Stuart Kettlewell doesn’t expect a backlash from Celtic’s shock 0-0 draw at Dundee United when Motherwell travel to the champions on Boxing Day – because they’re “relentless”.
A few eyebrows were raised when Brendan Rodgers’ side drew a blank at Tannadice on Sunday, and that underlines the Motherwell boss’ point about expectation levels from Celtic.
Kettlewell says he’s preparing as best he can for the trip to Glasgow’s East End, but they’re waiting on the outcome of their appeal over Dan Casey’s red card in the 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock on Friday night.
Most observers found referee Chris Graham’s decision ridiculous, but Casey faces a three-match ban if it isn’t overturned.
On Celtic, Kettlewell said: “It’s not so much that I expect a reaction, I just expect Celtic to do what they’ve been doing for a number of years, now, and finding that level of consistency and being incredibly difficult to go and play against at Celtic Park.
“I just always expect Celtic to be their best version. I think their level of consistency for such a long time has been incredible.
“They constantly pose you a threat, I think you can see that relentless nature of how they attack games.
“Maybe one or two of them will talk about it not being their best performance [on Sunday] and it’s a bit of a surprise not to see them on the scoresheet in any game, no matter who they’re playing against, with the quality they have.”
Kettlewell says his players will already know their roles for the trip to Celtic Park, which might change if Casey is suspended.
He said: “We go really team-specific, everything we do and everything we work towards is having specific roles and jobs in the team.
“Long before the game kicks off on Thursday, the group of players know who’s starting and who is on the bench.
“That makes it a bit of a challenge, a wee bit of an unknown for us all, and I have to make a judgement call on that, on how forceful I am on the level of information I put across.”
Motherwell face a hectic schedule with a home game against Rangers on Sunday, December 29, followed by a trip to Hearts on January 2.
With no winter break this season, some could feel that they’re facing a lot, but Kettlewell says players and managers just get on with it.
“We’ve made peace in the lead-up to this, I think everybody has,, that there’s no winter shut-down, and with the number of games that come,” said Kettlewell.
“It’s about how we need to look after ourselves in between games, how we need to patch up players, trying to get that level of how much you work between games and the amount of recovery you put in there.
“It’s the job, it’s what you sign up for. I love football, as I expect does every single player who plays. There should be a burning desire to do it as much as you can.
“You’ll struggle if you’re feeling sorry for yourself with the number of fixtures and playing through Christmas and the New Year.
“I think you’ll embrace it and start to do well if you really take it on.”
Left-back Steve Seddon limped off with an ankle injury, will need to be further assessed, and is unlikely to feature at Celtic Park on Boxing Day.