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Elite thinking and game management the difference

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

For much of the first half, I thought Newco played well against the champions. In the opening 30 minutes Celtic only created one clear-cut chance, a crisp movement which presented Kyogo with millisecond to fire a shot at goal from 8 yards, which went straight at Butland.

In return, Fabio Silva had a shot from a tight angle which went narrowly wide and really should have got a free header on target. The much-maligned loanee was key to much of what worked for Newco during that period.

Shots peppered in from Celtic.  Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, James Forrest and, of course, Matt O’Riley all tried their luck from around the edge of the area (or further out, in the case of Reo).  It was a controlled finish from O’Riley from 16 yards which burst the game into life.

James Tavernier needlessly gave away possession deep inside the Celtic half.  It was an unforced mis-pass but not a culpable one.  Even the greats don’t always find their target destination. What then happened explains the difference between these two closely matched teams.

Callum McGregor ran past three Newco players into space down the Celtic right. He then spun 270° to see Matt O’Riley run past the same players into an unlikely empty space inside the Newco box.

It was a lesson on the dangers of ball watching, although O’Riley in particular deserves credit.  His run was tracked by Barisic, until O’Riley figured this out and checked his run.  Matt had already narrowly missed the target at Butland’s left twice but on this occasion found the bottom corner of the net to give Celtic the lead.

Newco match Celtic in so many areas and even spend more on player wages, but a few seconds in a game where elite level thinking comes up against standard grade grunts is all it takes to decide the outcome of a season.

Tavernier escapes too much criticism for the first goal but he was wholly culpable for the second. Cameron Carter-Vickers epic pass to Daizen Maeda was controlled expertly. Tavernier ambled towards play, giving Daizen time to get the ball under control and get a run on the defender.

His cross was met by the unfortunate Lundstram. Like Tavernier three minutes earlier this was just an unfortunate mistake, but Lundstram was one of the four statues McGregor and O’Riley waltzed around for the opener, and his afternoon was about to get a lot worse.

That should have been that but the old adage, the most dangerous time is just after you’ve scored a goal, came true. Alistair Johnston was isolated facing Silva and Barisic on the right, the latter pitched a cross at the back post for Sterling to head back into the six-yard box. It was a well worked goal, Celtic’s mistake was allowing Johnston to be isolated.

My pre-match prediction that Silva and Cantwell would be carded missed the mark, the former behaved himself and the latter spent the afternoon getting his tints done. Spotting a vacancy, Lundstram lunged into Alistair Johnston’s shin with studs up. Referee Willie Column missed the severity of the challenge in real time but VAR interceded and the first half ended with the red card waving at Newco’s midfield enforcer.

The better teams don’t always win at football because chance conversion is relatively low and occurs randomly. This was the only real danger to Celtic in the second period. They should have increased their lead. Adam Idah shot wide and on another occasion didn’t see the ball until it was too late.

Daizen Maeda could easily have remained onside and in acres of space for the second of his two goals disallowed for offside.  Nicolas Kuhn’s mazy run past two defenders deserved better and goodness, what price a reliable penalty taker!

In return, Newco threw the kitchen sink at Celtic but were unable to craft an attempt on target. Those of us who remember the 80s, with our perma-attack tactics and the memorable occasions when we lost a late equaliser chasing a goal we didn’t need, were happy to see all those green and white jerseys protecting Joe Hart’s goal.  Game management won out.

The final whistle was a genuinely joyous moment. The title is not concluded yet and the consequences of what has happened this season will take years to unfold. All for another day!

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  3. bigrailroadblues on

    An Bother Rua, Main Street Elphin. A fine pub with an interesting landlord. To say the least.

  4. BelmontBrian on

    The small doll gave me a smoking jacket a few years ago. She set my suit on fire. I was still wearing it.

     

    ======================================

     

    That’s not olden. it’s golden.

     

     

    LesDawsonCSC

  5. call me Gerry on

    Paddy Power Fan Denial strikes again lol

     

     

    My fav…”Kenny Miller clearly still concussed from Simonuvic’s tackle”

     

     

    🤣🤣🤣

     

     

    HH

  15. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Good evening CQN

     

     

    Been on holiday so didn’t get to matches against Hearts and Sevco.

     

     

    Brilliant results.

     

     

    Just need to finish the job then we can look to a very bright future.

  21. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Re Diomonde assault on Reo.

     

     

    Seemed very clearly to me.

     

     

    Forearm smash to head area is very serious.

     

     

    Needs called out.

     

     

    Deliberate tactic to soften him up.

     

     

    I’d guess the coaching team and Lundstrum encouraged him.

     

     

    They’ll have recalled the effectiveness of the tactic when Sevco beat us in the cup semi …. under the non-watchful eye of Shortbread’s refereeing contributor.

  22. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    As for Sevco’s injury crisis … it was called out by earlier contributors … We’ve had horrendous injuries all season.

     

     

    Another point to consider … Sevco players are often injured because they are forced to recruit players with poor injury records.

     

     

    Fit, healthy and talented types are uninterested in going there.

  25. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    As for Sevco?

     

     

    Jeez, it’s only Monday, the league is not over and yet the

     

     

    “R@ngers are comin’ ” train

     

     

    … has already left the station.

  27. the long wait is over on

    Whoa Scullybhoy!

     

     

    I was supposed to go to my bed half an hour ago – some of us have got work in the morning…

     

     

    ;-)

  29. carpe diem 63 on

    Celts ….100% focus for Wednesday …McInness is a bigoted snake ( like his pal ..Mcsleekit) and he will be doing all he can to ensure Kilmasonic try and give Sevco a lifeline …even though it’s effectively a dead rubber for them … go for them early and put this title to bed 🍀

  30. clunks on

    Carpe Diem 63

     

     

    According to phil macgiollabain (I know….)

     

     

    mcinnes is in for the hun job, if they can afford to pay the hills have eyes off

  31. clunks on

    Just watched the highlights again and at lundstrams own goal he points and says

     

     

    “you”

     

     

    And then does it again

     

     

    Been looking at the footage trying to figure out who he is blaming

     

     

    Its not tavpen as he is behind him

     

     

    It is

     

     

    willie collum, aka wee willie winkie

     

     

    He is blaming his slowness to get back on wee willie winkie getting in his road

     

     

    https://youtu.be/-tpAuBj4pL4?si=SyOWpCfJXpgQJLIV&t=114

     

     

    Watch it…..

     

     

    And that has an effect on his stupid tackle as he tries to make amends further up the field 5 mins later

     

     

    lol!

  34. clunks on

    BTB

     

     

    The boy never flinched, and was looking the other way when fury snr tried to blindside him

     

     

    fury cut himself in his cowardly attack….

     

     

    Shameful

  37. clunks on

    2 years ago today to win the title

     

     

    https://twitter.com/LilZe785/status/1790155060271583560/video/1

     

     

    Kyogo(2) – getting back to this form in the last month or so…

     

     

    Turnbull (who hasn’t scored since his trip to wales)

     

     

    Jota (miss him and his creativity lots – bit that mad saudi cash $$$$$$)

     

     

    Giakoumakis(2) – would have him over Idah every day of the week, class player with strength, power and finishing. He has been missed, a Rodgers player if there was every one….

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