Stuart Kettlewell aims to recapture Celtic fan fury from last Parkhead visit as Motherwell boss look to spoil the party

The last time Stuart Kettlewell pitched up at Parkhead his side sparked a violent protest outside the ground. Now the Motherwell boss is rocking up in Glasgow’s East End with the task of spoiling the party.

The former Ross County manager had to dodge flying fences on the way out when the Staggies shocked Celtic in the League Cup when supporters were locked out of the ground during covid. The incredible County win was lost in the wash as fan frustration at poor results boiled over and resulted in pitch forks outside Parkhead calling for manager Neil Lennon’s head.

Kettlewell sensed the tension in the air back then but the scene couldn’t be much more different as he attempts another stunning success with Motherwell tomorrow. Celtic fans are expecting confetti to be thrown rather than missiles and Kettlewell knows the job in hand could be much harder with Ange Postecoglou's men flying.

He said: “The major talking point that day was the Celtic supporters turning up to the ground during covid and it ended up with fencing being thrown around and so on. I looked at it a different way and it was Ross County winning at Celtic Park and breaking that cycle they had of 34 cup games without defeat over about four years.

“I don’t think the players got enough credit because the narrative was about the events outside the stadium. It was a different situation back then. We went into that day knowing both managers were under pressure. I certainly knew I was at the time and from the support, the media and everything, Neil was also under pressure.

“It’s a completely different context this time. It’s a different Celtic team and a completely different football club now in terms of the manager, the players, the staff – everything is