Source: Team_Talk
Samaras plays down Old Firm defeats
Celtic striker Georgios Samaras believes Old Firm defeats will lose their shock value as the Scottish Premier League season goes on.[LNB] Eyebrows were raised on Wednesday night when Neil Lennon's side went down 2-0 to Hearts at Tynecastle and Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers lost 3-0 to Hibernian at Ibrox.[LNB]Ahead of the trip to St Mirren on Sunday, the Greece international anticipated intermittent trouble for Celtic and Rangers as they continue their battle at the top of the table this season.[LNB]He said: "It was a good opportunity for us on Wednesday to go first in the table but trust me, there is a lot of twists and turns until the end of the season and both teams will lose points, that's for sure.[LNB]"There's still nearly 30 games remaining, it's not possible to win all the games.[LNB]"We must forget what happened against Hearts. It's in the past and we are looking forward.[LNB]"I don't want to make any excuses, say what was wrong or what was bad, all I want to do is focus on the next game.[LNB]"When you lose a game it is not the best feeling but there is always the next day in football and all we can do is focus for the next game against St Mirren away."[LNB]Celtic manager Neil Lennon, still smarting from the defeat at Tynecastle, is expecting another difficult afternoon against Danny Lennon's side who are buoyed by their surprise win over Dundee United at Tannadice in midweek.[LNB]"They had a good result at Dundee United and you seen by the results the other night that any team can beat any other team on any given day," the Irishman said.[LNB]"There was a lot of surprise results.[LNB]"Danny has done a decent job there. It has been difficult, he's had to bring new players in to a different level of the Scottish game but I'm sure he would have been delighted with the result against United because it is a difficult place to go."[LNB]Although midfielder Joe Ledley is banned after receiving a red card against Hearts, young defender Thomas Rogne returns from suspension and Lennon has to decide whether or not to bring him back at the expense of Jos Hooiveld.[LNB]He said: "It is good to have competition again.[LNB]"Thomas has done very well but we were pleased with Jos on Wednesday night.[LNB]"He has been very patient when other players might have chucked it and he was steady against Hearts."[LNB]
