Momentum is carried but Hoops finally face pressure for real in next derby fixture

TALKING CELTIC

AS results go, Saturday’s game against Morton mattered less about how they got there and more about simply easing through.

Heading into the semi-finals of the William Hill Scottish Cup keeps Celtic’s aspirations for back-to-back Trebles in check – but more pertinently it also ensured that the Parkhead side go into this weekend without sustaining any collateral damage to either morale or personnel.

For the first time since Brendan Rodgers’ arrival at the club, Celtic find themselves preparing for a league game against Rangers that has a genuine edge. With just six points between the teams – albeit Celtic have a game in hand – the match represents a final throw of the dice this term for the Ibrox side.

The other aspect, of course, is that any Celtic victory will quell all talk of any perspective title challenge.

Rodgers’ record against Rangers makes grim reading for the Ibrox side. The Hoops boss has won six and drawn two – but this is the first time that the Parkhead manager goes into a league game against the Ibrox side under any real pressure, illusionary or other- wise. In that respect, the team charged with silencing any chat about a title race will be interesting.

Moussa Dembele’s brace against Morton underlined the striker’s progress towards the form of last term and he is a player who relishes the big occasion. His leap for the first goal was impressive as was the power behind it.

And while television pictures showed that the foul he drew from Mikey Doyle was a shade outside the box, his rasping finish from the penalty spot was unambiguous.

Interestingly, it took Odsonne Edouard’s arrival to spark a bit of life into Celtic on Saturday after a soporific opening period. The on-loan forward linked well with Dembele and deserved his goal, Celtic’s final of the day, on the cusp of the final whistle, despite the fortuitous nature of the deflection that took it into the net.

Playing with two out-and-out forwards up front this Sunday afternoon would be a significant deviation from the script from Rodgers. Still, the Celtic manager’s comments were telling after the game as he lauded the player’s contribution.

Having remarked that he already has a team “in mind” for Sunday’s game, it was difficult for interest not to be piqued when Rodgers said of Edouard: “He’s a young player I rate highly, he can play in a number of positions.

“He has strength, power and threatens in behind; he’s quick but he can link in behind as well. I felt that those two occupied their back four really well because they are both quick. Odsonne wants to run in

It took Odsonne Edouard’s arrival to spark a bit of life into Celtic on Saturday

behind but his link up and hold up play is really good and he had two good chances before he scored the goal.

“[Playing him against Rangers] is something I can consider. I’ve an idea of what we want to do if everyone’s fit next week but certainly today he provided the spark the team needed.”

LEADING the line will not be the only choice that Rodgers has to make. At the other end of the pitch Marvin Compper finally got to make his debut at the weekend two months after his arrival at Celtic.

The veteran German defend- er started off with a misplaced pass but soon recovered his composure.

Whether he has done enough to start at Ibrox remains to be seen but his experience may well be seen as something that could add some solidity to the backline.

In any case, this week will give both sides ample time to ponder just how they wish to go about their business.

Any trip to Ibrox tends to bring forth a physicality in the game and Rodgers may tend towards a more robust team that is capable of coping with that element of the encounter while also maintaining a creative edge.

SCOTT Sinclair, like Dembele, has a strong record in the games he has played against Rangers.

But the English winger did little against Morton to suggest that he is on his way to finding the fluency and edge that saw him dominate for Celtic this time last term.

His past record against the Ibrox side, however, may persuade Rodgers to stick with him, although if recent evidence is to be considered then the winger might find