Celtic held the ball for around 60 seconds at the 75 minute mark last night, and, thinking a corner had been turned, I thought “That’s been a difficult half hour since halftime but we’ve come through it”. Dinamo Zagreb soon claimed back control in the middle of the park and the game reverted to form.
Despite incessant pressure, in particular during the three minutes added at the end, I was never convinced Dinamo were going to score. The defence, for the most part, stuck to task, tackled well and put bodies in the way. In this respect it was our classic Champions League performance.
Even when the visitors got sight of goal, Craig Gordon was always the most imposing personality on the field. Our captain looked uncharacteristically meek on the receiving end of a rollicking from Craig. We like goalkeepers with authority.
Virgil van Dijk held the line very well, despite a couple of uncomfortable moments when called on to play the ball with his ‘standing’ foot, while Jason Denayer and Efe Ambrose coped with the incessant pressure. Efe played much of the game high up the field, very much in the wing-back role, but was able to track back with speed.
Emilio also stuck to task but he conceded a needless free-kick in exactly the same manner and field-position he lapsed against Salzburg, who equalised from the resultant kick. Denayer also lunged in needlessly a yard outside his box, collecting a yellow card for his trouble. Both occasions called for the defender to stay goal-side and not challenge.
Football teams are made by partnerships, as Anthony Stokes suggested after explaining the understanding he has with Kris Commons which allowed them to craft last night’s goal. Right now we don’t have many partnerships. Wakaso and Emilio were 10 yards apart for much of the game, but to no great effect. Tonev and Ambrose were similarly disconnected on the right.
Not much could have been done to improve this for last night. Neither Tonev nor Ambrose will retain their positions on the right after a pairing from McGregor, Forrest, Matthews and Lustig return. Wakaso and Emilio need to target becoming a more effective pair on the left.
We knew that without the ineligible Guidetti and the (as yet unproven and) injured Scepovic we would struggle up front, but our creative fulcrum was on hand to both create and finish the decisive opening of the game.
Despite the concerns Ronny expressed after full time, this was our second excellent result in the Europa League this season against two decent teams. The progress since the summer is evident.
Many thanks to everyone who participated in our Magners competition for premium tickets to the Hamilton Accies game on Sunday. The competition is now closed and draw will be made shortly and winners will be notified by email, so watch out for it.
I had a great time track-side with my youngest last night before kick-off talking about the great work the Celtic Foundation (which is you and me) do fighting poverty and hardship, and our responsibility in making sure the ethos of the club is maintained and handed on. On Sunday I’m doing the Great Scottish Run to raise funds for the Foundation, so I’m pretending not to have the sore throat, head and cough. Need a magic potion….
Thank you to everyone who has helped with the fundraising, you can get involved here.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Pf2h-oPU02g
Grace
1916CSC
http://youtu.be/oag3I4VRXyM
a wee mellow number before I go to my cot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=zYngpjTCXXg
Spancil Hill
HH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=yaS3vaNUYgs
the Foggy Dew
johnglassCSC
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uQMwlYk-eAA
A beautiful tune from a lovely Irish lass.
Cowiebhoy
HH to you and yours!
http://youtu.be/Zz-DJr1Qs54
Jamesgang
gordybhoy64
Welcome Fhriend.
HH jamesgang
AC/DC at the auld Apollo 1978, a brilliant gig.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3nEAmt5AZ8
And there were 15 million fingers learning how to play.
The tour of Kilmainham gaol
is an an absolute must.
A defy anyone not to get a lump in their throat
when they tell you how Connolly died.
Gordy
Yeehaa, you remembered my fave song fae my fave band. Thanks
Gordon64
00:06 on 4 October, 2014
Scottish Gin is excellent.
As for me i’m necking Larios Spanish Gin
at 8.5 euros a litre !
Smashing stuff.
HH
_______________
You would be my kind of drinking company, Gordon.
These CQN connoisseurs are too sophisticated for me.
KK
Problem is mhate the botanist tasted that good I’d necked it in less than a week!!!
HH jamesgang
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=gwOmYNvISnM
I’d to learn this for my Confirmation…bloody terrifying trying to get all the words right,
HH
PedroC67, looking forward to catching up on Sunday. I’ve a proposition to put to you and I’ve got some fine drams for you and G.
We may have a special guest, trying to talk young acgr into joining us.
jamesgang, Problem is mhate the botanist tasted that good I’d necked it in less than a week!!!
…………………….
Paisley Pansy. A week? If it was that good ye should have necked it one sitting.
acdc….did,nt support the tic in their youth…….thats all i,m saying…great band though when with wee bon…not that other warbler they have now.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/By42tiDCYAA4dCj.jpg:large
Kilmainham
32CSC
ACGR,
No everyone is a jakey like you ye know :-)))
Gordon64
One of only 2 places I have visited that have left me speechless, angry, humble and heartbroken all at the same time, the other being Dachau.
KK
In good time i will be drinking in your company amigo.
HH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=VgRwpCfAV7k
Aiden MacAnespie
CATB
ACGR
A proposition? A special guest? All very intriguing!!!
Looking forward to it also bro…
Gies a clue…who is it?
gordybhoy64 00:24 ACGR, No everyone is a jakey like you ye know :-)))
……………………………………….
Aye gordybhoy64, canny argue wi that:_)
Gordybhoy
ACGR needs 2 things.
A still. And a straw!
But not too much water or it’ll drown the uisge beatha!
I’ve seen his Fave when that happened. If carlsberg did scowls!!!
HH jamesgang
‘Face’ even
Good fun tonight bhoys,time for my cot,
HH
PedroC67. have you been sniffin furniture polish?
It’s you wee (big) nephew ya donut. Proposition is Barra related.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=s3mw-h7UQ68
Lonesome Boatman
CATB
HH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=xQbXO828Vio
Christy
HH
Jamesgang, I had some mighty fine drams in the pot still last night. An Tearman has not been seen since and I’m worried about the big chap. Although, seeing as he makes you look like a midget, I really don’t have to worry.
He’s my new bodyguard. You’re sacked mate.
Sorry.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BzApmn6IQAAxCk4.jpg:large
Big Peter saves the Bhoys
HH
pedro 67
‘Man’s inhumanity to man
Makes countless thousands mourn’.
Robert Burns
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BzAksH5CUAAdXww.jpg:large
Harry Hood
HH
ACGR
I saw him from afar. I hate it when folk make me feel short! Had no option that day!
Night you auld bassa you!
HH jamesgang
ACGR’s garage…..
ACGR tells a story about meeting an RAF pilot from leuchars ( I think ) at a function, they get chatting and the pilot asks him where he stays. ACGR tells him and the pilot says, “your joking, which of the three houses is yours?”
ACGR tells him, the middle one, to which the pilot says “ffs ( or something to that effect ) we use that house for ( fake ) bombing practice.”
Can you imagine the explosion if it was real….half of Angus would disappear :-)
Its murder catching up wi posts & listening to every tune fae RC & Gordy. Listened to every one so far. Magic bhoys! :)
lefthandpillaroldjungle 00:23, acdc….did,nt support the tic in their youth…….thats all i,m saying…
…………………………
Say more. Were they huns? Please don’t tell me Angus Young was a hun, Naw naw naw. Please don’t tell me that:-((
“It’s you wee (big) nephew ya donut. Proposition is Barra related.”
Awe ffs, I thought it was Annabel Goldie