TONIGHT is the first anniversary of a result which wobbled a Celtic manager.

On September 24 last year Morton came to Parkhead and delivered a stunning result in the third round of the League Cup. Neil Lennon's position was as safe as houses but plenty of criticism rained down on him for what seemed at the time - and still seems now - like a cheap concession of the chance to win a treble.

Tonight, another League Cup third round tie, another lower league side turning up at Parkhead, and another man in the Celtic manager's office. Hearts now are a far stronger side than Morton were 12 months ago and Ronny Deila does not have the stockpile of achievements and credibility which enabled Lennon to brush off that embarrassing cup result no more than a flesh wound.

Celtic have won only one of their last seven games under Deila and only five out of 13 overall since the start of the season. If Hearts triumph tonight some serious heat and noise will be turned up on the Norwegian given that Celtic have already been knocked out of the Champions League, twice, and sit in an unbecoming fourth place in the SPFL Premiership table after half-a-dozen league games.

It can seem as though the tide is rising against a toiling manager in times like these although a comfortable home win, still the most likely outcome, would see the waters recede around Deila. If he has been feeling any pressure in the job it has not been showing, or at least that was what his assistant claimed yesterday.

John Collins praised Deila's character and said there was no question that he had the mental strength to deal with life at Celtic. "That goes with the job. I've no doubt he can deal with that," he said. "He's very intelligent, very motivated, he likes to win, he hates to lose: those are good assets to have.

"He's settled in 100% and is very comfortable in the job now. He knows everything about what's happening, he knows the players inside out, the staff, and he's getting a feel for the club. That's three months now and he's nice and comfortable.

"You can talk about it but until you've actually felt it and been around the place you don't realise how big it is, and walking around the city now is not quite like walking around his home town in Norway. That takes a bit of getting used to I'd imagine. Celtic fans are everywhere, they want to speak to you, and love you, so it's a big part of the job.

"There aren't many clubs like Celtic in the world and not many cities like Glasgow when it comes to football. But he's thriving in it, getting used to it, loving it."

Celtic bombarded Morton a year ago but there was still an unmistakable lack of tempo and urgency from players who struggled to lift themselves for a low key fixture in front of a small Parkhead crowd. That will be a danger for Celtic again tonight, even if a game against Hearts still feels more like an all-Premiership game against a substantial opponent.

"The players already know Hearts are a good team," said Collins. "They have what I'd call Premiership quality throughout their team. There won't be a huge crowd but the players have to be switched on.

"We are not giving excuses before the game. The bottom line is it is a big game and if we want to win the cup, we have to win these games."

There will be a minute's applause before kick-off in joint respect for former Celtic player John Divers and Hearts supporter Gordon Wilson, the 43-year-old father of four who took ill during their game against Cowdenbeath at the weekend and was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

John Divers played for Celtic between 1957 and 1966 and passed away yesterday at the age of 74. He scored 100 goals in 232 games for the club and the penultimate one earned a footnote in Celtic history.

It was the opening goal in a 4-0 win at Dundee United on the first day of the 1965-66 season, so becoming the first goal scored in the nine-in-a-row years. He subsequently left Celtic for a spell with Partick Thistle.