Do anything nice last night? The consequences of what took place at Celtic Park are profound, but there will be plenty of time to discuss them later. For now, let’s concentrate on the small matter of how this result was achieved.
The record books will show 5-0, but there was more to this game than the thumping it turned into. For the first 30 minutes, Astana pressed Celtic high, unsettling our natural game, while forcing the occasional error. We didn’t have the luxury of time and space normally afforded us in domestic football.
This was a worrying period, although there were promising glimpses. Scott Sinclair latched into a loose ball seven yards from goal 3 minutes into the game, but could not find the target. Moments later James Forrest pitched a perfect cross for Leigh Griffiths. Celtic Park stood ready to celebrate, but again, the target was missed.
Those moments aside, the early flow of a game was not going to plan, but Celtic continued to pass the ball with precision, switching play , looking for space. Tom Rogic’s trademark surging run provided the breakthrough. His cross-cum-shot would have gone narrowly wide, but for the intervention of a disorientated defender, who turned the ball into his net.
This goal encapsulated the real chasm between the teams. Astana were good in possession and looked fitter in the opening period, but Celtic had no real weaknesses. A poorly marked corner one minute after the opening goal was the only genuine chance the visitors had all evening. Whereas Celtic probed for, and found, many vulnerabilities in their opponents.
Forrest foraged on the right, Sinclair was scintillating on the left. Ntcham’s neat passing swung the pendulum Celtic’s way, as Griffiths grew into the game through the middle, while Brown bossed proceedings in the no. 6 role.
Olivier Ntcham is still finding his feet in Glasgow, but he will be difficult to dislodge as Scott Brown’s central-mid partner. He’s a different player than Victor Wanyama, but Victor wasn’t as effective, this early, in his Celtic career.
Remember, Olivier has played very little senior football, only 37 games before his summer transfer. Practically everything he does right now is new. Wait until he realises he’s good enough to own the pitch.
Last night’s highlights…
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Before anyone suggests it, no, no, and never in a million years. Robert Snodgrass is available for transfer.
What a night I had. Went along to BV about 5pm to see who was about and have a couple of beers before heading home to Ayr and watch game on TV. Aye right!
DD had a spare ticket, having been invited at short notice to sn executive seat. And hospitality.
So got to see one of Celtic’s best ever Euro performances. Yee ha!
Met up with the usual sispects at the BV . Malorbhoy listed them all earlier.
DD I owe you a pint!
HAIL HAIL
18 HAVE YOUR SAY Legendary Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler has endeared himself to Celtic fans after referring to rivals Rangers as a “new club”. Keep up to date with all our sport news on The Scotsman’s Sport page on Facebook Working for Fox Sports covering Celtic’s 5-0 Champions League victory over Astana, Tyler drifted on to the topic of Scottish football in recent years. As Celtic knocked the ball around in defence during the second half, Tyler spoke of the demise of “old Rangers”. He said: “The history of Scottish football as you know it. “The demise of the old Rangers and the demotion to start again as a new club and finally got themselves back to make the Old Firm games, which were badly missed.”
Read more at: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/legendary-commentator-martin-tyler-refers-to-rangers-as-new-club-1-4534955
Watching the game again. It has to be said. Big Nir was excellent.
Well played Big Chap.
Saint Stivs on 17th August 2017 5:19 pm
Tyler spoke of the demise of “old Rangers”. He said: “The history of Scottish football as you know it. “The demise of the old Rangers and the demotion to start again as a new club and finally got themselves back to make the Old Firm games, which were badly missed.”
========
Hmmm… Something for everyone in there.
‘Start again as a new club’ – finally the truth!!
‘and finally got themselves back’ – wait a minute…
‘to make the Old Firm games’ – getting a bit confused between old and new here…
‘which were badly missed’ – by Sky
HH
Ryan Jack red card rescinded? Well,bugger me backwards…
It seems that nearly every time a hun gets a red card,they appeal. And win.
Even when the offence is clear as day.
Now,either the refs have got it in for the new team,and are sending them off for nothing,or the SFA are consistently refusing to back their refs in the performance of their duties.
Either way,it is against the spirit of the game-and it’s against the laws of the game.
FTSFA!!!
BMCUWP
Two offences. Slung DMcG on his arse, and headbutted Anto.
Sad idiots.
It wont help them when the Celts thrash them:)
HH
Well done Neil Lennon…well said! Right in their black hearts it will get them…
Oh, if only we had a journalist or two like you, I might buy a newspaper again…
But just watch your back when you’re out and about because those hate-filled, black-hearted peepil are
pure ragin’ and will want revenge…
Once again, we are all Neil Lennon…
Ryan Jack is all that stands between Sevco and a right good thrashing, savour that for a moment:))
S’appenin Bitton CSC
So Ryan Jack shouldn’t have been sent off? Does that mean Hibs had an unfair sporting advantage?
