Celtic 'no longer scared of Ibrox'

Celtic defender Bobo Balde believes taking on Rangers at Ibrox is no longer more daunting than playing UEFA Cup hopefuls Hearts.

The big centre-back interrupted Guinea’s preparations for the African Nations Cup to travel back for his side’s game at Tynecastle on Sunday.

Balde helped the Bank of Scotland Premier League leaders to a 1-0 success and while his return was a compliment to the threat posed by third-placed Hearts, who are 14 points behind Rangers, the defender’s claim Tynecastle is as intimidating a venue as Ibrox is likely to raise a few eyebrows in Glasgow.

He told www.celticfc.net: “I was pleased that we finished the game with three points because the manager had asked me specifically for this game because we knew it was going to be a tough one.

“Going to Tynecastle is as difficult as going to Ibrox, I think, and although we had a few chances that might have made the game a bit easier, we were pleased to get the victory.”

The scoreline was the same as the one they had enjoyed at Ibrox earlier in the season, when John Hartson saw the ball deflected past Stefan Klos off Zura Khizanishvili.

Hartson was at the centre of an alleged elbowing incident during a game which also saw Celtic goalkeeper Robert Douglas hit on the head by a coin and two Celtic fans appear to spit at Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Balde added: “There were a few incidents that could have unsettled us, but instead we kept our focus and our concentration because that was the most important thing for us to do.”

Balde is now back in Tunisia concentrating on the forthcoming games against Congo, Rwanda and the hosts.

He said: “It is a massive competition and I think we could be the surprise team in the tournament.”