Garry plans to scratch seven year hitch

Sep 21 2008 By Kenny Macdonald

Premier League

KILMARNOCK'S Garry Hay has racked up 10 years in the SPL and reckons he is one of the few players to remember beating Celtic.

The long-serving star relished the win over the champions in May 2001 as it also clinched a European slot for Killie.

Hay said: "I have been at Kilmarnock for 13 years from the YTS, 10 of those in the first team.

"I made my debut against Rangers at Ibrox in 1999 and although we have beaten Rangers home and away, we've never won at Parkhead.

"Only James Fowler and myself are left from the time we beat Celtic.

"We've never won at Parkhead in my time here and you can count on one hand the wins at Rugby Park but I remember the last day win over Celtic.

"Alan Mahood scored the only goal and back then Celtic had players like Didier Agathe, Oliver Tebily and of course Henrik Larsson.

"We did well with a goalless draw in last season's SPL opener and a few years ago we came back from 2-0 down to 2-2 before Celtic hit two late goals.

"I will be up against players like Barry Robson, Shunsuke Nakamura and Scott Brown who are all tough and bring different challenges.

"But we have been playing with confidence as we showed at Ibrox last week when we took the lead.

"Alan Combe had a couple of great saves and we could have nicked something.

"But it won't be the Old Firm games that define our season - it will be the matches against Inverness Caley and Hearts who we have after this back-to-back.

"We will do our best today to win and I know that we can cause them problems."

Hay took time out to wish his old boss Bobby Williamson good luck in his new role as boss of Uganda and added: "Bobby gave memy debut and it's good to see him back in football again. I hope he does well."

Hay is one of the first names on the Killie teamsheet and boss Jim Jefferies is in no doubt about his quality.

Jeff said: "Garry has done a terrific job and both he and James Fowler are the only players left since I came here.

"When you have a change of manager and a player is still here it tells you something about that player.

"When Garry gets injured it gives us big problems because the guys who go in there are not natural full backs."

Jefferies has warned his squad to beware of a blistering start by the Bhoys.

Celtic had the points wrapped up with a four-goal first-half demolition job at Motherwell in last weekend's 4-2 win.

He said: "Celtic playing in midweek won't give us a chance because they have good players and have not had to travel.

"They will want to keep the pressure on Rangers and will come at us with all guns blazing like they did at Motherwell last week.

"We have to produce the form we have been doing lately to get a result.

"We did it against Rangers and we had a chance after taking the lead."

He added: "Getting the Old Firm back to back has come at a good time because of the good start we have had."