The manager got the big calls right. Moussa Dembele’s form has shaded recently, while Leigh Griffiths has been scoring freely, so the latter was the form horse. Not only did Moussa score the equaliser, Newco found it impossible to deal with him throughout.
His circumference of control with the ball at his feet is considerable. I’m not going to burden him with the ‘new Dalglish’ tag, but that ability to shield the ball in tight areas takes me back to my early days watching Celtic. Kenny did this to great effect, creating space for others as he used his strength and close-control to create havoc.
Kenny Millar’s opening goal had been in the post from the first minute as Newco pressurised Celtic off their game. They were the team forcing mistakes of nervous looking defenders (I’m looking at you, Erik). Celtic just didn’t get going early on as the home team controlled midfield with Barrie McKay in particular causing problems.
The turning point came around the time Scott Brown picked up his yellow card (deservedly). It was a typically-calculated Brown intervention.
Moussa’s goal was quite unbelievable. The corner came from a breakaway chance when Scott Sinclair seemed to lose the opportunity by standing on the ball, but recovered to run at the Newco defence before firing a shot which was deflected onto the inside of the post before being knocked behind by a defender for a corner.
Dembele was standing 8 yards out when a high corner fell to his feet. Unchallenged. The ball bounced head-height but Moussa still had time to wait on it falling before finishing into the top corner.
Danny Wilson was marking him when the corner was taken but for reasons all too evident to those who have followed the player’s recent form, he left Celtic’s striker to challenge players already marked. It was an unfathomable mistake.
From that moment on, there was only going to be one result. Celtic should have gone ahead three times in the opening nine minutes of the second half. Their passing was now crisp and fast. Sinclair and Armstrong’s movement made defenders look statuesque.
One stat I’d like to see is the number of touches we had inside the opposition box. We spent a lot of time in there, pinging tight passes, which opened up the home defence. Dembele, Forrest, Sinclair and Armstrong should all have added to the score but Foderingham made himself big throughout and stopped the result from being as embarrassing as the performance.
Forrest made way for Patrick Roberts, who, at his first involvement, released Armstrong with a reverse pass into the box. Celtic had been in this position many times in the minutes beforehand. Their format was to cut the ball back, which is what we were all expecting Armstrong to do, but he released the ball a fraction of a second early across the face of goal for Sinclair to side-foot into the net at the far post.
Craig Gordon had a few comfortable saves, which he dealt with assuredly. Sviatchenko made up for two early poor touches by making the tackle of the game to deny Forrester. Emilio Izaguirre put in his best 45 minutes of the season in the second half; he looked like the player who arrived six years ago.
Mikael Lustig sprinted 40 yards across field to cut-out a breakaway inside the box. Big Jozo Simunovic must be wondering when kick-off is, he didn’t break sweat.
Off-piste mention to Leigh Griffiths, who was warming up behind the goal when the guy who kept him out the team picked himself up off the turf after a fruitless effort. Leigh stepped forward and patted his team-competitor on the back three times while shouting encouragement.
Great team-mates make great teams.
Have a Happy New Year, everyone.
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Happy New Year all. And a big happy New Year to all the Brenan family.
Thought with all those who lost someone in 2016.
MWD
Macjay
Happy New Year ….you old right wing curmudgeon !!!
WITS
Cheers sir. Up Cork :-)
MARGARET MCGILL on 1ST JANUARY 2017 12:17 AM
Can I suggest that we all try as best we can to use our frontal lobes more in 2017.
Just a thought.
==========================================
You lead us off then , Maggie.
:-)
Happy New Year , mate.
I certainly started with a bang in Sydney …………………….halfway through the game.
Oh what fun it is to —- the huns on Hogmanay ( thanks , Delaney ) morphed to New Years Day in the second half.
Still hoarse.
Macjay
Our virtual Celtic boozer ……. Hope 2017 brings good things to the Macjay family
A Grand New Year to one and all and think 2017 is going too be very memorable for many good reasons.
Embra pyros were magnificent once again and masonic plod just had to grin and “bear” all the green and white :-)
Happy New Year
Jimbo67
MWD
Well said. Paul67, a brilliant, prosperous and fruitful new year to you and the family.
