Falkirk kids have no fear

DARREN Dods believes Celtic will be forewarned when they take on First Division Falkirk in their Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday.

At the ripe old age of 36, Dods is the father figure in Steven Pressley’s youthful side who have already knocked out Clydesdale Bank Premier League sides Rangers and Dundee United.

The former St Johnstone, Inverness and Dundee United centre back knows Neil Lennon’s men will be wary. “After two shocks against Rangers and Dundee United, Celtic will know what we are all about so it will be even harder this time,” said Dods.

“And they have had 12 straight SPL wins in a row so it will be a difficult task. We would have been better playing them at the start of November, that was the time to get them. We need them to have an off-day or something like that. But it’s great to get there.

“You never know, we will see what happens on Sunday.”

The Bairns’ squad includes teenagers Craig Sibbald (16), Jay Fulton (17), Blair Alston (19) and Murray Wallace (19), but Dods believes that inexperience may be a benefit rather than a hindrance.

“Because they are so young, they have no fear,” said Dods. “They have always stepped up the challenge so far. I thought their form would dip or they would get tired but they have kept it going. Hopefully they can do that on Sunday.

“When I came here in the summer I wasn’t expecting anything like this. I just wanted to play. But we are in the semi-final of the League Cup, still in the Scottish Cup and second in the league so it couldn’t have gone any better than this.”