Celtic Park will host 24,500 supporters tomorrow against Dundee. It’s the biggest home crowd for a league match Celtic have had for some time; without fans in, Paradise became an easier trip for Scottish Premiership clubs.
Last season, teams like Hibs and Ross County took points away from Celtic Park. It was a far cry to the dominant runs the Bhoys had established at home in prior seasons.
Instead of fearing Parkhead, away teams are embracing the opportunity to play at Celtic’s home. That was exemplified in comments made by Dundee youngster Jordan Marshall.
Marshall, who admitted it would be “surreal” coming up against 75-cap Englishman Joe Hart tomorrow, said that Dundee believed there was every opportunity to get a result at Paradise.
He told the Courier:
“They are a brilliant team but one that is in transition.
“It will just take time for them to gel but they are still a class team with great players all over the pitch.”
“We have said this week we need to have the belief that we can get a result, otherwise there is no point in going.
“So we will go there on Sunday and have a right go at them.”
Visiting teams aren’t afraid of Celtic Park after last season; Ange Postecoglou has to change that
Tomorrow was always going to be a big one. With fans back for a league game for the first time since the pandemic began to rage, there’s a sentimentality to Dundee’s visit to Celtic Park.
More than that, though, last week’s disappointment against Hearts has added some pressure. Losing at home to newly-promoted Dundee? Unthinkable, surely.
Ange Postecoglou has said it’s up to him and his players to earn the raucous Celtic Park atmosphere. He’s more than aware of the challenge, and also that this Bhoys side need to start picking up results.
Jordan Marshall hasn’t said anything controversial, here. Celtic are a team in transition, and after 20-21, it feels as if that fear factor has gone. Tomorrow, the Bhoys could take a big step towards bringing it back, before a full house on Thursday night.
Only big results will make visiting teams nervous about coming through Parkhead’s gates. That much is obvious. But it adds pressure and intrigue to a league tie that Celtic fans already had marked in the calendar.
Get ready, folks. You know Ange Postecoglou will be desperate to convince both Celtic supporters, and the rest of the league, that we’re a force to be reckoned with once more.
Read more: The moves Celtic could make in the result of an imminent Eddy transfer
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