Three reasons why Celtic fans should be happy with referee appointed for Partick Thistle clash

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Celtic are back in Premier Sports Cup action this weekend.

In the second round, the Hoops comfortably saw their way past Falkirk 4-1 at Celtic Park with a superb second-half performance.

That progressed Celtic into the quarter-final draw and they were pitted against Scottish Championship side Partick Thistle at Firhill.

The match will be played this Sunday with kick-off at the more unusual time of 15:30 BST, which would have been dictated by broadcaster Premier Sports.

And the referee for the occasion? Experienced whistler Kevin Clancy. So why should Celtic fans be pretty happy with that selection?

• READ MORE: Ex-SFA referee blasts Willie Collum and John Beaton about Celtic penalty vs Kilmarnock

Celtic’s record is fantastic with Clancy as referee

Using stats from Transfermarkt, Clancy has been the man in the middle for 61 Celtic games across his refereeing career, more than any other team.

Encouragingly, Celtic have only lost seven of those matches, which produces a loss percentage of just 11.4% and a win percentage of 75.4%.

Of course, Celtic will have more of a say on the result against Thistle, but it’s clear Clancy is a good luck charm for Brendan Rodgers’ men.

Clancy has shown Celtic just two straight red cards

Clancy isn’t the most card happy of referees when it comes to officiating against Celtic. In fact, he’s only produced 83 yellow and red cards in 61 games.

That might sound like a lot, but when comparing it to the likes of Hearts, Rangers, St Johnstone and others, it’s not a bad record.

Clancy has refereed 54 Hearts games, yet has dished out an incredible 131 cards, 10 of which have been second yellows and reds.

It’s 101 for St Johnstone, including three red cards, and 88 for Rangers, also including three red cards. Clancy, in 61 games presiding over Celtic, has flashed just two red cards.

Clancy has awarded 10 penalties to Celtic

Celtic were handed a controversial penalty kick on Sunday against Kilmarnock that ultimately was converted to seal all three points.

And Celtic fans wouldn’t mind another decision like that going their way in the Premier Sports Cup against Thistle.

Every six games officiating Celtic, Clancy awards a penalty to the Hoops. Only Hearts have been handed more by the Scottish whistler in his career.