Recalled Majstorovic shrugs off his critics

The Sweden defender has come in for more than his share of stick this season as the Hoops have fallen into third place in the Scottish Premier League, three points behind Motherwell and 12 behind leaders Rangers, albeit they have a game in hand over both clubs.

Majstorovic was dropped by boss Neil Lennon and indeed is arguably only back in the side due to injuries, although he had a fine game in Thursday night's 3-1 Europa League win over Rennes at Parkhead.

However, ahead of the trip to Fir Park tomorrow, he had an answer to those who remain unconvinced about his credentials.

"I don't really care about this," he said. "I am 34 years old and I am (an) experienced player, this is part of the game.

"There are always people who have their own opinions but we just have to rely on the quality we have in the squad and keep on going.

"To be honest, at the beginning of the season I didn't come up to my normal standard but now I feel I am really back on track, back to my best and I felt really good (on Thursday). The back four has not been settled so it has not been perfect yet but there is a long, long way to go."

Majstorovic admits he has had to come to terms with being left out of the team. "This is something new to me," he said. "I'm not used to it but it is something you just need to handle and take in a professional way."

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Monaghan clinch promotion

Monaghan United ended their 10-year absence from the top flight of Irish football in style last night with a 3-1 win over Galway United at Terryland Park.

Roddy Collins' side took a two-goal lead into last night's second leg of the promotion/relegation play-off, and they added three more goals in a clinical display to emphatically clinch promotion.

For Galway, the improbable became the almost impossible in the 26th minute when the visitors took the lead.

John Reilly threaded a ball between two defenders for Declan 'Fabio' O'Brien to run on to, and he fired past Winn from 20 yards.

It was no surprise when Monaghan exploited this frailty again in the 33rd minute. This time it was Ryan Brennan who did the damage, passing Stephen Walsh before squaring for O'Brien, who fired home from six yards.

The visitors added a third six minutes after the restart, catching the home side on the break through Sean Brennan, and he squared for brother Ryan to lift the ball over the advancing Winn from 15 yards.

Alan Murphy got on the scoresheet after 82 minutes for doomed Galway.

Pulis fights Euro hangovers

Stoke have a point to prove when they travel to Premier League strugglers Bolton tomorrow, according to manager Tony Pulis.

It was another successful night for the Potters in Europe on Thursday, with Stoke beating Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-1 in Israel to take their Europa League record this season to seven wins from eight matches.

Yet again Pulis' side find themselves on their travels for what will be a third game in less than seven days, but the Reebok Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for visiting teams this season, with the hosts yet to pick up a point from five games. The Stoke boss said: "We have a point to prove tomorrow and that is can we go somewhere and get a result after a European game, and the next opportunity is against Bolton."

Bolton challenged for Europe last season before a 5-0 thrashing by Stoke in the FA Cup semi-finals brought their momentum to a juddering halt, but Pulis believes manager Owen Coyle can quickly turn things around. He said: "The Premier League can change in three or four games, if you can put a run together you shoot half way up the table."