Deila has too much to lose, says Russell
EAST KILBRIDE captain Barry Russell has warned Ronny Deila the Lowland League minnows are prepared to bring the curtain down on his Celtic reign.
Billy Ogilvie’s K-Park outfit are hoping to create the biggest shock in Scottish football history tomorrow, just seven days after the Parkhead club’s League Cup semi-final defeat to Ross Country.
With Aberdeen piling on further pressure in Wednesday’s 2-1 league win at Pittodrie, Russell insists a calamitous third consecutive defeat would spell the end for the Norwegian.
And the lifelong Celtic fan predicts that a fearful Deila won’t dare rest his big names for the Scottish Cup clash at Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium.
‘It could be the final nail in the coffin if we beat them on Sunday, so I don’t think they can afford to play a youth squad,’ said Russell.
‘I hope Celtic play the strongest team they possibly can. But if they want to play youngsters, then bring it on.
‘We’ve got a job to do and we’ll give it our best shot. We’re also going to have over 5,000 fans backing us and we’ll be on top of our game.
‘ Can we beat them? I’ve seen stranger things happen. When you play against better players, everyone ups their game.’
Russell has his own reasons for wanting to face Celtic’s strongest line-up. In addition to testing himself against on-form Leigh Griffiths, the 26-year- old defender is desperate to swap jerseys with Scott Brown. But he has shelved plans to make arrangements with the Celtic and Scotland skipper before kick-off.
‘I keep getting people phoning me up, asking how I’d feel about coming up against Leigh Griffiths,’ he said. ‘But, as a footballer, you want to play against the very best and right now he’s the best striker in Scotland. I am looking forward to the challenge. Hopefully, he will have a game like he did against Ross County (when he missed a penalty).
‘If Brown is playing, I’d like to get his jersey. He’s straight to the point and I’ve tried to model a part of my game on his.
‘I could ask for his jersey when we’re tossing coins but I’m told he doesn’t speak to other captains. He just stares at them. If so, I’ll just stare back!’
A boiler engineer to trade, Russell has spent the build-up to the game working on a contract next door to Parkhead.
In the few moments he has been able to shift the match from his mind, he has found himself confronted by giant posters of Hoops legends.
‘It’s funny because right now we’re changing the boilers and radiators at the community houses right outside Celtic Park,’ grinned Russell.
‘Every time I need to go outside to pick up a tool I see the stadium. They’ve got all those big murals up — John Hartson, Henrik Larsson, Paul McStay — it looks cracking right enough, but it’s like Celtic Park is haunting me.
‘I’ve even asked my boss if he could drive a different route to work so I don’t see them. For once in my life, I’m trying to get Celtic out of my head.
‘I was offered time off this week but I’d only have ended up watching videos of Leigh Griffiths scoring goals.
‘Hopefully Celtic aren’t haunting me on Monday morning. But it could be interesting at work if we win…’
Russell has already come close to a Scottish Cup giantkilling.
In March 2014, he was part of the Albion Rovers side leading 1-0 at Ibrox only for Bilel Mohsni to secure a replay despite appearing to foul goalkeeper Neil Parry.
‘We should have beaten Rangers that day,’ he recalled.
‘Ciaran Donnelly scored our goal but the stadium announcer actually called my name over the Tannoy instead.
‘ Rangers beat us in there play and I remember the buildup to the game was massive. I was paranoid and couldn’t sleep.
‘But I’m a lot calm er this week. I’ve been telling t he boys to chill out. ‘People don’t expect us to do anything but they could be in for a shock. We were written off before that game at Ibrox.