Neil Lennon wary of another cup upset ahead of Raith tie

Published on 24/09/2012 16:30

CELTIC must avoid a potential banana skin when they take on Raith Rovers in the Scottish Communities League Cup tomorrow night, Neil Lennon has warned his team.

The Parkhead boss insists his players will be fully prepared for the challenge after a series of top flight clubs were knocked out by lower league opposition in the previous round.

Raith Rovers, currently sitting fourth in the First Division, travel to Parkhead for the third round fixture tomorrow after a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Morton on Saturday, but Lennon is adamant his players will take nothing for granted.

“All these early games in the season are potentially loaded with upsets and I certainly don’t want us to be one of them,” Lennon told the Celtic FC website.

“What we have to be mindful of is that we don´t take our eye off the ball, get sloppy or complacent. We have to be on our mettle from the first whistle, and that´s what I´m demanding from the players now.

“We had Raith watched at the weekend and I watched them play Partick Thistle in the cup.

“They are a decent First Division side and with (former manager) John McGlynn going, it´s a bit of a transitional period for them, but they will still be decent opposition for us.”

Meanwhile, Celtic have launched a special kit to commemorate the club’s 125th anniversary.

The new strip replicates the one worn by Celtic in their first ever match against Rangers on May 28, 1888.

The club was born the year before, on November 6, 1887 at the meeting hall of St Mary’s Church in the East End of Glasgow.