Celtic will be at home to take on Championship outfit Patrick Thistle in the quarter-finals of the Scottish League Cup. The Hoops have carried on with their hundred percent winning record on the domestic front, and they would look to continue their juggernaut against the Jags.
Thistle meanwhile are struggling big time in the Championship as they are winless after their first six encounters losing four games in the process. Without any doubt, Celtic will go in as big favourites for the tie.
What to expect from Celtic
The Hoops have two prominent fixture coming up next. One is an away trip to Easter Road where they will take on Hibernian. Then they will look to avenge revenge against Cluj in the Europa League after the Romanian side dumped Celtic out of the Champions League qualifiers.
Therefore we expect Lennon to rest some of his crucial players in this tie. Lennon already has some injury issues as Mauritz Bauer could miss out. Jullien also has a small problem, and he too could be rested given the next two fixtures. Greg Taylor is cup-tied, so he too will miss out along with Bitton and Simunovic.
Celtic are likely to play in a 4-2-3-1, but Lennon is also known to deploy 3-5-2 on occasions. We think that he can go in with the latter in this Cup game as he would want to have ball playing players as the home team will be expected to dominate the proceedings.
What to expect from Patrick Thistle
Thistle are likely to treat this game as a free hit as winning this will be a massive upset, and if they went on to lose, then nobody would bat an eye. Ian McCall has been recalled as the manager, and he will look to bring some positivity in Thistle’s gloomy season so far. McCall usually prefers a 4-4-2 formation, but he could have one extra man in midfield instead. It could be a 4-5-1 or 4-2-3-1.
Expected Celtic lineup
Gordon, Ajer, Elhamed, Bolingoli, Brown, Ntcham, Rogic, Forrest, Elyounoussi, Issouf Bayo, Griffiths
Expected Patrick Thistle Lineup
Fox, Kakay, O’ware, McGinty, Penrice, Cole, Bannigan, Zanatta, Gordon, Cardie, Miller
Prediction
Celtic are likely to enjoy plenty of possession, and they will be looking to get the job done against a struggling Championship side with a new manager taking over. We are expecting a lot of back to the wall defending from Thistle, but the Hoops should get the job done. We are going in with a 4-0 Celtic win.
Odds
Celtic Win 1/12
Patrick Thistle Win 23/1
