Leigh Griffiths wary of Dundee ahead of cup tie

Leigh Griffiths isn't taking anything for granted against former club Dundee. Picture: SNS

Griffiths knows all about the spirit at Dens Park having helped Barry Smith’s side avoid relegation from the First Division with a 23-match unbeaten run despite a 25-point deduction and a threadbare squad.

Griffiths told the Celtic View ahead of the Dens Park clash: “I’ve been back a couple of times with Hibs and once with Celtic and every time the fans have been fine.

“I think they just remember the good things I did for the club during the dark days of administration when I had the chance to leave but I stayed to help them out of a sticky situation.

“It was a strange time to be there. It was familiar for me in a sense because I was at Livingston when they went into administration as well so I was used to it.

“It was a big media story, but as players we just focused on getting three points in games. When we got hit with the 25-point deduction it was hard to take, but the players we had gave us a great team spirit and we managed to get out of it and it was a great time for the club.

“The fans backed us in numbers everywhere we went and we just went on this incredible run and got out of it in the end, and when we finally did get the points we needed it was a great day for the club and everyone who had supported us. I loved my time there.”

Dundee knocked out Aberdeen in the fourth round while the Dons were in the midst of an eight-match winning run in the league and Griffiths knows his former team will be determined to end Celtic’s treble ambitions.

The former Hibernian and Wolves forward said: “We went there last time and dropped two points and we were lucky to come away with a point, to be honest, because the chances they had with 10-15 minutes to go really should have buried us and put us out of sight.

“Dundee were tipped for relegation at the start of the season and then hit a little bit of a sticky patch, but they have picked up results recently and they beat Aberdeen in the last round of the Scottish Cup so they will be looking forward to the game and will be looking to take another scalp.”