Celtic and Hearts are facing off in a Scottish Premiership match. The players are dealing with a lot of pressure.
You’ll Never Walk Alone is sung as Celtic’s players huddle. It is almost time.
The players emerge to a tremendous amount of noise.
O’Neill’s Pre-Match Thoughts
Martin O’Neill spoke about his pre-match message to his side, after Celtic named an unchanged side for the first time since December.
“It’s the same message as before, just try and win the game. It’s as simple as that. We’re in a position over the last number of weeks where we’ve got in here, now let’s make the most of us. We’ve kept the starting lineup from Motherwell and we’ll try to take it on from there.”
He added, “We have to, at the end of 90-odd minutes, we have to try and find ourselves in front, but I don’t think there’s any point going gung-ho and find yourself behind because you’ve been hit on the break. Hopefully we can manage the situation.”
O’Neill said, “I’ve got to say I’m really excited. We’ve strived hard to close the gap week after week and now we’ve got a chance on our home ground to try and do something with the crowd right behind us.”
McInnes on Hearts’ Confidence
Derek McInnes discussed his team’s mindset ahead of the game.
“Just to have the confidence and belief that we can get a result here. We’ve played Celtic three times this season and they’ve failed to beat us. We ain’t playing 60,000 we’re playing the same players that have tried to beat us all season. We look relaxed and hopefully we can bring another performance. The performances have been there this season, that’s why we’re in this position. Whoever comes out on top will deserve to win the league. It’s so difficult to set up a team to play for a draw. For me here, the intention always is to make sure we’re pretty secure, but then as the game goes we’ve got to make sure we’re attacking as well as trying to defend.”
McInnes also mentioned Claudio Braga’s condition: “He’s struggling a wee bit with a groin injury, we’ve been trying to manage it for a couple of weeks. It’s not ideal. We think he’ll be able to.”
First Half Action
Celtic are straight on the front foot. Johnson is played down the right, and he plays an excellent low cross into the penalty area, but a defender slides to block it.
Celtic win a corner. Hearts were really poor in the first 10 minutes or so against Falkirk in midweek. Celtic are more likely to punish a repeat.
And a chance from the corner! Excellent delivery, but Auston Trusty heads over!
Celtic send in a long throw, which is flicked on by Steinwender, but there’s nobody there to turn it in! Shankland thinks he was unfairly stopped from being there, but there’ll be no early penalty.
An excellent pass from Tierney finds Engels in the penalty area, but he can only convert it into a corner.
A less good delivery from Engels this time, and it hoops over the area and back out of play.
The game has started with intensity as both teams vie for control.