LIAM SCALES is determined not to relive a Scottish Cup nightmare when Celtic take on Auchinleck Talbot at Rugby Park on Sunday evening.
The Republic of Ireland international defender was on loan to Aberdeen and part of the team beaten 1-0 and knocked out of the national competition by Darvel in January 2023 in one of the most sensational results in the tournament’s history.
Scales had a flashback moment when the draw was announced and admitted: “That was the first thing that came into my head when I saw the draw.
“I don’t think complacency was the issue that night.
“They really wanted it a lot and we have to approach this game knowing that this is massive for their players. We have to be right on it.
“You have to realise that it’s a massive tie for us, too. They’re going to play like this is the Cup Final for them and we have to do the same.
HAMPDEN HORROR SHOW…Liam Scales challenges St Mirren forward Conor McMenamin in Celtic’s 3-1 loss in the Premier Sports League Cup Final last month.
“It’s just about respecting them and playing the exact same way as we’d play in a European game or in a Cup Final.
“It’s about respecting and not thinking that you can cruise games like this because you can’t. I’ve also learned that in the past.
“We want to get back to winning as much as we can. This is where it starts for us now. This is our chance to get back to winning ways in these Cup competitions.”
Martin O’Neill has steadied the ship for the second time this season after taking over on an interim basis from Brendan Rodgers in late October and Wilfried Nancy earlier this month.
The champions lost six of the French flop’s eight games in charge, including blowing the Premier League Cup with a woeful performance against St Mirren at Hampden last month, collapsing to a feeble 3-1 defeat.
Welcoming back the charismatic Irishman, Scales, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Martin’s been successful since he’s been here this season. We feel confident under him.
GETTING SHIRTY…Liam Scales gets up close and personal with Barney Stewart in Celtic’s 1-0 win over Falkirk in midweek.
“Even though performances haven’t all been at our top level, we’ve managed to pull through games, get results and keep clean sheets. I suppose that’s been the main thing that’s got us those seven wins.
“We had a couple of bad results, Martin and his backroom team came in and they knew we had the ability and the players here to win games. It was just about getting confidence.
“It’s almost like a carbon copy of coming back in and needing to lift us. It’s just the way they approach training, they fill you with confidence every day. The way they speak to you, it’s really helped a lot.
“I think all of the lads do have a good relationship with him. I suppose you know what you have to do to keep him happy, which is a good thing.”
Scales is back where he is most comfortable at the heart of the defence after Nancy’s disastrous change of formation that backfired spectacularly on the sacked manager and his confused players.
The 27-year-old 13 times-capped back-four performer added: “The majority of my games have been played as a centre-half in a back four.
“When you’re asked to do something different, it can be difficult.
BACK IN THE OLD ROUTINE…Martin O’Neill watches Celtic pick up three precious points at Falkirk.
“I really didn’t have time to develop into that role I was being asked to do. It involved a lot more running than I had been doing.
“I felt that as I got tired in games, it was harder to bring quality in that final third.
“I haven’t played that high up as much. Especially when your legs are tired, because you’re doing more running, more covering in that back three, the fatigue can take away quality.
“For me, I felt like that is what happened with me. I felt good in the first-half of the League Cup Final, but as the game developed, I nearly ran out of steam.
“I think that was just out of not being used to playing in that position and doing more running at high speed and covering more distance. It’s not an excuse, it just takes time to get used to that, what’s being asked of you physically. I think that was the difference for me.
“The two clean sheets against Dundee United and Falkirk are a massive bonus. For us, as defenders, we know we have the quality further up the pitch.
“If we keep clean sheets, we know we’re going to get results.”
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