KEEP IT GOING: A PARTICK THISTLE-CELTIC PREVIEW

PARTICK THISTLE V CELTIC (SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP: FRIDAY 11TH AUGUST; 7:45 PM)

Celtic’s busy schedule continues with a Glasgow Derby against one of only four teams to take points off Celtic in the league last season - Partick Thistle.

Team Selection: After the many changes against Kilmarnock on Tuesday and despite the fact that Celtic play Astana next Wednesday, you would expect a very strong side to play tomorrow, perhaps even the same side that will start against Astana. That would presumably mean Simunovic and Bitton as the central defensive partnership, Ntcham, Brown and McGrgor in midfield and Sinclair and Forrest supporting the lone striker, the in-form Leigh Griffiths. The only real issue with that line-up is the lack of guile that either an Armstrong or Rogic for example could provide. Rogic and Armstrong both have good records against Thistle so they will both get some game time.

Previous Meetings: Last season’s games at Celtic Park between the sides were very tight, whilst the games at Firhill resulted in emphatic Celtic victories.

Stuart Armstrong was the star man at Firhill in December with a brace as Celtic ran out 4-1 winners.

Eleven days later at Celtic Park a deft finish by Scott Sinclair separated the sides as Celtic won 1-0.

In April Sinclair scored then missed a penalty as the newly crowned champions were held to a 1-1 draw.

Whilst in the second last game of the season at Firhill Patrick Roberts ran riot as Celtic cruised to a 5-0 win.

Prediction: With the all important game against Astana less than a week away, Brendan Rodgers will want Celtic to go into the game in good form, and that’s what he’ll get as Celtic should win relatively comfortably.

Partick Thistle 0 Celtic 3