All about getting through in the Cup

WeKnowSFA doesn’t agree with the term potential banana skin, it’s rather stupid isn’t it?

An away trip to Morton represented a definite banana skin to Celtic, whether they slipped on it or not would be down to their own attitude and performance.

They just about did enough to get through but that backline still didn’t look comfortable. O’Dea and Loovens were bossed around on numerous occasions in the first half and whilst the Irishman settled down as the game progressed, the Dutch defender certainly did not.

With Jos Hooiveld waiting in the wings, Loovens may be having an extended period of rest but Celtic fans will be hoping for further recruits.

Boss Tony Mowbray says to expect a signing in the morning and whilst some fans will dream of Keane or van Nistelrooy, the suggestion of BBC Scotland is that it is going to be another project. However, that is transfer talk for a later time.

Celtic took the lead after the half hour mark when Niall McGinn fired the ball home from around the penalty spot and the Celtic relief was palpable. Morton heads dipped slightly at this but with half-time looming, James Grady would have the opportunity to rouse his team.

The second half continued with Celtic the better team but not fully dominant. Morton never had any real chances but at 1-0, you can never be comfortable.

Celtic had a goal chopped off which looked to be the correct decision on first viewing and Lee Naylor then rattled the inside of the post with an excellent volley.

Celtic saw the game through and spared themselves a replay on the Wednesday evening. Another away trip to lower league opposition awaits in the 5th round. Stenhousemuir are the opposition although Dunfermline are still appealing against their ejection from the Cup.

Can the hoops grab Hampden silverware?

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Big freeze still hitting Cup ties

The last time WeKnowSFA checked, rules for cup-ties state that only players signed in time to have played in the original match are able to be selected. As of now, Celtic have made two new signings in this window so far. Jos Hooiveld is definitely not available for the re-arranged tie but it will have to be seen when Ki Sung Yueng was eventually registered by the SFA.

That is not really the issue, the problem would lie in the amount of players Celtic ship out before the tie is actually played.

Landry N’Guemo is away at the African Cup of Nations (which concludes at the end of January, so he may be back in time for this tie to be finally played) but transfer speculation persists around a number of Celtic players.

Gary Caldwell and Barry Robson are first team players who appear to be on their way out of the club.

Willo Flood and Chris Killen have not featured in any great way for Celtic this season but they too may be on their way out of the club before this match takes place. They may have found themselves in the squad for this match at Cappielow.

With Scott McDonald also expected to be out for around ten days or so with a hernia operation, a midweek cup tie next week could stretch Celtic’s squad a little bit.

The players mentioned above would equate to 6 squad players being unavailable, with the possibility of only one new recruit being made available for the match. However, Darren O’Dea has returned on loan from Reading and the Irishman should be considered good enough to step in if called upon.

One benefit it about it being the Scottish Cup is that only five substitutes are required, meaning Celtic only have to have a squad of 16 for the match.

This should not be seen as an excuse; Tony Mowbray should be more than capable of putting a strong enough team on the park without these players but the manager may have to juggle his squad around a bit.

With a league game against Kilmarnock to fit in and then a midweek league match (which may be in doubt if the cup ties continue to be called off) the following week, Celtic will soon hit a busy run of fixtures.

It is only short term though, so it may not strengthen boss Tony Mowbray’s hand in getting more recruits in.

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Dumbarton miss out on the money spinning tie



A 1-0 win away to Dumbarton has ensured that Greenock Morton have the money-spinning tie against Celtic to look
forward to in the 4th round of the Active Nation Scottish Cup.

A 0-0 draw in a home tie left the Greenock side having to do the business away from home against lower league opposition. The tie remained in the balance until the final stages and one goal was enough to settle the tie.

A Brian Graham header was all that was required to send Celtic to Inverclyde and the man who set the goal up will have an extra incentive to do well.

David van Zanten came to Britain when Celtic signed him from Tolka Rovers in 1999. The defender never managed to get a game for the club and hasn’t really kicked on his career in the past decade.

There was some success and consistency at St Mirren but a move to Hibs never paid off and can Zanten was released at the end of the previous transfer window. A short term contract with Morton has paved the way for the tie against his former club.

Celtic will undoubtedly start the favourites for this tie with the Hoops fans and Tony Mowbray hoping for silverware success at Hampden in May. Celtic can still do the doubt and Greenock Morton are the first club to stand in their way.

The tie is scheduled to take place the weekend of 9th January and will be Celtic’s first match after they welcome Rangers to Celtic Park.

Bringing neighbours into your home at the start of the year is a tradition that many people swear by but it is not as though the Glasgow giants are best of friends. The fans have certainly got no love for each other.

Can Morton shock the Celtic faithful?

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Morton or Dumbarton lie in wait for the Hoops.

Morton and Dumbarton players have been handed every incentive for their Active Nation Scottish Cup replay. The winners of the tie have been handed a big game at home to Celtic, which is something that will appeal to fans, players and the money men (or women) alike!

Very young Celtic fans may not think too much when they hear the names of Morton or Dumbarton but fans above their mid-twenties should be able to recollect some great games between their sides.

Both Morton and Dumbarton were regular top flight teams all the way up until the 1980s and the winner of their replay will have the opportunity to rekindle some glory days in the Fourth Round of the Scottish Cup.

As Celtic have been knocked out of the League Cup, Tony Mowbray and the Celtic fans will be hoping for an easy passage to the next round to keep their cup dreams alive for this season. Celtic have been patchy to say the least so there may be a chance for the minnows to spring a surprise.

Firstly, the tie against Celtic is a great money spinner. The vast majority of small clubs would be desperate to draw Celtic or Rangers in the cup with the gate receipts and possible TV money being a godsend.

Do not be surprised if the players of Dumbarton and Morton are offered a little bonus if they win their replay because this home game against Celtic would make a huge difference to a club.

Clubs won’t budget for any Cup money so the opportunity to bank a lot of money is vital.

Don’t forget the romance of the cup, don’t overlook the pride the fans and players will take from the day but in the current climate, the money generated from this tie could have such a positive effect for the winner of the replay.

There is a replay because Irn Bru 2nd Division side Dumbarton were able to go to Cappielow and gain a 0-0 draw. In an even game, no side could force the winner but now the replay on Saturday 5th December becomes an even bigger match.

The tie is evenly balanced and both sets of players will be keen to book their place against one of the biggest clubs in Scotland. Penalties will decide the tie if there is no winner after 90 or 120 minutes so it could be an extremely nervous day in Dumbarton.

These games are what the Scottish Cup is all about.

The Active Nation Scottish Cup Fourth-Round draw in full:

Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Motherwell
Hamilton v Rangers
Morton or Dumbarton v Celtic
Hibernian v Irvine Meadow
St Mirren v Cowdenbeath or Alloa Athletic
Raith Rovers or Peterhead v Airdrie United
Dunfermline v Stenhousemuir or Cove Rangers
Forfar v St Johnstone
Clyde or Livingston v Dundee
Albion Rovers v Stirling Albion
Aberdeen v Hearts
Edinburgh City v Montrose
Partick Thistle v Dundee United
Ross County v Inverurie Loco Works
Ayr United v Wick Academy or Brechin
Kilmarnock v Falkirk

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