AMONG the goal avalanche as Celtic steamrollered bewildered Aberdeen, there were a few moments to bring a smile and scowl to the Hoops support at Hampden last night.
Brendan Rodgers got the bum’s rush with a tumble straight out of a Carry On movie while Callum McGregor appeared to cement his “hammer-thrower” reputation after picking up a first-half yellow card.
Plus po-faced match official Kevin Clancy – positively no relation to anyone in KC and The Sunshine Band – proved conclusively his application for a sense of humour had been denied.
In the past, we have been reassured that the Celtic manager’s playing career had come to a premature end at the age of 20 at Reading due to “a genetic knee condition”, but evidence at the national stadium certainly suggested it may have been due to a lack of basic ability.
A KICK IN THE GRASS…Brendan Rodgers attempts to return the ball.
WHOOPS…Rodgers loses his footing in spectacular style.
FALL GUY…the Celtic manager lands on his back.
SCRAMBLE…Rodgers tries to get back to his feet pronto and hope no-one noticed.
HANDS UP…Rodgers accepts he has been rumbled.
CARD HAPPY…Rodgers can afford to look on the funny side as referee Kevin Clancy waves yellow.
Rodgers’ attempt to kick the ball as it rolled out of play could now be a contender for one of those daft ‘out-takes’ that appear on Christmas TV shows.
His attempt to play the spherical object owed more to Frank Spencer (‘Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em’) than Franz Beckenbauer (acclaimed World Cup winner as manager and player with Germany).
After landing in a heap and then accepting the ironic cheers of the fans, Rodgers had to stand like a naughty schoolboy as the ref waved a yellow card in his direction.
The Irishman told Premier Sports: “To be fair, I was raging because we had given the ball away.
“I have my moments, like every manager, even though we were comfortable at 3-0.”
With a grin, he added: “It was a deserved yellow card. It was the speed of the ball. I just wanted to keep the tempo of the game.”
The manager thus joined his skipper in the book after the influential midfielder had fallen foul of the mirthless match official following a nothing challenge on opponent Sivert Nilsen in the 27th minute.
YOU’RE JOKING…Callum McGregor is stunned as Clancy produces a yellow card. Team-mate Cameron Carter-Vickers looks suitably surprised.
FACE THAT LAUNCHED A THOUSAND QUIPS…Kevin Clancy, king of the one-liners.
Forget the fact it had been the former Scotland international anchorman’s first semblance of a tackle, Clancy appeared to be the only man at the national stadium – probably the world with the game being beamed live to all parts of the globe – as he went through his ‘Quick-Draw-McGraw’ routine while he flashed the card.
Presumably, McGregor’s reputation as one of football’s hard men goes before him. He’s clearly one of those thugs in boots who takes to the field every matchday with the ambition of drop-kicking rivals into Row E.
Wait a minute, though. This is Callum McGregor we’re talking about. Maybe Clancy and his other card-brandishing colleagues, seemingly all too eager to book the Hoops performer for imagined offences, are confusing him with other operators whose mantra is: ‘Forget the ball and get on with the game.’
Clancy has a day off today. He can spend countless hours peering into a mirror while practising his frown.
Who said Glasgow was smiles better? Not when Clancy and his crew are on the prowl, armed to the teeth with little red and yellow pieces of cardboard.
ALEX GORDON
JOY OF SIX AS DAZZLING DAIZEN HAMMERS IN A HAT-TRICK
