McNamara expects a classic - 7M sport

McNamara expects a classic

Posted Wednesday, September 23, 2009 by PA

Falkirk manager Eddie May hopes to have a full squad for the Co-operative Insurance Cup tie with Celtic.

Several players suffered knocks during the draw with Hamilton but May will give them until the last moment to prove their fitness.

Scott Arfield may also return after a knock saw him restricted to a late introduction against the Accies.

Falkirk full-back Jackie McNamara believes both managers' commitment to attacking football will result in a thriller against Celtic.

McNamara has always been impressed by Celtic manager Tony Mowbray's teams, while Eddie May has set his side up in an attacking formation with two wingers and two strikers.

Both managers are also looking for a cup boost at the Falkirk Stadium following disappointing European results.

"I think it will be an exciting game," McNamara said. "Both teams like to play football.

"Mogga (Mowbray) has done that throughout his career as a manager and I played against his West Brom team when I was at Wolverhampton. They have always been good games to play in."

May's attacking ethos has not been evident in Falkirk's most recent results - goalless draws against Aberdeen and Hamilton - but McNamara is confident the goals will come.

Carl Finnigan saw a goal controversially ruled out against Hamilton on Saturday and McNamara feels they are on the right track.

"We have not scored goals but we have been creating chances and looked quite dangerous," the former Celtic captain said.

"It's just that little fine line of getting the ball in the net.

"Against Hamilton we were a bit unfortunate not to win. With Carl's goal, I didn't think there was much in it.

"If we weren't creating chances or the guys weren't getting into the box and the ball wasn't coming in, then you would say it's not been working.

"But the more you keep plugging away and doing things right and getting the balls in there, the way the guys are playing up front, the goals will come."

Greek striker Georgios Samaras is still sidelined for Celtic.

Samaras picked up a nasty shin injury against Hapoel Tel Aviv in last week's Europa League defeat, after crashing into his own club's dug-out, and missed Sunday's 2-1 Clydesdale Bank Premier League win over Hearts.

Celtic assistant manager Mark Venus has hit out at the Scottish Football Association for delaying Glenn Loovens' appeal - and insists the club will not be agreeable to scheduling it before the Old Firm derby against Rangers on Sunday week.

The Holland defender is in limbo, not knowing if or when he will serve a one-game suspension for an alleged stamp on Light Blues midfielder Maurice Edu in a Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash at Ibrox on May 9.

Referee Craig Thompson missed the incident but the SFA reviewed it on DVD in the immediate aftermath and the ban was handed down in August.

The Parkhead club subsequently appealed but, more than 19 weeks since the incident, no date has yet been set for the hearing with the SFA still in the process of putting together a three-man panel with an independent chairman.

"I believe we have actually offered some dates to the panel about the hearing but as yet we haven't come together to get the right day," he said.

"The indecision with the length of time the appeal is taking doesn't do the manager's long-term plans any favours, I would suggest.

"It has run for a while now and we have a lot of fixtures coming up.

"To benefit all parties, clubs, players, press, and the SPL, the quicker the better, isn't it?

"If they can get together as quickly as possible when the appeal comes in and deal with it, as they do with other things, on the same day or the Monday or Tuesday, then I think everyone would prefer that.

"To let it drag on and drag on and drag on, I don't know, it doesn't seem as professional as it could be to me."

Venus insists Celtic will be treating the CIS Cup with maximum respect even though he hinted that Mowbray may take the opportunity to rest some of his regulars such as such as Scott Brown, Shaun Maloney and Andreas Hinkel.

"It is one of the three domestic trophies and we are going to try and win it," he said.

"I don't know if we will play our strongest side.

"We have a squad of players and it wouldn't surprise me if some of the other (fringe) players played.

"But no matters who plays, we will be going to win it."

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