Ex-EKman getscrack atCeltic
PAUL THOMSON
Rangers fan Craig Howie admits watching Leigh Griffiths net a handball goal for Celtic against East Kilbride in the Scottish Cup four years ago still haunts him.
But now he hopes to end the Hoops’ trophy dominance by pulling off a giant-killing with Clyde.
The 23-year-old moved across Lanarkshire last summer to join the Bully Wee and he is ready to tackle the Hoops for the second time in his short-career when they host the cup holders in a last 16 tie at Broadwood on Sunday.
Howie impressed for Lowland League Kilby at the same stage of the competition in 2016, when Ronny Deila’s men managed to edge through with a narrow 2-0 win thanks to goals from Griffiths and Colin Kazim-Richards.
But the opener from Griffiths at Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium – the game was switched from K-Park on police advice - came courtesy of a clear handball that went unpunished.
And Howie recalled: “It was Griffiths and Kazim-Richards that were up front when I was at EK, so I could potentially be marking Griffiths again. He scored in that game, but it was a clear handball and something that still gets to me to this day.
“I don’t know if I’ll remind him about it if I see him again because I want to stay focused on the game, but it irritates me thinking about it.
“The goals we conceded were very soft. One was a handball, the other a bit of a scramble. But I’m looking forward to facing him again because he is still a top player.
“I’m a Rangers fan, so the hope of potentially stopping Celtic’s dominance is something that is playing at the back of my mind.
“It will be brilliant to play them again – and a dream to get any kind of result.”
The Bully Wee hit the jackpot last month when they landed the glamour tie, which will be beamed live on Premier Sports, and Howie can’t believe he’s preparing for a second crack at Celtic so soon.
He added: “It’s incredible. Your average player usually goes their full career without drawing any of the big two.”