Preview Celtic

Betfred Cup Second Round: (away) Saturday 17th August 2019, kick off 3.00pm at Celtic Park

After losing 4-3 to Romanian side CFR Club, Celtic manager Neil Lennon said that his side “threw away” a place in the Champions League with their home leg defeat on Tuesday night. Now their next opponents are Dunfermline Athletic in the Betfred Cup and as if the Fifers were not aware of the Scottish champions ruthless finishing with 12 goals in their two domestic matches this season, there is also the possibility of a backlash to their Champions League exit.

Somewhat bizarrely then this is an away game that Pars players and fans are looking forward to. After several seasons of frequent top flight visits to Celtic Park, this cup tie will be the first return since February 2012. For most of the players and a lot of the fans this will be their first taste of the stadium with the player who is the most recent visitor being Josh Edwards who played there with Airdrieonians earlier this year.

Milestones Celtic (Away)

Last Victory | 26/11/05 | 1 - 0 | SPL
Last Defeat | 22/02/12 | 0 - 2 | SPL
Best Victory | 30/12/89 | 2 - 0 | Prem Lg
Worst Defeat | 14/01/28 | 0 - 9 | Div One*
* Pre Reconstruction

League Cup Record v Celtic

Played 9 Won 1 Drawn 0 Lost 8

19/03/2006 | Dunfermline 0 Celtic 3
14/10/1997 | Dunfermline 0 Celtic 1
22/08/1984 | Dunfermline 2 Celtic 3
28/08/1982 | Dunfermline 1 Celtic 7
14/08/1982 | Celtic 6 Dunfermline 0
21/09/1966 | Dunfermline 1 Celtic 3
14/09/1966 | Celtic 6 Dunfermline 3
15/09/1956 | Dunfermline 3 Celtic 0
12/09/1956 | Celtic 6 Dunfermline 0

Last visit to Celtic Park
SPL Wednesday 22 February 2012,
Celtic 2 Dunfermline 0

Injury-hit Dunfermline restricted a buoyant Celtic side to two goals in a match that was a personal triumph for goalkeeper Chris Smith.

Smith`s goal had been well-protected and just as the rumblings from the stands were beginning, Celtic took the lead, and what an absolute cracker it was. In the 32nd minute Celtic sought to find a way through Dunfermline`s defences, passing side to side thirty-five yards out from goal, but going nowhere - that is until Charlie MULGREW stepped up from defence to thump home an unstoppable left foot drive that gave Smith no chance. 1-0

In 75 minutes Celtic made the game safe when Hooper was allowed to send over a low cross from the byeline on Celtic`s right.The Pars defence, which had been so vigilant all night, were posted missing as sub James FORREST sneaked in at the back post to net easily.

CELTIC: Fraser Forster; Du-Ri Cha, Charlie Mulgrew, Kelvin Wilson, Emilio Izaguirre (James Forrest 67), Sung-Yong Ki, Joe Ledley, Scott Brown (Pawel Brozek 77), Kris Commons; Gary Hooper, Anthony Stokes (Georgios Samaras 67).
SUBS NOT USED: Daniel Majstorovic, Adam Matthews, Dylan McGeouch, Lukasz Zaluska

DUNFERMLINE: Chris Smith; Andy Dowie, Kevin Rutkiewicz (Austin McCann HT), Alex Keddie, Patrick Boyle; David Graham, Paul Burns, Ryan Thomson, Kyle Hutton, Joe Cardle (Paul Willis 60); Liam Buchanan (Martin Hardie 67)
SUBS NOT USED: Steven McDougall, Gary Mason, Shaun Byrne, Ryan Goodfellow (GK).

Recent Matches

DUNFERMLINE
Queen of the South (A) D 1-1
Dundee (H) D 2-2
East Kilbride (H) 4-0
Edinburgh City (A) L 0-1
Albion Rovers (H) W 6-0
St Mirren (H) W 3-2

Dunfermline topped their Betfred Cup Group but have drawn both their matches in the Championship.

CELTIC
CFR Cluj (H) L 3-4
Motherwell (A) L 5-2
CFR Cluj (A) D 1-1
St Johnstone (H) W 7-0
Nomme Kalju (A) W 2-0
Nomme Kalju (H) W 5-0

Celtic were unbeaten in their seven matches this season including five in the Champions League up until Tuesday night when Cluj knocked them out of the Champions League. They have scored 38 goals in the process including 12 in their two matches against Scottish opponents.

Last Time Out

DUNFERMLINE (v Queen of the South): Ryan Scully: Aaron Comrie, Euan Murray (Stuart Morrison 90+8), Lee Ashcroft, Lewis Martin: Paul Paton (c), Ryan Dow, Tom Beadling, Kyle Turner (Lewis McCann 88): Kevin Nisbet, Andy Ryan (Josh Coley 65).
SUBS NOT USED: Josh Edwards, Matthew Todd, Paul Allan, Cammy Gill (GK)

CELTIC (v CFR Cluj): Scott Bain: Kristoffer Ajer, Hatem Elhamed, Jozo Simunovic, Scott Brown (Bayo 88), Olivier Ntcham (Leigh Griffiths 83), James Forrest, Ryan Christie, Callum McGregor, Michael Johnston (Lewis Morgan 75), Odsonne Edouard.
SUBS NOT USED: Craig Gordon (GK), Nir Bitton, Lewis Morgan, Christopher Jullien, Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo.

Related Stories

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• Dunfermline 2 Dundee 2
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• 22/02/2012 - Celtic 2 Dunfermline 0