Source: FOOTYMAD
Tensions ahead of United game
Will the managers shake hands before and after the game this time around? Anthony Stokes has picked up a virus and will miss the game against Dundee United at Parkhead today. Midfielder Joe Ledley is back in contention after serving his one-game suspension. Manager Neil Lennon is sure the visit of United will revive memories of the controversial games between the sides on Tayside last month. After his side lost to a late Gary Hooper goal in their last meeting, United manager Peter Houston took a swipe at Lennon for his enthusiastic celebrations, saying: "Celtic backroom staff celebrated as if they had won the league. I'm going to start running 30 yards down the track when we score a goal. Celtic seem to get away with it.'' This added to the differences of opinion expressed near the end of last season, after Celtic had won 2-0 at Tannadice, when Houston rebutted Lennon's claim that only Celtic had tried to play football. Lennon denies there is a problem between United boss Peter Houston and himself. He said: "Not that I know of. Emotions run high immediately after games and we all do and say things that maybe we shouldn't and I am as guilty of that as anyone. Again I don't think I did much wrong (at Tannadice). I did apologise for not taking the time to shake Peter's hand after the game. I think that might have upset him more than anything else and I totally understand it.'' Dundee United will be without winger Craig Conway who underwent knee surgery on Tuesday and is expected to be out for up to six weeks. He will be joined in the stands by Darren Dods (knee), Scott Severin (ankle) and Mihael Kovacevic (knee), while manager Houston has a doubt over Scott Robertson (calf). Danny Swanson and Jon Daly, who have been struggling in recent weeks, have completed a full week of training so come into contention for a starting place. Youngster Stuart Armstrong is also added to the squad. Houston hopes the game is remembered for all the right reasons. He said: "Last time we played them it was a fantastic game and it took until the dying minutes for Celtic to get the winner. In the furore that has followed I think that has been lost a bit and nobody has really talked about how well both teams played. It was a fantastic game, full of open football. This one is at Parkhead so we're expecting Celtic to have a lot of the ball and attack us. But our players have no fear and we'll be trying to create problems for them. This is the kind of challenge our players look forward to. We know what it's all about, Celtic will try to dominate us, we've got to stand firm when that happens and then look for openings of our own. I think we've got the right to believe we can go there and get something. If my players are strong and brave, like they have been so often in the past for me, then they're certainly good enough. I was delighted with the performance against Kilmarnock last weekend and if I get one similar this time round then we won't be far away.''
