Having been ahead only to be pegged back for the second time in a fortnight against Newco, there was a deflated feel inside Celtic Park at the end of the game yesterday. After taking the lead through a Daizen Maeda – Jota combination, Celtic created enough chances to put the game out of sight. They didn’t.
Newco equalised with the best move of the game and thereafter had a hatful of opportunities to win the game and cut the deficit at the top of the table. They also failed in this objective. Celtic remain six points clear with three games remaining, it is now only a matter of when, not if, they will win back their title.
Just as at Hampden last month, Celtic opened poorly, unable to pass through a man-for-man Newco press. The first chance of the game fell to Ryan Kent, who ghosted past Anthony Ralston but did not make a clean contact on the cross, his effort drifted wide.
Maeda failed to make an impact with his first two crosses from the left but his third was drilled into the six-yard box. TV replays showed Borna Barisic repeatedly check over his shoulder for an attack by Jota, but the Portuguese only had eyes for the cross, which he converted without too much trouble from the Newco left back, who will now be familiar with Celtic wingers running from behind him to score.
Newco took control of the game after the interval until Giorgos Giakoumakis and Nir Bitton replaced Matt O’Riley and Kyogo on the hour. In the minutes that followed, Celtic were on top, but could not solidify their lead. That period ended when Newco strung seven passes together inside the Celtic half that released Sakala with a clear shot at goal inside the box, which he finished well.
With home advantage and a significantly lighter playing schedule, you may have expected Celtic to finish the game the stronger, but the opposite was true. Sakala hit the post and had another great chance as Newco piled forward looking for a goal that would keep their title chances alive.
It was a great game of football but by no means a classic Celtic performance. Still, the result ensured the league title will return to Celtic Park for the 10th time in 11 seasons.
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The story about Bury FC coming out of administration is genuinely heartwarming (well played the fans) ….
…. but, regrettably, is indicative of the perilous state of football finances since the start of the new millennium.
In short – it happens to often.
If there is going to be proper discussion, debate, discourse and action then the scale of the problem needs to be understood widely.
Does anyone know if a bona fide list of clubs who have entered administration (and what the outcome was) exists on the interweb?
If so, could you share a link?
Lionroars/B2B – I’m pretty sure Russia’s non-participation bumps the SPL runners up to the 3rd qualifying round. Check this table –
https://kassiesa.net/uefa/AccessList2022.html
*braces self for missile attack from Turkey*
I say, Fulham are a very entertaining football team. 👏
As someone said, we had some brutal performances from some of our team early in the season but Ange stuck with the players in the knowledge that, eventually they would get used to the system.
He obviously sees enough in Hatate to persevere. I believe he knows better than me
As well as Celtic now being guaranteed a place in next season’s CL group stages, UEFA’s ban on Russian clubs also means Rangers go straight into the non-champions Play-Off. Given their recent European results and a favourable draw, there’s a reasonable chance both Glasgow clubs will be in the group stages.
NORRIEM on 2ND MAY 2022 5:49 PM
‘Is Lewis Ferguson worth a punt ?’
###
He’s probably worth a wee bit more than that, though I don’t think it’s a valid currency anymore.
A rare incursion from myself, and I don’t know if anyone else has proffered this observation to date, but with lots of media coverage this afternoon about UEFA’s Russian ban giving Scotland a guaranteed CL group stage entry for the first time in donkeys, we are actually just a couple of Sevco wins from having TWO guaranteed CL group stage teams! And in this scenario, would the CL qualifying spot drop to the 3rd place SPL team?
Twitter feeds saying that
After RU ban the changes for Scotlands qualifiers are –
Champions – CL groups. (Celtic)
2nd place – CL 3RD ROUND QUALIFIER (so win and you still have a play off, lose and you have an EL playoff).
CUP WINNERS – EL Playoff (win you go into EL Group, lose you go direct into Conference group, so Hearts just got gauranteed 3-5 million euros.)
Tom
Yes, and what is ?
4TH PLACE – CONFERENCE 3RD QULAIFIER (win and they still have a playoff)
5th place – CONFERENCE 2ND QULIFIER, (2 rounds and a play off.)
Nobody in the non-champions qualifying route goes straight into the play-offs. The latest any team joins is the q3 round, every team plays at least 2 ties
They will likely be seeded for both rounds but still face the possibilty/probability of facing either the team that finishes third in Ligue 1 or second in the Eredivisie at some stage. Avoiding q2 doesn’t make much difference.
