‘WE KNOW WHAT’S AT STAKE,’ SCALES’ BATTLE CRY

LIAM SCALES insists Celtic owe Hearts one as the teams prepare to go head to head at Tynecastle this afternoon.

But the Republic of Ireland centre-back also reckons the champions owe THEMSELVES a performance against the Edinburgh side after two defeats in a turbulent campaign on and off the field for the Hoops.

The Parkhead side go into what is certain to be a no-holds-barred encounter with Derek McInnes’ team six points adrift of the team that have set the pace in the Premiership this season.

Obviously, it would have been a different story if the real Celtic had turned up on both occasions when their rivals took full advantage of a team failing to function at the highest level.

Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops managerial career ended in the aftermath of the mystifyingly lackadaisical showing when the side capitulated to a 3-1 loss in Gorgie on Sunday October 26.

UP AND AT ‘EM…Liam Scales, with a little help from Sebastian Tounekti, wins an aerial battle in Celtic’s 3-1 loss to Hearts at Tynecastle in October.

A day later, the Northern Irishman was on his way and it’s highly unlikely there will be a third stint at the club for a gaffer who won 11 of 13 domestic honours available during his two periods.

Wilfried Nancy didn’t fare much better when he kicked off his calamitous 33 days in charge with a feeble 2-0 reverse at Parkhead on Sunday December 7. A total of six disastrous defeats in eight outings saw the Frenchman received a quickfire P45.

Now Martin O’Neill is in temporary control for the second time this term and this afternoon’s opponents, who last won the title in 1960, are about to find themselves in a whole new ballgame.

The charismatic 73-year-old team chief has triumphed in all seven league games he has presided over across his two interim spells.

Scales is convinced Celtic are a different animal now and said: “We know how Hearts play. We know their strengths. We know they’re a solid team and have good players all over the park. They have threats in their forward areas.

“I think we do owe them. We weren’t at our best when we played them both times. We owe ourselves a good performance against them, as well. I think that’s key.

“I have massive respect for how they’ve done this season. They have been really good and you have to give them credit. We just want to approach it the same way we have been approaching the last few games.

“I don’t think it’s a title decider or anything like that, but it’s a massive game. We know what’s at stake.”

HEADMASTER…Martin O’Neill sends a message to his Celtic players in Bologna.

Scales and his team-mates were involved in a heroic rearguard battle in Bologna only three days ago when they were reduced to 10 men for more than an hour following Reo Hatate’s red card, but still held out for a gallant 2-2 draw to keep alive their hopes of progressing to the Europa League knock-out stages.

There are fears fatigue might catch up with the players in the capital, but the 25-year-old defender dismissed such a notion.

Scales, speaking to The Scotsman, continued: “I don’t think that should affect us. We have a really strong squad and we have a really fit squad.

“We’re used to playing games back-to-back, two or three days after each other. It shouldn’t really be a problem.”

The wholehearted operator also took the time to applaud the display of his back-four ally Auston Trusty, who, as well as scoring the second goal, produced a defensive masterclass.

Scales added: “I’d say it was up there with the best performance I’ve ever had from a centre-back partner. It felt like every ball that came in our box, it was like a magnet on his head.

JOY BHOYS…Liam Scales, Yang Hyun-jun, Kieran Tierney and Arne Engels congratulate Auston Trusty after his goal to make it 2-0 for Celtic in Bologna. 

“He was making blocks. He was absolutely brilliant. That’s all playing on his weaker side. It’s a credit to him. That’s a difficult place to be, especially as a left-footer.

“He uses the ball really well. You know what you’re going to get from him defensively. He’s physically strong and he’s also got pace.

“We’ve played alongside each other enough now to know each other’s games. That’s where you want to be. In a partnership, you want to have that. We are aware of each other’s strengths.

“Once you have a run of games together, it gets easier and easier. You just need to concentrate and cover each other when you need to cover each other.

“It all comes with playing together. It’s been really enjoyable.”

All of a Celtic persuasion hope the feelgood factor is still in evidence when the final whistle shrills at Tynecastle today.

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