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Lennon hopes for 3rd time lucky at Hampden

Celtic manager Neil Lennon is hoping to avoid a hat-trick of Hampden disappointments when his side take on St Mirren in Sunday's League Cup semi-final.

The Hoops boss watched on in agony as his side lost out to Kilmarnock in last March's League Cup final before the Parkhead club succumbed to a late Hearts winner in their Scottish Cup semi-final in April.

The Glasgow giants are currently in a great position as they continue their hunt for a first domestic treble in 12 years and also have a Champions League last-16 tie against Juventus to look forward to next month.

But after his previous results at Hampden in charge of the Hoops, which include another Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Ross County, Lennon is far from relaxed heading into the game.

"Every game is a knife-edge, in terms of what we want to do domestically and in Europe," the Celtic manager said.

"And, in a semi-final, anything can happen.

"I am very, very wary of St Mirren and very, very wary of playing at Hampden.

"It will be a totally different environment, different conditions, a different ball, even.

"So we have to adapt very quickly to this game.

"If we don't turn up on Sunday, St Mirren could turn us over and the chance of a treble would be gone.

"It's very exciting that we have put ourselves in this position, but one game could change everything."

Celtic will be boosted by the availability of Kelvin Wilson for Sunday's tie, the defender having now served his two-game suspension, and Lennon is hopeful keeper Fraser Forster will have recovered from the neck injury that has ruled him out of their past two games.

However, the match has come too soon for winger James Forrest and Efe Ambrose remains on international duty with Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Meanwhile, St Mirren boss Danny Lennon says the Buddies will travel to Hampden on Sunday hoping to defy the odds against the tournament favourites.

And he is seeking inspiration from Kilmarnock's 1-0 win against Celtic in last season's final.

"I certainly believe that miracles do happen," the St Mirren manager said.

"It's a one-off game. More often than not the hungrier team wins and I certainly hope that's us on Sunday.

"We're certainly not just going there just to enjoy the occasion. We want to go and make it an occasion.

"We have to make sure that we bring our key strengths. We've got to show bravery, confidence and a lot of desire and work rate."

On Saturday, the other semi-final sees high-flying Inverness Caledonian Thistle take on Hearts at Easter Road in Edinburgh.

Inverness manager Terry Butcher has led the Highlanders to the giddy heights of second in the Scottish Premier League this season, but the former England captain says taking the club to the final of the League Cup for the first time in their history would top all of his managerial achievements.

"How they've made it happen, reaching the semi-finals, is because of their hard work and what they put into games as well," Butcher said.

"They don't hold back. They give me and the club everything and there's no reason to change that on Saturday.

"There's always pressure. That's pretty normal.

"The players have got themselves into this strong position. The more successful you are, the more games you win, the more semi-finals and finals and quarter-finals you will play in.

"They're pretty much used to a high league position. We're used to making progress in the cups as well and we want that to continue."

Fixtures (1500 GMT unless otherwise stated)

Saturday

Inverness CT v Hearts

Sunday

St Mirren v Celtic (1430)

  

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