Sportopinion
Chris Sutton: Playing at Hearts was always a test of nerve for Celtic but I hope Jambos don't quit Tynecastle
CHRIS knows the Hoops face a tough cup tie on Sunday and says Scottish game would be poorer if the Jambos leave their intimidating home ground.
Chris Sutton nets at Tynecastle in August 2000
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HEARTS against Celtic is going to be a cracker with a real edge.
Ronny Deila and his team will face a ferocious atmosphere at Tynecastle and it's one of the matches on the calendar that always lifts the game in Scotland.
Let's hope Celtic going there remains a permanent long-term situation.
I liked playing at Tynecastle and was sad to hear they may be moving.
Ann Budge's announcement that the club might have to get out of the stadium for financial reasons made sense of course.
She has to do the best thing for Hearts going forward and if it is felt that is the way to proceed then you cannot argue with her. She's the one who knows the finances.
But Tynecastle would be a great loss to Scottish football and I also feel it would be a massive loss to Hearts.
Never mind Hearts, they'd lose their soul if they left there.
It's a fantastic place to play football. It might need a lick of paint or a bit of a revamp but it has a soul.
It is exciting when the place gets going and the fans can really lift their team.
Right now, there are too many times you see Scottish games being played out in front of flat atmospheres and empty seats.
Celtic ace Leigh Griffiths revels in the Tynecastle atmosphere last season (Image: SNS Group)
But there is not a chance that will be the case tomorrow. It's going to be electric and will bring back some pleasing memories for me.
As I said, I relished playing at Tynecastle. The atmosphere could be fantastic.
The fans are close to the pitch and they get behind their team.
I always found Hearts supporters a bit of a horrible lot to the Celtic players but that makes the match even more exciting to play in.
People always ask about particular memories of stadiums and we did really well as a team whenever I played there.
I expect there to be another happy experience for the Celtic players in Gorgie tomorrow.
Despite losing to Salzburg on Thursday, Ronny Deila's men must head along the M8 to the capital in good heart after reaching the knockout stage of the Europa League.
You can't argue with the fact that Celtic are making life difficult for themselves in some of these matches.
At European level they have to learn to stop giving away cheap and easy goals.
That needs to be addressed quickly. They have vulnerability about them whoever they play.
You can't go 2-0 down in a big European match inside 13 minutes. It's virtually game over with the mountain you give yourselves to climb.
It's also happening domestically because Dundee got their fair share of chances against Celtic at Parkhead in the Premiership last weekend.
If Celtic want to compete at a higher level they have to do better.
There is a gulf in class in the opposition compared to games in Scotland and it's going be a tough task no matter who Celtic get in the last 32.
John Guidetti will boost Celtic's hopes in last 32 in Europa League (Image: SNS Group)
There were plenty of things to work on and not be pleased about in the first half but you have to say they showed spirit after the break.
Celtic could have caved in but there was a character about the players and Leigh Griffiths and Emilio Izaguirre both had chances to make it 2-2 before the Austrians scored their third.
Perhaps Deila's side even deserved something from the game through that second 45 minutes.
But over the whole campaign and after the disappointments of the Champions League qualifiers it was good to get through.
It looked tough on paper and, regardless of the performance against Salzburg at home, they qualified for the last 32 and you have to say deservedly so.
Things are looking up. James Forrest has come back into the set-up and John Guidetti is available for the next stage of the Europa League so that can only help. The return of Griffiths was also positive against Salzburg.
He has struggled badly for game-time since Deila took over but he was given an opportunity and, although he missed a good chance, he was bright, sharp and hungry.
Plenty of pieces are starting to fall into place and tomorrow gives Celtic a great chance to round off the opening part of Deila's reign by going through in the Scottish Cup.
With a League Cup semi-final in the bag, Europa League progress secured and a position at the top of the Premiership, there is a chance here to set up an exciting beginning to 2015.
Hearts are doing really well in the Championship, as demonstrated by their win over Rangers last weekend.
Robbie Neilson has them organised and playing good stuff. Celtic managed to defeat them reasonably comfortably in the League Cup earlier in the campaign but that was at Parkhead and Tynecastle might give Hearts added impetus.
Rangers failed to get the job done there a week ago but Celtic are at a higher level than them and there is a gulf in quality.
I cannot see them slipping up and ruining a good week.
William Hill Scottish Cup
Emilio Izaguirre
James Forrest
Hearts FC
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