Oh dear, that’s really terrible.
Ryan Jack has won his appeal because, just like me, the SFA are utterly fascinated to see if he will ever successfully pass the ball to one of his team mates…like…ever!
For while when Aberdeen were playing Celtic I thought his name was Ryan Jackspassgoesastray
DAVIDOPOULOS
He’s the latest in a long line of “scottish players” to pitch up at Poundland his “career” will never recover:))
Whatever happened to Templeton??
I can’t wait to see him in front of their defence when we play them:))
Ah mean, that must be the most hollow cry for unity….
that has ever been heard in Timdom.
“We are all Neil Lennon!”
….and then,…..
give money to a PLC board, who collectively….
flung Neil Lennon, under a bus ¿¿¿
It sounds good, but, its hollow…imho.
Anyway,……
Thoughts and Prayers for Catalonia.
……off-oot.
Never noticed Jack in any games v Celtic….
Oh, what did happen to David Templeton???
Jamie Ness?
John Fleck?
No one? No? Ok…
:)
Crazy Pedro ,one of the ant hill mob?
A thoroughly enjoyable night in Paradise in our biggest game of the season. The players showed tremendous composure and tactical know how and that is mainly down to Brendan. The man is the best thing to happen to Celtic in my lifetime and I attended my first game in 1975.
Astana looked decent in the first 30 minutes and at that stage I would have taken a 1-0. We were arguably fortunate to go in 2-0 up at half time. I think the Astana manager got things badly wrong in the second half. They should have pulled the shutters down to give themselves a chance of retrieving the situation next week but instead they continued to go looking for an away goal. Our third knocked the stuffing out of them and they went to pieces after that. It actually reminded me of our performance away to Artmedia Bratislava in Gordon Strachan’s first game in charge.
All our bhoys played well but special mentions for Ntcham and Griffiths who were absolutely outstanding.
I’ve been texting Zadok the Priest to various sevconians of my acquaintance. No replies so far :-)
I PADDY, reminds you of Artmedia. Does that mean you expect Astana to wi 4-0 in second leg?
Bada
In the recent SC final he made a bent arm gesture to the Celtic support in the North Stand, a sleekit one but he did it, he knew he was going to Sevco by then, worth the watching,but then we dont have a club 1872 to issue statements on our behalf, and, for that on ocassions like this, I would not want them to.
Bada
When Hayes scored
Davidopoulos: Jamie Ness came on as 90th minute substitute for Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, noticed by few other than the local Press. HH, Janner CSC.
https://twitter.com/stvsport/status/898239307458150400
Don’t be casting this up now bhoys….:)
Dessybhoy- a nomark….HH
Templeton plays for Accies
just about spat my drink out when I saw this ….
http://www.hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk/tierney-and-mcgregor-join-airdrieonians-on-loan/
but, not to worry …its Ryan Tierney and Jordan McGregor !
Phew!
Ron,
No, not at all. I expect us to win or draw next week
Great performance last nite it could not have gone better see the second leg through and we get group stage champions league football again.
Couple of quality additions and of we go again
Best thing about all this, unlike the MON team, just about all of the squad is still young so will develop further. They will give us success and help fund the next generation
Hell progress like this will fund massive development on and off the pitch
What’s not to like unless you anot her
HH
The decision to rescind Jack’s red card, despite clear video evidence that he motioned to head but a Hibs player, is simply staggering, even by the SFA’s standards.
On top of that, John Beaton – for so long one of their most loyal whistlers – has been demoted.
The SFA clearly feel the need to give Sevco as much a helping hand as possible. This is a message to the refs to get back in line.
What a comic genius :)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40967579?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_sportsound&ns_source=twitter&ns_linkname=scotland
Italiabhoy
It wont help them. We will smash them to bits on the park:)
Karma will be delivering a hefty boot in the Denis Laws to these cheats and bigots.
HH
bhoy george sang aboot and every tim wants ….https://scontent.flhr2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t34.0-12/20937839_1627256643959563_1740817052_n.jpg?oh=b31a5deadc11d26e147235dda4cd292e&oe=599789EF
Albion Rovers and Ineligible player
hmmmmmmmm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40951947
JC2
Ive been giving these hun hacks verbals on twitter.
What a shower of f/wits.
Shameless they are.
HH
Totally leftfield- embdae know the name and channel.of a farming programme on TV last night?
JOE CUNDY
Interesting. Plymouth Argyle seem to have quite the Scottish connection over the last 10 years.
Mind you my main Plymouth Argyle reference point is that Paul Whitehouse Aviva advert…
!!BADA BING!! on 17TH AUGUST 2017 7:19 PM
Totally leftfield- embdae know the name and channel.of a farming programme on TV last night?
###
Emmerdale ITV?
!!BADA BING!! on 17TH AUGUST 2017 7:19 PM
Moo’s at Ten……..
Oh no……thanks Ernie…:))