SFTB @ 5.54
Enjoying your retirement — 5 hours / you shouldn’t have bothered.
Base point is that we are a football team first and SPL second.
The performance comes before the result for me.
Consequently yesterday was sore at the time but the pain has worn off quickly.
Main point still stands – our defence can be poor when up against some class.
Yesterday they were up against a workmanlike team who include a couple of fan dancers.
We gave their fan dancers were given a stage and they performed intermittently.
If RK has played well against us in the past then we should have been ready for him.
Yesterday our MF was not ready for him.
Analysis based on a dataset of 5 instances — shallow in the extreme / that dog don’t hunt.
Lets just get the league won first.
Turkeybhoy
Some scenes from Trabzon,look amazing celebrating a title win.can you give us a background? Is it a break in power from Galatasaray,Fenerbache,some scenes
https://twitter.com/lmechegaray/status/1520807178583564292?t=6z71IcYP44MNwdwaKky1jg&s=19
HH
SONSOFERIN on 2ND MAY 2022 6:39 PM
Lionroars/B2B – I’m pretty sure Russia’s non-participation bumps the SPL runners up to the 3rd qualifying round. Check this table –
https://kassiesa.net/uefa/AccessList2022.html
Moravcik67
@Moravcik67_
·
53m
There you have it. The Scottish champion will play in the Champions League groups next season.
Our Runner-up will start in QR3 of the non-champions route, guaranteeing them a Europa League group place, at worst.
Doesn’t affect any other Scottish club.
M67 is wrong i think,
Rangers lose Q3 for Champions league they drop into a Europa Leage playoff.
Lose that they drop into CONFERENCE LEAGUE Group.
I could ofcourse be wrong,
Harder to get knocked out than qualify for something this year.
bgfc
For clarification, if the SPFL “determines” the number of visiting supporters against the decision made by the Celtic Board, they could be held liable for any resulting incidents, eg injuries to stewards, police or supporters.
Could be.
If they get past q3 they’ll likely be seeded along with Benfica, but could face second place in France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Ukraine, amongst others
Even with a lucky draw they will have a tough game early in the season
That’s wrong, third from France.
SAINT STIVS on 2ND MAY 2022 6:59 PM
M67 is wrong i think,
He’s right, according to Bert Kassie if you go out at Q3 you go into the EL groups, same as if you go out at the playoff round
The bonus is the €5m you get if you go out in the PO round
leage cup starts later an awe next year, thats the big prize.
Time for a last pint before I collect a bank holiday feast from the Anarkali. I must remember to feel some sympathy for the hun afflicted. They can have the empty containers. Only fair.
Safety is paramount. Full stop.
The safety of our fans must be prioritised over an ambiguous rule book.
Give the huns f@ck all tickets in the future.
HH.
MM
“Analysis based on a dataset of 5 instances — shallow in the extreme / that dog don’t hunt.”
———————————–
5 games is the complete set of data against this year’s Sevco. Including any other matches means a different Celtic squad against a different Sevco squad.
When I gave you 35 games worth of data earlier you were dismissive too but it was also the complete data set for this year’s version of both teams.
The complete stats don’t tell the complete story but ignoring them leaves you open to following fallacies and prejudices.
Settling in to watch Monchengladbach vs Leipzig. The latter seem to be fielding a very strong team.
No huns in Paradise again. Nuff said.
Fulham beat Luton 7-0 today.
In the Championship they are champions with 106 goals with 1 game to play.
Their goal difference is 67.
Just remembered, now that we are confirmed as direct entry to CL Groups, I am putting my full support to Villareal to win this years competion, Long shot but.
That would be romantic, and a tribute to our buddy Garry.
cmon the yellow submarines.
Leipzig 1-0 down after 16 minutes.
Leipzig looking less than impressive so far.
Fair play to Bury fans for saving their Club. The news on the CL is welcome but we all knew we were playing CL group stage next season after Sunday.
We just need Liepzig to step up now and ensure those perilous CL qualifiers are something our neighbours can look forward to.
kenny miller talks like someone who is not allowed to in the house or is scared he is going to get the mike taken away.
Eintracht also down 1-0.
Leipzig really need to win today, as they sit just outside the CL top 4 places.
2 Leipzig players booked already.
Leipzig playing only 3 at the back.
Yes I’m watching Leipzip too, was hoping that it was a reduced side, if not then not impressed😕
Kenny Miller looks like a tango nappered reprobate from Star Wars.