Everyone knows that Auchinleck Talbot vs Celtic is a classic David vs Goliath game, but we probably didn’t realise how big it was.
Celtic face Auchinleck in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup as the two teams meet for their first-ever competitive meeting.
Auchinleck have been forced to host the game at Rugby Park due to police safety concerns, but over 9,000 Hoops fans will be in attendance.
This is a unique sort of fixture, as proved by the gap between the two teams.
My favourite Scottish Cup memory is…
How many places separate Auchinleck Talbot and Celtic?
Opta are the best source to provide niche statistics and angles, but their latest will even have people squinting to double check it is true.
According to Opta Analyst, a whopping 13,062 places separate the non-league club from the Hoops in their power rankings.
While 67 Hail Hail have predicted a comfortable win for Celtic, everyone else not affiliated to the Bhoys is dreaming of the ultimate cupset.
Martin O’Neill’s professionalism and attitude means that the club won’t be taking things lightly, and are expected to field a strong line-up to win the game.
Have Celtic ever lost to lower league opposition in the Scottish Cup?
It has been some time since the Hoops were dumped out of the Scottish Cup by lowly opposition, but it has happened before.
Two defeats to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2000 and 2003, with the former the reason behind the infamous headline of “Super Caley go ballistic, Celtic are atrocious.”
Let’s hear your predictions!
They then lost to Clyde in 2006 on Roy Keane’s debut for the Hoops. That game also featured Du Wei for his one and only Celtic appearance.
Other losses have included a 2010 defeat in the semi-final to second tier Ross County. Hopefully there won’t be any more.
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