Celtic support for Pars

Habit of a lifetime will take its toll in the Bell family this Sunday

Steven Bell is in no doubt that the task of progressing past Celtic in Sunday's Fifth Round Scottish Cup tie has been even more difficult since the Parkhead club's defeat at the hands of Jimmy Calderwood's Kilmarnock on Tuesday night:-

"It has definitely got harder but all the boys are excited about playing against the best players. Obviously we hope that they don't do so well on Sunday but it is up to us to stop them."

Steven is determined to approach the game in a professional manner giving 100% for Dunfermline:-

"Dunfermline pay my wages. I like playing here at Dunfermline" but Steven added that as a Celtic fan he will be disappointed if Tony Mowbray's team suffer a further set back with what they would deem to be an early cup exit.

"I would like to see Celtic winning the league but there have been no easy games for Celtic this season even against the lower teams in the Premierleague. They struggled against Kilmarnock on Tuesday night and I think everybody raises their games against Celtic and Rangers for sure.

"Celtic are ten points behind in the league so realistically the Scottish Cup is a must for them and I think Tony Mowbray will be saying that to the players that they will need to go and win some silverware."

The 24 year from Bellshill, used to be taken to Celtic matches by his father, Andrew and openly admits to looking out for Celtic results. Steven's father will be in the Dunfermline end however on Sunday although Steven's brother-in-law and his brother will be in the Celtic end. Steven added:-

"It is the first time in my Dad's life that he wants Celtic to get beat. He is getting a bit of stick off his mates in the pub."

If Steven and Andrew are to return to the west with a successful result they know that good defending and clinical finishing will be imperative.

"We have been doing well in the league but we have been conceding sloppy goals. Against Dundee away a couple of Sundays ago we played really well but conceded early goals. We need to start defending better as a full team; it is not just the back four but the midfield as well and it starts from the strikers.

"We need to start taking chances because we do create enough chances just don't score enough goals."

Four away to Thistle shows what can be done and two away to Dundee is never bad. The more imminent problem might be lack of matches. The double postponement of the Queen of the South game means that the Pars have played only five games since mid December.

Steven can't recall where he was when Inverness Caley Thistle sensationally defeated Celtic 3-1 at Celtic Park on 8th February 2000 but nice though it would be for the Pars, he doesn't believe in omens. If selected it will be his first ever match against the club he supports and he will be overjoyed to be part of another Hoops cup shock. He knows that all thoughts will need to be positive and all the support will be important:-

"If we go into the game thinking we will get beat, then we will get beat. We have got to go into the game thinking that we can get something. Hopefully it will be a full stadium with a crowd at our back to spur us on."