GARY EAGER FOR ATONEMENT
GARY MACKAY-STEVEN has insisted Celtic’s under-fire players can produce the response that Ronny Deila — and the club’s increasingly angry supporters — are looking for against Aberdeen tomorrow evening. With even the Parkhead boss alleging a lack of character in the group in the wake of Sunday’s disappointing League Cup semi-final loss to Ross County, a stiff cross-examination is sure to await in the Granite City. And the Celtic players know it. As reigning champions, the league leaders — sitting on a six-point advantage that could yet by nine by close of business in the north east — understand the necessity of raising themselves just in time to see off a resurgent challenge from the Dons. ‘We’ll be ready for it,’ said Gary Mackay-Steven, the Hampden chorus of discord and disgust still ringing in his ears. ‘It’s a big character test — and I’m sure all the boys want to bounce back quickly. ‘It’s going to be massive but, after the defeat to Ross County, it can’t come quick enough for us. We want to right that wrong. We’re hurting after the semi-final loss — and there’s no better place to go now than Aberdeen. ‘They’re second in the table and it should be a great game.’ If there is certain to be a mood of renewed determination among the official travelling party, supporters are allowed to wallow in the disappointment of Sunday’s shock defeat a little longer. Having marched on the national stadium with genuine hopes of a domestic Treble, they inevitably — and understandably — gave vent to their frustration at full-time. None of the sound and fury was lost on the players, it seems, as Mackay-Steven confessed: ‘The Treble is what we all wanted, even if we didn’t shout about it. ‘Of course we realise how disappointed and frustrated the supporters will be after losing to Ross County. We hurt after every defeat as much as they do. ‘The Treble is a very difficult thing to do. It’s gone now. But there’s still a lot for us to play for — and Wednesday’s going to be a massive game. I’m looking forward to it.’
JOHN GREECHAN