3 Key Points Going Into Sunday – Celtic Must Get These Right

Sunday is one of those games where the fine margins suddenly become massive.

Two teams with plenty to prove, Celtic heading to Castle Greyskull with the opportunity to lay down another marker under Martin O’Neill. We know what is coming. We know the atmosphere, the pressure, and the intensity that comes with playing there.

So, for me, there are three things Celtic absolutely has to get right.

We Need to Be More Clinical

The biggest one for me.

We have to take our chances on Sunday.

The St Johnstone game was a perfect example of why.

Celtic created opportunities but didn’t put the game to bed when we had the chance. Against a team like the one waiting at Castle Greyskull, you simply cannot afford that.

You might only get two or three really good opportunities. If one falls to us in the first half, we need to put it away.

Martin O’Neill will know that.

He’s been around football long enough to understand that these games are often decided by moments. We cannot dominate possession, create chances, and then walk away wondering how we haven’t won because we haven’t been ruthless enough.

If we get a big chance, we need to punish them.

Especially away from home.

We Cannot Concede Early

The second one sounds obvious, but it is absolutely crucial.

Do not give them a head start.

Playing at Castle Greyskull is difficult enough without handing the home crowd something to feed off inside the opening 15 or 20 minutes.

If they score early, the atmosphere changes immediately. Every tackle becomes louder, every Celtic mistake gets amplified, and suddenly the pressure starts building on our players.

We’ve seen how difficult these games can get if we concede early from last season and the season before that.

Sunday needs to be different.

We need to frustrate them.

Take the sting out of the opening period.

Make them work.

And, most importantly, don’t give them an easy goal.

If Celtic can get through the first 20-30 minutes without conceding, I think the pressure begins to shift.

The longer the game stays level, the more responsibility falls onto the home side.

And that’s when we need to start taking control.

What Do We Do at Centre-Back?

Then there is the big selection question at the back.

Do we bring Carter-Vickers straight back in or stick with Trusty and Scales?

That’s a genuinely difficult call.

On paper, you would normally put Cameron Carter-Vickers straight back into your strongest team.

There is also the question of whether CCV is completely ready to come straight back into a high-intensity match at Castle Greyskull.

Personally, I can see the argument for both.

Carter-Vickers at his best is our best center-back and brings experience, physicality, and leadership that you want in this fixture.

But if Martin O’Neill believes Trusty and Scales are the pair currently most prepared to handle the game, I wouldn’t be against sticking with them.

The key is that whoever plays needs to be switched on from the first whistle.

No cheap mistakes. No needless fouls around the box. No switching off at crosses. No gifting them opportunities.

Because ultimately, Sunday could come down to those tiny moments.

Be clinical.

Don’t concede early.

And get the center-back decision right.

Do those three things, and Celtic have every chance of walking out of Castle Greyskull with a result.