Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic travel to Kilmarnock on Sunday in the Scottish Premiership, having been beaten by La Liga outfit Valencia in the Europa League.
Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke has admitted to Sky Sports that he expects to see a reaction from a ‘smarting’ Celtic side when they travel to Rugby Park on Sunday.
Celtic suffered a rare defeat on Thursday night when they lost 2-0 at home to Valencia in the first leg of the Europa League round of 32, conceding a goal in either half with Denis Cheryshev and debutant Ruben Sobrino on the scoresheet at Parkhead.
Brendan Rodgers’ team have seldom been outclassed like this, particularly in front of their own supporters, and they will be chomping at the bit to respond when they face Kilmarnock at the weekend.
And Clarke is wary of a response.
“(Celtic) will be smarting a little bit, they are not used to losing. So to lose a home game in Europe at that stage in the competition will be disappointing for them. We expect a reaction from them but we will be ready for it,” the former Chelsea coach told Sky Sports.
Kilmarnock away is hardly the easiest game for Celtic after facing a hugely talented Valencia team, albeit one short of star players Rodrigo Moreno and Jose Luis Gaya.
The Ayrshire outfit beat Celtic 2-1 back in September thanks to a late winner from one-time Hoops youngster Stuart Findlay, and they are currently fourth in the Scottish Premiership table.
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