Record not big factor for Hoops COACHING IN SIX COUNTIES IN GREAT NIC IT’LL BE AN ULSTER FRY
Jimmy says Irish bosses bring underdog mindset to Scotland
Celtic Kilmarnock Today, 3pm
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BRENDAN RODGERS will not load pressure on his Celtic side ahead of their potentially record-equalling game against Kilmarnock this afternoon.
The Premiership leaders are looking to extend their unbeaten domestic run to 62 games at Parkhead.
That British record dates back to Willie Maley’s Celtic side of 1917 but boss Rodgers, whose side are fresh from a 3-0 dismantling of title rivals Aberdeen on Wednesday night, is keen to play it down.
“I don’t need to build any anticipation into the game because of the record or put any expectancy on the players because of it,” he said.
“If it happens it is nice but our focus is very much on how we play.
“We want to play well like the other night and hopefully they then get the results that they have been getting.
“But in terms of the record itself, we don’t think too much about it.
“It can’t come into our thinking before the game.
“You start to add these things into the performance, it can add different pressures which you don’t need.
“When you play for Celtic there is an anticipation and expectancy in every game you play.
“So you don’t need to load it up with anything more.” NORTHERN IRELAND has become a diamond mine for managerial talent in Scottish football.
Four of the top six clubs in the Premiership are bossed by coaches from the six counties and three of the Betfred Cup semi-finalists grew up closer to Belfast than Bellshill.
One of this weekend’s most enthralling games sees high-flying Motherwell under Stephen Robinson entertain Neil Lennon’s Hibs.
The transformation of Well under Lisburn-born Robinson is as impressive as the rebuilding work by Lurgan’s Lennon, while the success of Brendan Rodgers at Celtic and St Johnstone’s Tommy Wright has already been established.
At the age of 61, Jimmy Nicholl has enjoyed a hugely successful career at the highest level as player and coach and could yet be at the World Cup finals in Russia this summer as Michael O’neill’s No.2.
Never mind kissing the Blarney Stone, what are the football Gods putting in the water of Lough Neagh?
Nicholl, now No.2 to Paul
Motherwell Today, 3pm
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Hibernian
MANAGERS from Northern Ireland are riding high in the Scottish game just now.
And ahead of today’s clash between Motherwell and Hibs which pits Neil Lennon and Stephen Robinson together Lennon said: “There is a familiarity, we are a very similar race of people.
“It’s only 12 miles across the sea and there is a hunger about the Irish boys as well. We have a real pride about ourselves and want to do well.
“Brendan Rodgers is working miracles at Celtic and Tommy Wright has as well at St Johnstone.
“Stephen Robinson has added to that list coming in at Motherwell Hartley at Falkirk, insists his countrymen are like the Scots – aggressive and feisty and as much driven by the fear of failure as a desire for success.
He said: “People talk about growing up during The Troubles and whether it made these guys more determined but I don’t think so
“Whether it’s Belfast or Glasgow, we’ve all had the same upbringing on council estates and it can help forge a certain personality.
“In Northern Ireland we grew up feeling we were underdogs. As players, it was the fear of losing that drove us on, the fear of being humiliated by four or five goals against top teams.”
Nicholl, former assistant to Billy Bingham, admired Lennon as a cog in Martin O’neill’s Celtic side but his relationship with Rodgers, who had to quit playing at 20, is less defined.
He said: “I’ve never met Brendan but admire how he does his job. He’s maybe a little more cerebral but has been working with players at a high level and you can’t shout and get in their faces.
“The rest of them? You can read them all like a book! Neil, Tommy, wee Robbo? In the dugout and the way they are, such a determination.” and has made a fantastic start.
“I like the way they play, to their strengths, and I know there was a lot of controversy after the
Rangers game last week but I can’t comment because I haven’t seen some of the incidents.
“They play in an honest way. It got a bit tasty on Sunday but I won’t criticise Motherwell for adopting that approach. It has been effective.”