Alan Pattullo: Momentum lies with Celtic after five SPL wins in a row, but home side have not come out on top in recent clashes

Published on Friday 18 February 2011 20:17

IF CELTIC are to increase their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League tomorrow then they will need to claim the home victory that has been beyond the hosts in three other Old Firm matches staged this season.

It is a strange quirk, and the odds are on Neil Lennon's side becoming the first team to take full advantage of being on familiar territory tomorrow. Not only can they reap the benefit of majority backing, but they can also feel the additional force of momentum at their back.

Celtic have won their last five league matches, Rangers only their last three. The Ibrox side faced a tough challenge on Thursday against Sporting Lisbon and must re-group again today after yesterday was designated as a recovery day at Murray Park.

When Smith noted yesterday that Celtic have a "freshness" about them this season, he could also have been referring to their physical condition this week. It is in stark contrast to Rangers, who had to endure the sight of a player hobbling off during the warm-up prior to Thursday night's Europa League clash.

Jamie Ness is now a doubt for tomorrow after tweaking his groin and Smith may now have to turn to the equally tenderly-aged Kyle Bartley to provide the extra midfield cover he is likely to opt for at Parkhead, with Rangers' chief aim being to avoid defeat. The task of overhauling their rivals at the summit would then remain in their own hands.

Celtic have enjoyed the luxury of a free week and although Lennon was not at Ibrox in person on Thursday night, he will have noted the sapping effect a late equalising goal from Sporting Lisbon had on Rangers, and their fans. He will also have been alert to the discomfort felt by Rangers as Sporting placed the home team under sustained bouts of pressure.

"I feel there is some momentum," said Lennon, when asked about his side's current form yesterday. "We are in good nick physically and we have put in some good performances.

"We might have the slight advantage at the minute with the game being at home but I don't think there is much between the teams at the minute.

"I think it's too tough to call. The form we have shown has been pretty consistent but you can't call an Old Firm game and this one is no different."

Lennon added: "It's interesting that this is the fourth Old Firm game and none of the home teams have won yet. Maybe it is credit to the way the opposition have been set up.

"I don't think either team are fazed by it (playing away from home]. Rangers are an experienced team. They won't be intimidated by it that is for sure. But I think the onus is on us to try and take the game to them. That is what we will do. We will try and be positive. But we will be wary as well."

The need to stay alert was underlined by Rangers' deserved win at Parkhead earlier this season, a match which came just days after the Ibrox side had emerged from another hard-fought 1-1 draw in Europe, against Valencia. The Europa League's awkward scheduling for Thursday nights makes the recovery process more problematic. Smith managed to avoid using Steven Naismith against Sporting, or any of his substitutes in fact. Nikica Jelavic's absence in midweek, due to being cup-tied, was frustrating for Smith, but it could prove a blessing in disguise as he, too, reaps the benefit of a week's rest after last Saturday's hat-trick against Motherwell.

"It's not something we would want," said Smith of Jelavic's enforced absence the other night, "but it means that we've got a player who has been doing well for us.

"He is starting to show signs of full fitness now and hopefully that will be one of the advantages we can have."

Both Naismith and Jelavic are likely to come into the side, possibly for Vladimir Weiss and the out-of-touch Kyle Lafferty, who spurned a few chances against Sporting Lisbon.

Lennon's problems revolve around who to leave out. He has a straight choice to make between the fit again Thomas Rogne and Charlie Mulgrew as to who will partner Daniel Majstorovic at the centre of defence, while his contention that Celtic will take the game to Rangers suggests Anthony Stokes and Gary Hooper will be invited to continue uniting to such good effect up front, with January recruit Kris Commons given the twin task of supplying them with ammunition and also providing a further goal threat himself.

The one thing that can be said for certain is that after this latest clash we will be more than half-way through this unique series of seven Old Firm clashes. Unlike next month's Co-Operative Insurance Cup final, nothing will be won tomorrow. While the clash won't be a defining moment in the season, the victors, proposed Lennon, will gain "a psychological edge". Fortunately for the wearier visitors, this is a fixture which takes place as much in the mind.