90 minute treble tightrope

Did we get a fright at Inverness last week?  That’s probably overplaying it a bit, but we didn’t get our own way against a team who have already overachieved this season and are more than capable of raising their game for the big occasion.

This is a team who will have no fears of facing Celtic.  They have a manager who will arrive at Hampden tomorrow with a plan to win the game.

John Hughes will not be the only one with such a plan.  Ronny Deila knows this game is the most important on the roster between now and the end of the season.  Only a potential Scottish Cup Final would be a bigger game.  Without wanting to be disrespectful of Aberdeen’s title push, which is an arithmetical challenge only, we are two wins away from winning the treble, and Inverness are the only top flight team who are able to stop us.

It we do achieve a treble this season it will be our first in 14 years.  Martin O’Neill’s triumph in 2001 was our only one in 46 years, so we have to wait a long time for these occasions.  Unfortunately, it takes only 90 minutes to extinguish the opportunity.  A few refereeing decisions the right way and Dundee United had us in a vulnerable place in the last round.  Without absolute concentration the same could happen tomorrow and the remainder of our season would take on an exhibition-game feel.

Feeling a bit nervous now.

Keep your eye on Kris Commons, he loves Hampden.