Bhoys Eyes On Capital Prize
~~~~~~~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~~~~~~~


The Bhoys celebrate Giorgos Giakoumakis' opener at the weekend


Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh
Wednesday, 26 January 2022
19.45 GMT​

Celtic are back in league action tomorrow evening, when they travel through to the Capital to take on third placed Hearts.

With the gap at the top of the table having been trimmed down to just 4 points, and with the Glasgow derby just a week away, a tough contest against one of the form sides in the Premiership, and have proven to be especially difficult to beat on their own patch over the past 18 months.

So the importance of this game, what we will learn one way or another, and securing all three points tonight is massive against a tough and in form Hearts team, who have been in marginally even better form than the Celts have.

And amid all of these preparations for such a crucial game, came the tragic news of the passing of former Celtic manager, Wim Jansen. The Dutchman's sole season in charge was a remarkable and turbulent one for any number of reasons and left a profound mark that will never be forgotten. Jansen, who was 75, had been struggling with Dementia in recent years, and as anyone who has witnessed the effects of such mental deterioration of someone that they were close to would attest, there is some small measure of gentle relief, yet it makes the passing no less tragic, especially for such a remarkable man.​

Rest in Peace, Wim. You'll Never Walk Alone.


Wim Jensen posing with the League and League Cup from his one season as Celtic boss

With so much at stake this week, it is crucial that those that do get the nod can produce the goods - at both ends of the pitch. It's important that Joe Hart is able to marshall his defence and help to provide his experience and leadership with Callum McGregor ruled out, every bit as much as it is for those at the other end to provide the cutting edge in attack and taking the chances created.​

To that end, Ange Postecoglou's squad will be put to the test, and this is the chance for some players to really step up. Make no mistake, not only will this be a tough test and potentially critical in the league chase, but a fantastic opportunity for players to prove their worth and push to keep places once the full squad is fit and all together.

The Importance of the First Goal

On paper, the key to this game will surely be Celtic's capacity to keep it tight at the back and to not concede first. The three times that this has happened in the league this season, including on the opening day at Tynecastle, have all ended in defeat, with the Bhoys scoring just one goal in reply any time that they have conceded first. ​

By contrast, both sides have a very strong record when taking the lead in games. For Hearts, this is especially true at Tynecastle where they have ended up winning 7 of the 9 occasions when they have scored first & drawn the other two.

Indeed, since the return of Craig Gordon to Hearts at the end of the 2019/20 campaign, in all games where the Jambos have scored first, home or away, League and Cup competitions combined, they have only lost once.

While admittedly last season was in the Championship, this is still a very impressive statistic for the former Celtic custodian. And while records are there to be broken, it would seem to further underline the critical importance of the Bhoys being able to keep it tight and not conceding first this evening.


Directing Traffic: Joe Hart's leadership and organization will be of crucial for the Hoops

Team News

The Bhoys will be without Tom Rogic and Daizen Maeda through International duty, on top of the injured Kyogo Furuhashi (hamstring), David Turnbull (hamstring), Yosuke Ideguchi (ankle), Albian Ajeti (hamstring), and skipper Callum McGregor (face).

This, however, opens the door for the likes of Giorgos Giakoumakis, Nir Bitton and Jota - who has made a couple of cameo appearances off the bench in the last couple of games.

It was also an encouraging and welcome sight to have Christopher Julien taking his place on the bench at the weekend. Although he was not called upon, the mere fact that the big Frenchman was there after so long out must surely signal of the troublesome knee issues that have kept him sidelined for over a year is at long last coming to the end, and will bolster Postecoglou's defensive options.​

As for the hosts, manager Robbie Neilson will be hoping for the speculation over the immediate future of skipper John Souttar to be put to the side ahead of Wednesday's clash, with the Scotland International in line to take his place in the side after sitting out at the weekend.

Hearts will also have Beni Baningime once again available after his recent knee trouble, and Ben Woodburn is also eligible once again, after missing out due to COVID, however Tyler Moore is out due to a thigh strain.



~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~

Overall
P: 338 W: 185 D: 78 L: 75

Away v HTM
P: 170 W: 78 D: 36 L: 56​

Last 5 Meetings
W W L W W

Away v HTM
L W W W W

~~~~ 2021/22 Form ~~~~ ​

Overall
W W W D W ~ W W W W L

SPFL
W W D W W ~ W W W L W

CEL Away ~ HTM Home
W W D W W ~ W W L W W​