Partick Thistle face a seemingly impossible task on Wednesday night as they travel to champions-elect Celtic. The Bhoys can move 10 points clear of second-placed Aberdeen with a win, and are now odds-on favourites to defend their Scottish Premiership title with nine games remaining.
Thistle are 14 points above bottom club St Mirren and will not be relegated automatically this season, but they could yet be dragged into the relegation playoff which is likely to include fallen giants Rangers and Hibernian. An unexpected three points would give the Glasgow club a much-needed boost to stave off any lingering relegation fears.
Celtic
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Manager Ronny Deila's first season in charge at Parkhead has gone almost perfectly domestically this season, winning the Scottish League Cup in March, and reaching the Scottish Cup semi-final, where they will play Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Hampden Park later this month.
They have lost just four times in 29 Scottish Premiership matches and Deila insists that the team is aiming for the treble this season.
Celtic's European results have been mixed this season, exiting the Champions League in the final qualifying round with a defeat against Slovenian side Maribor.
They had better luck in the Europa League though, advancing from Group D and drawing 3-3 to Inter Milan in the last 32. They conceded in the 88th minute of the second leg, though, and were subsequently knocked out.
Another win at Paradise on Wednesday could see Celtic stretch their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership, if Aberdeen drop points at home to third-placed Inverness Caledonian Thistle. They are looking for their fourth successive title and midfielder Stefan Johansen, who has scored 11 goals this season, feels that the team is improving as the season progresses.
They are heavy favourites to take victory, having won 10 of their last 11 Scottish Premiership fixtures.
Recent Scottish Premiership form: WWLWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WWWWDL
Partick Thistle
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Alan Archibald's men have struggled to find any consistency this season, exiting both domestic cup competitions early and struggling in the league.
A recent run of two wins and a draw has seen them climb eight points clear of 11th-placed Motherwell, but they are desperate to pick up some points in order to ensure they will not be participating in the relegation playoff in May.
The club's primary aim every season is to stay in the Scottish Premiership, and Archibald looks likely to lead the team in the top division next season.
Kris Doolan, in his sixth season at the club, has scored eight Scottish Premiership goals, but he may find it difficult to threaten the Celtic defence as Partick have scored just 13 goals in 15 away games this season.
Partick Thistle tend to struggle to see out games, and would be in the top half of the table if matches ended at half time.
Recent Scottish Premiership form: DWWLWD
Team News
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Midfielder Tom Rogic could be in line to make his first appearance for Celtic since November 2013. The Australian international came through a development squad match unscathed last Monday after two back-to-back groin injuries had seen him spend the last 18 months on the sidelines.
Deila's main selection dilemma will be who to leave out of the starting XI from wingers Gary Mackay-Steven, Stuart Armstrong and James Forrest. With Forrest scoring two goals in the last three matches, the Norwegian is likely to leave January signing Armstrong on the bench.
Leigh Griffiths has been preferred to John Guidetti in attack for Celtic in recent weeks and Deila is likely to select the striker after he was rested for the win against St Mirren on Friday.
Partick Thistle have no players suspended for the tie, and goalkeeper Scott Fox looks to finally be making a comeback after a number of injuries throughout the season.
He will start at Parkhead, with Doolan and Stuart Bannigan likely to lead the line once again.
Celtic possible starting lineup:
Gordon; Matthews, Denayer, Van Dijk, Izaguirre; Brown, Johansen, Forrest, Commons, Mackay-Steven; Griffiths
Partick Thistle possible starting lineup:
Fox; O'Donnell, Balatoni, Frans, Booth; Craigen, Stevenson, Lawless, Osman; Bannigan, Doolan
Head To Head
Celtic have scored 10 goals in three matches against Partick Thistle this season, conceding none. This included a 6-0 Scottish Cup victory, when Griffiths struck twice and Guidetti scored a hat-trick.
Their last match against each other finished 3-0 to the Bhoys, with their first Scottish Premiership match finishing 1-0 at Parkhead.
Celtic also defeated Partick Thistle in all three league games last season, and Thistle have failed to gain a point in this fixture since returning to the Scottish Premiership in 2013.
We say: Celtic 4-0 Partick Thistle
Celtic's recent form, coupled with Partick Thistle's struggles away from home this season can only lead to a Celtic victory on Wednesday night, and Griffiths will be relishing the opportunity to add to the 11 goals he has scored already this season.
Jonathan McIntosh
