Strach hopes Hoops get lucky

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has seen some opponents get off lightly against his side this season.

But he claims tomorrow’s opponent’s Falkirk were particularly unlucky to lose by four goals the last time the two sides met at Parkhead in December.

Aiden McGeady’s hat-trick, which followed a Scott McDonald penalty, sent the Bairns back home with red faces.

Ahead of the trip to the Falkirk Stadium, Strachan is expecting a tricky afternoon and knows the home side will not require any invitation to attack the Bhoys backline.

But he expects his own players to pour forward and put pressure on the Falkirk goal too.

Harking back to the heavy win for his side in Glasgow last month, Strachan said: “You can be unfortunate sometimes as a team.

“We scored four goals with 16 attempts at goal when we beat them 4-0 at home recently.

“Last week against Kilmarnock we had 23 attempts at goal and only scored with an own-goal, so you can be lucky or unlucky.

“So I think Falkirk were a wee bit unlucky that day.

“We are happy with the football we are playing at the moment.

“In our last four games we have been averaging over 20 attempts at goal per game which is very, very good.

“It is all to do with finishing.

“Our defensive record is not that bad either.

“We would like it to be better and we obviously had that bad run away from home when we couldn’t keep a clean sheet.

“But throughout that we were scoring goals to win games.”

The former Coventry and Southampton boss is expecting the Bairns to play their part in an open and entertaining spectacle.

But Strachan accepts the continuing inclement weather which has recently affected the fixture list may play its part.

He said: “I have been with clubs playing against Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal who have had to make sure that they don’t concede goals. I understand that.

“But Falkirk like to try to attack and they are at home so they have the responsibility to attack.

“So if the conditions are right then it should be a good game.

“However, conditions might decide the line-ups and the way the game is going to get played.

“But so far this year we have done reasonably well against them so we hope that continues.”

Celtic will have midfielder McGeady back in action.

The Republic of Ireland international picked up a booking against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in December which earned him the first ban of his career.

Strachan welcomed McGeady back and said: “Good players decide games.”

Striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, who had his head stitched after clashing with Kilmarnock’s Simon Ford last week, is a doubt.

Defender Andreas Hinkel’s thigh strain, which the German sustained in the same game, rules him out.

Burnley target Derek Riordan is struggling with an upset stomach.