It’s Millar time for Saints

Oct 26 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

CHRIS Millar will be handed a centre-stage role in tonight's live television cup clash with Celtic.

It starts at 7.30pm.

The one-time Hoops midfielder will be asked to fill the place vacated by injured skipper Jody Morris and build on a man of the match display in the weekend win in Hamilton.

“Jody will be a big loss because he has been superb for us. I am happy to play anywhere but you are more involved in the game playing in centre midfield,” he said.

Millar insists his Parkhead days as a wannabe pro cleaning-up after Neil Lennon and the high profile stars are now in the dim and distant past, having earned his spurs with Morton and now Saints.

“It was nice to be there but I have been a St Johnstone player now for two years and feel I’ve established myself in the SPL.

“We lost too many goals, and not just against Celtic, last season but we have lost less so far and that’s down to Michael Duberry being here from the start of the season, with his experience and organisation.

“We matched Celtic in Perth before Graham Gartland was sent-off.

“That changed the game.

“Celtic have a lot of options and will want to get back to winning way after losing to Rangers but this is a one-off game.

“We have taken seven points from nine in the league so we go into the cup game with confidence.

“St Johnstone have had good cup runs and we lost to Rangers at Hampden last season in a semi-final.

“There could have been easier draws for us than Celtic but if you have aspirations to win a cup you generally have to beat Rangers or Celtic.

“There’s no reason whey we can’t beat Celtic.

“If we get it right maybe we can cause an upset.”