FOOTBALL: Whyte backs Bhoys

PARTICK Thistle skipper Derek Whyte is hoping that last week's CIS Cup fright night can inspire Celtic to see off Blackburn in the Battle of Britain.

Martin O'Neill's side stared defeat in the eye three times before Rab Douglas's save from David Lilley's penalty squeezed Celtic into the semi finals.

Whyte turned in an excellent performance keeping John Hartson andDavid Fernandez in check, but the Partick star is expecting his old side to move up a gear at Ewood Park.

"My gut feeling is that they'll get through and that would be great for the Scottish game," Whyte said. "They weren't at their best in the first leg against Blackburn but they won the match and kept a clean sheet which is what you always look for.

"Scottish football isgetting a pasting at the moment and it's true that Celtic weren't at their best in the first leg. "They can play much better and I think that they will have benefited from the game against us. "We counter attacked quite well and that maybe gave Celtic something different to deal with compared to what they have to deal with most weeks.

"Blackburn will probably have a lot more possession but I really fancy Celtic to get through."

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