Source: Team_Talk
Hooper: Bhoys best in SPL
Celtic striker Gary Hooper has stoked the fires ahead of next week's clash with Rangers by claiming the Hoops have the best team in the league.[LNB] The former Scunthorpe man snatched a double in a 2-1 win over Dundee United at Tannadice yesterday to make it eight Scottish Premier League wins in succession for the visitors which took them within a goal of the equally relentless Ibrox men at the top of the table.[LNB]Hooper, who notched his second and third goals in the SPL, believes Neil Lennon has the players at his disposal to take first blood this season against their Old Firm rivals.[LNB]"I haven't seen all the teams yet but we are the best in the league in my opinion," he said.[LNB]"We have a good team, all different nationalities bonding together and it showed at Tannadice.[LNB]"We must have made about 50 chances and we only took two of them but the main thing is we got three points.[LNB]"I am looking forward to next week.[LNB]"If the whole team plays like that we will have a good chance of making it nine unbeaten."[LNB]Hooper's confidence led him to also claim that he has Rangers striker Kenny Miller in his sights.[LNB]The former Scunthorpe striker is eight league goals behind his Old Firm rival but proclaimed: "The target for me is to beat him."[LNB]An enthralling match would have been dominated totally by a controversial penalty incident had Hooper not popped up with the late winner.[LNB]With the match at 1-1 in the second half, after David Goodwillie had cancelled out Hooper's opener before the break, Celtic appeared to have been awarded a penalty when referee Dougie McDonald pointed to the spot after United keeper Dusan Pernis clashed with Hooper.[LNB]However, after consulting his assistant, Steven Craven, McDonald gave a bounce ball in the box.[LNB]Afterwards Lennon fumed: "He's given the penalty and for me he can't change his mind.[LNB]"I didn't get an explanation until the referee came over and spoke to me.[LNB]"His explanation was that his linesman had a better view of it and the keeper had played the ball.[LNB]"I find that unacceptable. He looked pretty adamant to me when he gave the penalty. He got a really good look at it.[LNB]"Looking at the replay Pernis has got a touch on the ball but he has taken Garry as well."[LNB]United boss Peter Houston was unhappy with McDonald's overall performance.[LNB]"I don't think it was a penalty at all," he said. "I think the referee was quick to give it but great credit to the assistant, he saw it clearly wasn't a penalty.[LNB]"But Dougie was very inconsistent.[LNB]"He is quite quick to give penalties against us, we've had it in the past and no doubt we will have it in the future."[LNB]
