What a game of football! That was 120 minutes of exhilarating action from two teams who wanted to win. Celtic had by far the better of the exchange, but credit to Newco, who for the majority of the second half and with 10 men, took the game to the champions. The headline facts show Newco survived until extra time despite their disadvantage, brought about by the most reckless challenge you will see all season, but Celtic were far better all over the field.
Johnny Kenny led the line. His strength and link-up play was set the tone for Celtic to dominate the first half. Scoring with a header direct from a corner kick is not easy (stats prove as much). His defender was touch-tight, Johnny was four yards beyond the near post, yet rose and directed the ball high into the net. Let’s remember, he turned 22 this summer; his career is all in front of him.
The only surprise when Auston Trusty was named Man of the Match was that the award did not go to Liam Scales. Scales won everything in the air and executed a lunging tackle inside the box which is one for the ages. Trusty’s award doubtlessly came as a result of him breaking the lines with the ball – something Celtic have badly missed out of defence in recent seasons. The player had previously been discouraged from doing this, but was freed by his young Irish manager.
We all knew that one goal was probably not going to be enough for large parts of the second half before Newco’s penalty (a tad harsh, I thought). It took this incident to shake Celtic into action, as they ended the regulation 90 minutes by peppering the Newco goal. James Forrest’s introduction to the action had much to do with this.
Extra-time stared as the 90 minutes ended, with Celtic surging forward. Jack Butland came to the rescue of Newco throughout the game, but three minutes into the added period, he was deceived by Callum McGregor’s thunderous strike from 25 yards. The shot was still rising when it hit the net.
By this stage Newco were on the ropes and had no reply. You and I will talk tomorrow about Callum Osmand. The 19-year-old, making his second professional appearance (of the week and of his career), was an absolute handful. Like Kenny earlier in the game, he was able to win and control forward passes, and test his defender. The third goal came from an excellent Kieran Tierney delivery, with Callum timing his run and turning the ball into the net.
Thelo Aasgaard’s red card was for one of the highest and out of control challenges you are likely to see in the game. Anthony Ralston’s shorts were ripped at the groin and his upper thigh bore visible abrasions. Auston Trusty and Newco’s Derek Cornelius were both given the benefit of the doubt by referee Nick Walsh. Newco have shouted lots about the former, without reference to the latter. Losing is tough, I suppose.
As I walked down Aitkenhead Road after the game, I wondered what could have been, had we played Trusty last weekend, or either Kenny or Osmand in the Champions League qualifiers (both were unused subs for the first leg but did not even make the bench for the second). What could have been……
211 Comments- Pages:
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BSR @ 10:42 am,
Yep….
Try telling that to Andrew Windsor Esq.
Hail Hail
I think Celtic already bar some of BBC Scotland’s sports department from Celtic Park.
Chairbhoy,
It’s good to know folk read my stuff, let alone that it’s memorable. Magic.
The Battered Bunnet @ 11:04 am,
Always do…
You need to know the difference between those who project themselves as the smartest ghuys in the room.
And, those that are actually the smartest ghuys in the room;)
Hail Hail
CHAIRBHOY
Funnily enough
the Andrew formerly known as Prince 👍
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 4TH NOVEMBER 2025 11:03 AM
I think Celtic already bar some of BBC Scotland’s sports department from Celtic Park.
_______
Regularly for Pressers 👍
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 4TH NOVEMBER 2025 11:12 AM
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 4TH NOVEMBER 2025 11:03 AM
I think Celtic already bar some of BBC Scotland’s sports department from Celtic Park.
_______
Regularly for Pressers 👍
————
FWIW don’t think it works and makes the editorial worse as we’ve seen in recent years .
Back in the day folks used to say “Ban The Bomb”….
CQNrs now want to “Ban The Beeb”
It’s a funny old game Saint….
The new article will be up at noon.
The email from the ringers , is more poignant when they fail…😉
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 4TH NOVEMBER 2025 10:48 AM
Ekbhoy – cheers.
………
The actual press statement Chatgpt or Personas could write you a first draft. I’d suggest the following happens we get less airtime and it’s always good to get free airtime, sponsors see their wares on prime time TV spots. Secondly, there will be blow back from a decision to ban the BBC all of it negative again giving 3rd parties who may wish to sponsor or getting involved with club think we’re being run by paranoid individuals who are very good at accounting.
I see where you come from some of these guys are total tubes but on balance it’s better to leave the Huns squealing and for us to get on with improving both in and off the park.
Even Mrs EKBhoy notices is that all those ex Rangers players on again ( when Sportscene flickers on) , she was happy to see Jackie Mac the other day , although she did notice he’d put on weight , whilst looking at me.
My favourite Hun moment on Sportscene a couple of years ago was Neil McCann explaining how Rangers were coming by playing in triangles. As the video clips progressed the triangles were getting bigger and bigger , some of them bearing on rhombuses etc , utterly laughable. It got to the point any 3 passes constituted a triangle. Imagine your average bear watching this , probably Arithmetic was too tricky never mind geometry.
Retirementisfuncfc
Thanks Chairbhoy
Banning the dancing monkeys is ineffective IMHO.
Name the organ grinder (the BBC Sport Scotland Head of Production) and put the blame at his door.
Ekbhoy – cheers.
I hear you again but respectfully … less airtime for Celtic at BBC Sport Scotland?
Where do I sign?
The current airtime consists exclusively of
Celtic
– are in turmoil
– get helped by refs
– are never on the receiving end
– dominate the game unhealthily
When that isn’t enough … stick a photo of an ex-Celtic manager .. who has just been sacked elsewhere … on the table during the show.
A quick check in on the maddies 😵😵
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Big D said:
It really doesn’t matter anymore. There is no combination of officials in this country I’d trust an inch. Scottish football is corrupt.
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Wouldn’t surprise me if the refs are part of some bigger betting/match fixing.. the question I ask my self is, why wouldn’t you fix games? It’s not against the law..
Aipple on 4th November at 1:03
Was a sad game for me at Celtic Park that night. Giving up my ticket. I left at the end of KoKs last season. Last game was the Sevilla one. I managed to catch on camera Henrik last shot on target. A diving header no less. I was probably the last to leave the stadium that night. Got a steward to take my photo at the end.
……………………
That must have been a very poignant moment for you. I don’t know how I’ll feel when I won’t be able to go to Celtic Park any longer.
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 4TH NOVEMBER 2025 11:39 AM
……
It just means they are suffering which is good and avoids them asking more searching questions about the Huns. The second point proves indeed that it’s a Masonic conspiracy as it’s inbred in their culture to not question the Big Hoose.
Goodtochatnearlylunxhtimecfc
BSR @ 11:11 am,
:)))))
Quite…
TBB @ 11:33 am,
You are most welcome…
…your comment on TV line rate and VAR offside a while back was spot on, unfortunately I was otherwise engaged as meant to comment – hope you kept it…
MarvoTheMemoryManCSC
Hail Hail
its me banging on about cultural change
orange strips
statements implying bias.
regimental flags
the worst of the songbook
the pretendy 49ers are shitting themselves and definitely have buyers remorse
ergo the statement.
too far fetched to imagine they would happily sell up at a loss ?
back to real rangers men ?
That awkward moment when Andrew Dallas is drawing the lines.
BTW Ali Johnson breaking down 20 minutes into his comeback match with the same hamstring injury that had sidelined him for 2 months represents a serious error of clinical judgement worthy of disciplinary process.
Add to that the similar injuries to other squad members and there are reasonable grounds to review the performance of the personnel responsible for assessing fitness and assuring physical condition.
Aye, hope ole DD hangs around and has a proper look under the hood of the Honda.