side had 82% possession.
That may in a small way be due to St Mirren being reduced to 10 men but if Charles Dunne hadn’t fouled Kyogo Furuhashi the top scorer in Scotland would have been one on one with goalkeeper Trevor Carson.
Sunday was the third time this year that Celtic have beaten St Mirren by four goals which well and truly kills off any lasting significance of losing to the Paisley side in September.
Picking up on his column in the Daily Express, the Daily Record reports Nicholas saying:
I know Celtic beat St Mirren at the weekend but you could see there was still a vulnerability there especially in the first half before Stephen Robinson’s side went down to 10 men.
You saw that with big Ange with his substitutions. St Mirren proved a point that you can get at Celtic. I am expecting something similar against Hearts. I expect Hearts to go full out.
I think it will be physical and it could be a cold and unwelcoming night which could level things a bit. Robbie Neilson has done a great job at Hearts and quite rightly has received a lot of plaudits.
They are going to finish third in the league but they will be desperate for silverware. These next two games will definitely be two tremendous tests for Celtic. I wouldn’t be surprised if Hearts were to nick a point in midweek and in the cup tie I could see it going to extra-time and Celtic just squeezing through.
All season Postecoglou has been complimented on the use of his substitutes, last month in the Scottish Cup against St Mirren, Reo Hatate (2), Matt O’Riley and Oh Hyeon-gyu came off the bench to score in another 5-1 win over St Mirren.
In their last away match, on February 19, Hearts lost 2-0 at St Mirren.