Early in Martin O’Neill’s first tenure as Celtic manager he had a few cherished phrases. “Rangers are the benchmark”, was his go-to in his first season, as Celtic transformed from perennial underdogs to permanent favourites. Another was, “I’m only here because the previous manager lost to Inverness”.
That reference to John Barnes’ side’s Scottish Cup defeat lasted until early 2003, when Martin rested several first team players for the trip to Inverness in the same competition. A win at Anfield a few days earlier was followed by an exit from the national cup.
Sunday’s Scottish Cup opponents, Auchinleck Talbot, play in the sixth tier of Scottish football. That’s the same division Darvel were in three years ago, when they not only defeated, but outplayed Aberdeen in the same coemption. Arrive with the wrong attitude and anything can happen.
The Scottish Cup ghost of that defeat in Inverness will haunt Martin, and Shaun Maloney, who played that night. Liam Scales is unlikely to play on Sunday, but will doubtlessly tell the squad about his experience in the Aberdeen side who lost at Darvel. If the focus is not right, anything can happen on a football field.
502 Comments- Pages:
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WEEJOE on 18TH JANUARY 2026 4:03 PM
BSF stepway from your rotten jokes. 🫤
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I see what you did there 👍
You are also allowed to post on here James Forrest. And that’s no apex.
Dons are holding out!
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for a hero?
#BonnieTylerStuttgartCSC
what a trip that was!
new article posted.
The Blogger Formerly Known As GM on 18th January 2026 3:34 pm
You believing Wikapedia kinda says it all, anyone can post there FFS.
To work Celtic Do your best
Hail Hail
So what have we learned from this non-event of a game?
1. We have no goals in the team.
2. James Forrest remains head a class above his younger teammates.
3. Balikwisha really is gash (who scouted him for 18 months and concluded he should be one of our most expensive ever signings?)
4. Our B team would be highly competitive in the West of Scotland Premier League (6th tier).
Your reminder that Drum Utd took 5 off of Auchinleck in their last outing.