Steve Clarke says Kilmarnock expect Celtic reaction after Valencia loss
Kilmarnock host Celtic on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Football
Friday 15 February 2019 10:35, UK
Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke says he is expecting Celtic to respond to their defeat by Valencia when they visit Rugby Park on Sunday.
Brendan Rodgers' side lost 2-0 to Valencia at Celtic Park in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie on Thursday.
Clarke hopes Kilmarnock can use Celtic's European exploits to their advantage at the weekend.
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"We've had one or two decent results at Celtic Park, last one excluded which wasn't our finest day. We met a Celtic team that day on top form. We didn't reach the standards that we normally reach. Hopefully we can put that right on Sunday," he told Sky Sports News.
"(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."
Clarke considers Celtic to be the "benchmark" in Scottish football but insists his side respects rather than fears the league leaders.
"It's always a good fixture playing against one of the bigger teams in Scotland. Celtic, for me, are the benchmark, they are the standard," he said.
"Everyone has to try to reach that standard, we respect them a lot but we don't fear them.
"We'll try and make it as difficult as possible for them on Sunday, if we can do that, we can get a positive result."
Stuart Findlay scored an injury-time winner when Kilmarnock beat Celtic in September but the 23-year-old has been ruled as a 50-50 doubt for Sunday's game.
"We had this question last week and we thought he would be fine this week but he hasn't responded to treatment quite as well as we thought," Clarke said.
"We haven't given up hope yet but he's no better than 50-50 to be honest."
