Much has been made of the injuries and suspensions which will limit Terry Butcher’s team selection but an examination of the starting eleven from our famous win in May suggests that we may be able to field a team which has only a couple of changes.
The team which robbed Celtic of the SPL title was Marshall, Craigan, Corrigan, Kinniburgh, Fitzpatrick, Paterson, Fagan, Kerr, Hamilton, McDonald and Foran. Only two of those (Corrigan and Foran) are unavailable.
We can dismiss pre-season results. As usual they will give little indication of form in the campaign ahead. Our loss to Queen of the South may have been a disappointment but it pales into insignificance when compared to the disastrous 5-0 gubbing they suffered in their champions league qualifier. They looked to be in complete disarray in midweek and it seems unlikely that they will deliver another shocking performance at the weekend. Nevertheless, they will be the more nervous team and if we can get about them then we may emerge with at least a point.
The configuration of the crowd will be unusual. For the first time the away team will have both the South and Cooper stands behind both goals with the home support along the length of the ground. The atmosphere for opening games is always special and it will be no different on this occasion.
We’ll settle for a point in a 1-1 draw.