Champs Celtic aim to end with rare away win

17 May 2013 00:47

Champions Celtic will wrap up their Scottish Premier League campaign on Sunday by looking to end a six-game run without an away league win.

The Hoops won the league title at a canter but haven't claimed victory away from Parkhead since their defeat of Inverness Caledonian Thistle on February 9.

The Glasgow giants want to bring that dismal run to an end when they face Dundee United at Tannadice, with places in the team for the following weekend's Scottish Cup final against Hibernian up for grabs.

One player aiming to claim a place in the side to run out at the national stadium for the Cup final is winger James Forrest, who scored in last week's 4-0 win over St Johnstone.

Injury has wreaked havoc with his campaign, although the youngster believes that he will finish the season off in style - and be ready to hit the ground running this summer.

"It's been hard but I know that once I get a run of games again I will be back to playing well," Forrest said.

"I want to play against Dundee United and then I'll start thinking about the cup final, obviously we all want to play in that one.

"At the start of the season we wanted to win the league and we've done that. It's been a top season for us and the Scottish Cup final will round it off.

"I'm feeling good and want to stay fit now. It's been a frustrating season for me but I've still managed to play a lot of Champions League games so it's been good on that front. It's still been a good season to look back on when I'm older."

Elsewhere on Sunday, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and St Johnstone will both attempt to secure third spot and the final European place on offer in the SPL.

Inverness are in pole position - sitting one point above St Johnstone - and will clinch third if they can win away to Ross County in the Highland derby.

Meanwhile, Motherwell are the opponents for St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.

The Fir Park side have already secured second place in the SPL but boss Stuart McCall assured his Inverness counterpart Terry Butcher that his side would not lie down in the match.

"There is one more game left and there is a lot to play for with St Johnstone going for that European place," the Motherwell manager said.

"No doubt Terry will be on to me, making sure we play a full-strength team.

"Obviously we want to win and we want to get into double figures for away wins, we have nine already so we have an aim as well."

On Saturday, Celtic's cup final opponents Hibernian are at home to relegated Dundee and manager Pat Fenlon admits he will rest players in preparation for their trip to Hampden.

"We'll change it again at the weekend. It's three games in a week," said the Hibs manager, whose side won 3-1 at Kilmarnock in a rearranged game in midweek.

"We rested a few at Rugby Park and they will come back into contention for the weekend."

Hearts will bring down the curtain on a troubled season with a trip away to Aberdeen while Killie host second-bottom St Mirren.

Fixtures

Saturday (1400 GMT)

Aberdeen v Hearts, Hibernian v Dundee, Kilmarnock v St Mirren

Sunday (1045 GMT)

Dundee United v Celtic, Ross County v Inverness CT, St Johnstone v Motherwell

Source: AFP