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Celtic´s Loovens hits back at SPL critics

SoccerNews in Scottish Premier League 13 Dec 2008

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Celtic player Glenn Loovens has hit back at critics of the Scottish Premier League who say it is just a two-team competition.

The central defender is just four months into his Parkhead career but he says he is certain he made the right decision to make the switch from Cardiff to Celtic.

The Hoops return to domestic duties on Saturday when they take on Hearts following their midweek European triumph against Villarreal.

And Loovens pointed to his side’s defeat to Hibernian last weekend, which ended Celtic’s 12-game unbeaten run, as evidence of how tough the SPL is.

“I think this is a good league and the level has probably been even higher than I expected,” the defender said. “Before I came up, people were saying, It’s only Celtic and Rangers in Scotland.’

“That’s not the case at all. You have to be at the top of your game every week because of the other teams in the league are capable of getting a result, as we saw against Hibs on Sunday.

“It’s never nice to lose a game. We had won 12 games in succession, but we wanted more. We wanted to stay seven points ahead.

“Okay, we are still four points ahead but the boys are all really disappointed. You want to win every game at Celtic. After missing a month out with injury Loovens is looking forward to a run in the team starting with Hearts on Saturday.

“I’ve never played against Hearts before, but I watched some of their game against Rangers recently and they looked decent,” Loovens said.

“I spoke to the boys about them and they say that they are always a good side. I know they’ve been on a good winning run in the last few weeks, so it will be another tough one for us.

“It’s a big game for both sides, but we are determined to get the three points.”

In Saturday’s early kick-off Dundee United host Rangers. The Ibrox club are in seventh heaven after their 7-1 demolition of Hamilton last weekend and a win against United would put the pressure on Old Firm rivals Celtic who play later in the afternoon.

United, who held Rangers to a 3-3 draw at Ibrox last month, want the win to hold on to third spot in the league.

In Saturday’s other games Falkirk travel to Pittodrie to take on Aberdeen.

The Dons are without Young Player of the Month Sone Aluko, who is sidelined for a fortnight with a hamstring injury, but should be fresh after last weekend’s game against Kilmarnock was called off. Falkirk will be looking to end a run of four games without a win.

Hibernian host bottom-placed club Hamilton at Easter Road. Hamilton will need to bounce back from their Ibrox humiliation while Hibs are on a high after ending Celtic’s 12-game unbeaten run with a 2-0 win last weekend.

St Mirren take on Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Love Street after picking up their first win in eight games last weekend away to Falkirk. Inverness know a win could see them leapfrog Kilmarnock in the SPL table.

On Monday Kilmarnock travel to Fir Park to take on Motherwell. Both teams will be eager to get back into action after both their games were called off last weekend due to frozen pitches.

Fixtures (1500 GMT unless otherwise stated)

Saturday

Aberdeen v Falkirk

Celtic v Hearts

Dundee United v Rangers (1230)

Hibernian v Hamilton

St Mirren v Inverness CT

Monday

Motherwell v Kilmarnock (1945)

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