Elite thinking and game management the difference

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!