Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is expecting a stiff challenge from Kilmarnock in this weekend’s Scottish Premiership clash at Rugby Park.
Derek McInnes’ Killie side remain the only Scottish team to have beaten the Bhoys this term, taking a Scottish League Cup scalp earlier in the season at the same venue.
However, Celtic haven’t lost any of their 16 Premiership games so far this season and head into the weekend knowing they have to keep winning to maintain their points gap over second-placed Rangers.
Asked about the fixture in his pre-match media conference, Rodgers laid out his thoughts on Kilmarnock and smiled when he asked for rain to liven up the Ayrshire side’s dry artificial pitch.
Celtic boss hoping for a slick surface in Kilmarnock
The Celtic boss said: “Derek gets the ball up early into the final third of the pitch. They then look to play when they’re in there, get the ball wide and get crosses in. They’ve got good physicality in the team and they really load up the last line to get bodies into the box.
“We have to defend well. And we pray for a little bit of rain that will make the surface nice and greasy and we can see a half-decent football game.”
Rodgers has made it clear on multiple occasions that he isn’t a big fan of plastic pitches in Scottish football and earlier today backed a potential SPFL rule change on the issue.
A bit of winter rain would undoubtedly help with Celtic’s passing game and ensure the ball doesn’t hold up as well when Kilmarnock go direct.
The current forecast shows a 55% chance of rain in the area at the time of the noon kick-off, rising to 65% by full-time. So Rodgers could well get his wish.
The Celtic boss knows better than anyone there’ll be no excuses regardless of the conditions of the day. The Bhoys’ route to three points depends entirely on the performance of the champions.
Play at their potential and external factors shouldn’t be an issue on the way to another win on the road.
In other news, Celtic team news ahead of Kilmarnock as Bhoys left waiting on Cameron Carter-Vickers issue.
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