A Guid New Year to ane an’ a’ on CQN!
HT
Good luck to you and the Minx and a special big happy new year to you two.
MWD
WITS
Dont blame me :)
I could tell you some stories as I voted over here. Amazing! Some other time.
HT
Congratulations!
macjay1 for Neil Lennon on 1st January 2017 12:24 am
Happy New Year Macjay
Happy New Year Paul67, Moderators 1 & 2 (2 is my favourite BTW), Rufus Fawndoon, my size 22, Joe Garner and all who post and lurk on CQN.
Toot toot.
MWD/Mags
Cheers lads in Celtic we TRUST.
WHAT IS THE STARS on 1ST JANUARY 2017 12:22 AM
Macjay
Happy New Year ….you old right wing curmudgeon !!!
==========================================================
Mate .
I was surrounded by Irishmen and some lovely Irish women last night.
A manic night.
To my shame , I fell into the trap of joining in with some proscribed ditties and quaint folk choons.
Hope I wasn`t You Tubed.
:-)
Magic bloody result.
Hearing Joe Garner is down to 5th in the queue now.
GERRYFAETHEBRIG on 1ST JANUARY 2017 12:24 AM
Thanks , Gerry.
Still feeling a tad the worse for wear , tear and Al K hol.
A happy and healthy new year and the wisdom to know happiness
Canamalar
Are you joining BRTH in Lisbon in May ?
Not again.
Istanbul.
Happy New Year Paul67 and Winning Captains!!!”
Happy New Year to all of CQN!!
You lot are good guys/gals. Glad you put up with me,
Happy New Year to the Mods too!
HAMILTONTIM:
I wish you and Minx1888 a great 2017 and to a long and happy life together…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Mags
Don’t know what tomorrow will bring never mind May
Paul67 et al
May I take this opportunity to wish all fellow Bhoys and Ghirls, Celts and Gaels, or in other words my fellow CQNers, my best wishes and a Happy New Year to one and all!
MACJAY
Thankee kindly for your post about noon your time yesterday.
Much appreciated,and reciprocated.
I had to laugh at DD’s suggestion. It reminded me of your wee trip round the harbour a few years back when I got you to promise to sing similar.
HH to you and yours.
A CEILER GONOF RUST on 1ST JANUARY 2017 12:27 AM
Happy New Year to you as well…shhhh, your my favourite as well…:)
Happy New Year to the rest of you.
PS: I hope your Team wins the Treble…:)
Happy New Year to everyone on CQN.
On holiday in Florida at the moment.
Watched the game in the Lucky Leprechaun on International Drive this morning,
early start but well worth it.
Hail Hail.
Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession on 1st January 2017 12:42 am
Understand. I lost your email. Can you give it to Morrisey. Again. Sorry.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 1ST JANUARY 2017 12:43 AM
MACJAY
Cheers , mate.
Everything was sung last night.
My “wee lass” accompanied us and may just turn out to be a convert to the cause,
:-)
Happy New Year everyone.
Hope yous all have a damn gid year xxx
Stick yahoo dot com on my name and yer there
See ACGR….
That’s why they are brawderators…
Smiley slainte thing ..
Braw.
Lennybhoy
Cheers mate. I hope you have a great year mo chara.
Thunder Road 12.48
Hope 2017 is good for you and like every other Cqner I have shared a shandy with I will hope we share a few more in 2017
CqnCliqueOpenToAllCSC
Happy New Year to Paul and family, to all CQNers throughout the world. A special wish for HT and the Minx that this year be full of happiness and blessings for them.
Those New years wishes I extend to Brenda, his staff and the members of the Celtic team. Continue to play as you have been doing and we can win the league early and then spend time prepaing for the Europeans.
Oh dear must have been that last drink…it should be Brendan of course. Sorry, boss.
Happy New Year everyone…..
Efe’s pet spider celebrates Celtic’s hogmanay triumph…..
http://alturl.com/bivyj
Hail Hail
Matt
I wish you all a slumping new year.