The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Scottish Premiership

  • OLD FIRM DERBY: Celtic set for third straight Scottish Premiership crown

    OLD FIRM DERBY: Celtic set for third straight Scottish Premiership crown

    Aiming to take a significant step towards a third straight Scottish Premiership crown, Celtic will welcome arch rivals Rangers to Celtic Park for an Old Firm derby clash this afternoon.

    The Bhoys are in pole position to retain the Scottish crown for another season, whilst the Gers will feel this weekend is the final realistic opportunity to close the gap to their Glasgow neighbours.

    Since the post-season split in the middle of April, title holders Celtic have recorded back-to-back wins in the Championship Group in order to boost their chances of recording a third successive Premiership crown and the first following the return of Brendan Rodgers as manager last summer.

    Read Also: Ede Poly students on rampage as EFCC arrests suspected 64 internet fraudsters

    Although Hearts are set to be crowned as the best of the rest in Scotland’s top flight, they were simply no match for the Bhoys last Saturday, when Kyogo Furuhashi brace and a second-half brace from goalscoring midfielder Matt O’Riley secured a 3-0 success for the hosts at Parkhead.

    Heading into the final three matches of the Premiership term, Celtic are currently sitting pretty in first place, three points ahead of second-placed Rangers, with matches against the Gers, Kilmarnock and St Mirren to come before an Old Firm Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park on May 25.

  • Jonathan Obika desperate to score goals for St Mirren

     

    Nigeria born English player Jonathan Chiedozie Obika is eager to score goals for St Mirren admitting that it is his responsibility to do so with a view to taking the club to greater heights.

    The 29 year old is yet to get off the mark following his summer move from Oxford in August this year.

    Obika is however not the only one having migraine over goal drought as the Saints have only scored three goals in seven Scottish Premiership games.

    The Jim Goodwin tutored side face Motherwell away on Saturday.

     Obika during his unveiling as Mirren player in August

    “You have to get goals and deliver, you have to help the team,” said Obika who came off the bench during last weekend’s goalless draw against Hearts.

    “You know your role in the team and getting goals is one of the main ones for us.

    “I feel I have settled in pretty well, I feel relaxed there. And in terms of the league, you want to put your best foot forward in terms of goals and getting results, so those are the things I want to do.

    “I believe the goals are coming. We have got a solid base and we know what type of chances are coming and we just have to be ready to take them and deliver on the day” he enthused

    Only Kyle Magennis, Tony Andreu and Ilkay Durmus have found the net for Saints recently. Obika made combined 140 appearances for Swindon Town and Oxford United scoring 31 goals before joining St Mirren went on loan a record 11 times in the course of his career.