COYLE REVEALS HOW TO FOIL THE OLD FIRM

CELTIC to shade it! That is the verdict of Motherwell striker Owen Coyle on the latest Old Firm cruncher.

But no matter what the outcome of today's Ibrox clash - the latest in the titanic battle between Scotland's big two - Owen knows he'll have had a big say in the destination of the title.

Motherwell, battling for survival, are the one club in the country who have made it really tough for the Old Firm this season, winning against Celtic at Parkhead and running over Rangers at Fir Park.

That, plus a share of the spoils against Rangers at Ibrox and a home draw against Celtic, proves the point!

The skillful and crafty Owen has earned his corn with Clydebank, Dumbarton, Aird rie and Bolton before returning to be one of the most feared strikers in the top ten.

And he's certainly been the common denominator in the "Make Life Difficult for the Old Firm" stakes.

In the 2-1 win over Rangers last month, he scored with a header and then skinned the Ibrox defence to let in Willie Falconer with the winner.

And against Celtic in a blockbuster which saw Regi Blinker ordered off and eight players booked, he hit the first and then left Alan Stubbs for dead to set up Weir for the goal which won it.

Says Owen: "I do enjoy these big occasion matches and I know it's dangerous to predict any Old Firm clash.

"But I honestly do feel that Celtic will sneak this one.

"The two X factors are the introduction of Amoruso and whether or not Alan Stubbs makes it for Celtic.

"Looking at both squads there is nothing to choose between the goalkeepers

"Both Andy Goram and Jonathan Gould are class acts.

"I played with Stubbs for nearly three years at Bolton and he is a quality defender.

"And since the arrival of Marc Rieper from West Ham he's been allowed to attack more, which suits his style. I know Celtic conceded a couple of goals last weekend but the impressive thing is that this season they have lost only twenty goals.Miles better than any other side in the Top Ten.

"When did that last happen?

"And the fact that Walter Smith gambled on Amoruso proved that Rangers have problems in that area - although of course the gamble did work last weekend.

"The midfield of course is where it could be won and lost in games like these.

"If Celtic can get Jackie McNamara fit and playing wide and Burley on target then Celtic are quids in.

"Burley has scored twelve goals so far. That's good going for a midfielder.

"Rangers will miss Gazza, no doubt about that.

"He was the only player in Scotland who could beat three players on the run and make space for his teammates.

"Having said that, it now seems that players like Jonas Thern and Jorg Albertz are standing up to be counted.

"High time too, when you look at the kind of money Rangers are paying them!

"At 31, I'm a wean compared with Ally McCoist but you've got to hand it to Ally, he's breathed new life into Rangers and knocked Negri sideways in the process.

"Darren Jackson could do the same for Celtic alongside Larsson.

"I reckon this game is tailor made for his up-and-at-'em style.

"At the end of the day though, any Old Firm clash is a lottery but in this one I fancy Celtic hold the winning ticket."

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