Allan Campbell say Motherwell have 'fire in the belly' for latest Celtic clash
Last updated 1st Dec 2017
Motherwell midfielder Allan Campbell is relishing another `battle' with Celtic and will use the tension sparked by their first two meetings to fire him up.
The clubs prepare to complete a memorable trilogy of games at Parkhead on Saturday amid controversies over penalty decisions, accusations of diving, missile-throwing from fans and complaints over tackles.
Motherwell were two minutes from avenging their Betfred Cup final defeat by beating Celtic on Wednesday but a contentious penalty award allowed Scott Sinclair to extend the Hoops' unbeaten domestic run to 66 games.
When asked if it was important to wipe out the needle, Campbell said: `Sometimes you can use that as an advantage, a bit of fire between both teams. I think that's always good. I look forward to going into the game with a bit of battle in it.
`I don't think you want to leave it necessarily, you want to keep that going, a bit of spite between the two teams going on the park and get a good battle. I'll get stuck in, show no fear. On the park you can't be friends with your opponents.
`We've got a bite of fire in the belly and buzzing to go and get stuck in again, and hopefully get the win. That's the main thing, we want to beat them this time.'
Manager Stephen Robinson was keen to stress the positives of their close encounters with Brendan Rodgers' side.
It's a tough week, three games in six days against the champions, unbeaten in 66 games,' Robinson said.It's tough for a wee club like Motherwell. I read in the paper the other day the gap between us and Celtic is double the financial disparity of Celtic and PSG.
`The fact there's been so much publicity around it means they must have been decent games, they must have been competitive. Nobody's really spoken about that, the fact we took a point off the champions and were very unlucky not to get three points, and the final was very close up until the decision changed the game. Nobody has really spoken about the football aspects of it, it's only the controversial decisions, which is a shame.
`The fact that little Motherwell are even rivalling Celtic is a massive credit to the players and staff of this football club. There is certainly no needle. I have total respect for Brendan Rodgers and his side, and so have my players. We are going there to win a football match with total respect for the opposition.'
Robinson is `expecting nothing' to come from the club's quest for answers over two penalty awards for Celtic, but is wary that any contact in the box could cost them again.
It's probably something you need to be aware of, because you literally cannot touch players,' he said.That's not just Celtic players, that's every player. That's just modern day football. It's very minimal contact now. The game has changed a lot.
`But I can't tell my players to stand off Scott Sinclair or Patrick Roberts, because if you stand off them they are going to score. It's a fine line. And you are just hoping for strong decisions and the right decisions. Some will go for you, some won't. That's football.'