The score-line shows a narrow win, but the substance of Celtic’s second half performance was significantly different from what we have seen so often this season, including the first half. Lots of good chances were created – and missed – however, this was reassuring as we hoped not only for a win, but for a substantive change of fortunes.
Moreover, Brendan Rodgers will surely ponder what changes were made at halftime to bring about an effect he worked on since Sunday’s defeat, but failed to materialise at kick off.
The first half provided only more frustrating material. Leigh Griffiths looked as ponderous as Odsonne Edouard has been recently. Had it been Edouard who missed two great chances with the scores still level, not Leigh, the French striker would have come under yet more pressure, but even our goal-den striker was finding it tough.
Progress happens one step at a time and with 83 minutes gone, Leigh was the wrong side of the ball when James Forrest’s header was blocked, with a defender either side of him and a third opponent closer to the ball. Leigh was the most alert man in the stadium. He swivelled and was on the ball before anyone else knew what was happening. His finish was none too shabby, either.
I don’t know what was said by Dedryck Boyata to referee John Beaton in the 90th minute but Brendan Rodgers summed it up well, intimating the player passed up several opportunities not to be red carded, but chose to persist with a grievance, the validity of which is moot. The card was more for rank stupidity than anything said.
Scott Bain has not had much game time recently, so I get that he wanted to be involved in the dying seconds of added time, but his walkabout nearly sent us into extra time with 10 men. Goalkeeping is first and foremost about decision making. Scott made a howler.
Ask anyone and they will tell you that inconsistency in defensive selection leads to poor understanding and results. Despite a catalogue of central defensive injuries, we have now achieved five clean sheets in six games – all with Dedryck in the team. He’s a leader.
Coming as it did during a form slump, last night’s League Cup quarterfinal was a worry, I could sense the triple treble disappearing in the Perthshire air. Lesser teams would have lost. But, we are through to semi against Hearts, which will be played either at Hampden, where we are imperious, or Murrayfield, scene of our memorable 3-0 victory over Legia Warsaw.
History turns on nights like that.
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Why not just move semis to following week when there’s no Euro games?
30,000 huns, 20,000 dons, 20,000 purple huns, 30,000 tims.
all in the same city , with a 2 hour window to make them all avoid each other.
if the fist game goes to extra time it will be carnage, everyone knows the experience of trying to clear away from hampden.
the nun blogs are in two camps, sensible ones saying no way should the games be in the same place on the same day, and the yahoos who see it as a chance to get up to their knees.
the stupid polis, who couldnt handle 800 huns coming to celtic park without crushing celtic fans, well its a disaster waiting to happen.
imagine hundreds of zombies passing the brazen head late afternoon, imagine if they get beat.
its so high risk its unfathomable that the polis let it go ahead.
also, they decided the dons huns game is first ? why ? what the fluck.
Celtic Mac
Their loss- but not a happy Bhoy – came over s day early especially – Sam Adams Oktoberfest ale is going down well even at $7.5 a pop
you bet your life them bassas will play first, and we will get a feckin churned up pitch, its what they do, ftsfa.hh.
Vale Bhoy
:)
Sorry about late reply. Flying.
Paul67 et al
So on the same day that Police Scotland announce a Review into the way football is Policed In Scotland, Police Scotland advise the SPFL (The Scottish Police Football League) that one it is ok to play two semi- finals at Hampden on the same day, and two one of these matches is to be played on a Sunday night. Now, I’m for not losing Cup ties, but that does not mean I am in favour of playing them regardless of the circumstances, unlike PoliceScotland. No doubt the Celtic Board will come out with a statement in absolute opposition to these decisions, well they will won’t they?
Bada
& according to some the first train out of Aiberdeen gets in to Glasgow after kick off.
Well thought out pi** from the usual SPFL.
are there ferries back to ireland late night on a sunday ?
gene
Well you could always fly over to London where you might spot Benny the Baluga whale swimming up the Thames. Or the other whale currently floating doon the Clyde, Boydy.
watching the goings on in washington.i can’t believe that no one has asked
“WHEN HE PUT THE SNIB ON THE BEDROOM DOOR BEFORE HE ASSAULTED YOU DID HE SNIB THE DOOR WITH HIS LEFT HAND OR HIS RIGHT HAND.
AND PS HE IS GUILTY REALLY REALLY GUILTY.
JOHNNYCOCHRANECSC.
Great day for the armchair fans. Crap day for those attending.
And the four clubs seemingly agreed to this.
HH.
Dungcaster blaming the police, for letting the huns play on a clean pitch, meanwhile Aberdeen fans have to travel to Glasgow, at a ridiculous hour.
Favourite Uncle- been watching it, a very brave lady, very credible, Trumps goons will be trying to dig some dirt on her.
Earliest train from Aberdeen on that day, arrives in Glasgow at 12:14.
FIVE trains from Edinburgh arrive before 11 am.
JJ
!!BADA BING!! on 27TH SEPTEMBER 2018 7:28 PM
yip totally agree.i can’t believe he has not withdrawn.
Hot Smoked
Ludicrous decision by the authorities in charge. As I posted earlier, on Sunday October 28th in Glasgow, I predict a riot.
Kaiser Chiefs CSC
Bada @7:25
What did Doncaster say?
DD
A game after a Coia`s evening meal is not as enjoyable as one after a Coia`s breakfast :-))
I don`t suppose the Authorities gave any thought to Frankie and the Bhoys .
JJ
It’s almost as if someone in Glasgow or indeed PS want to have a riot on their hands:(((
NotParanoidEnough CSC
DD
100%
Who will pay for the polis bill cause there aint enough to police it as the majority will be on leave watchin their brethern & wreckin the toilets ?. :)
Just realised the incredibly obvious. Aberdeen fans would not be able to get a train home had they played second.
Hot Smoked –
As opposed to the fact that their earliest morning train doesn’t arrive in Glasgow till 12.15!
I predict an Aberdeen boycott – particularly as, if they don’t boycott they can’t get here on time anyway!
starry plough
Kind of renders the review of how football is Policed in Scotland somewhat redundant before it has even started.
PoliceScotland is an organisation not to be trusted. Nearest thing I can remember to this decision goes all the way back to the Scottish Cup semi-finals in 1969. Aberdeen played the ol’ Rangers at Celtic Park early doors and we played Morton that afternoon at Hampden that same afternoon.
Jobo
Obviously :)
What a shambles !
Hot smoked
Pretty sure they would not be able to get a train back home from Edinburgh on Wednesday night either
Actually, now that I think about it, there was only one afternoon that Saturday!
Utter shambles a laughing stock of a football association.
By the way what happened to the clarification of the rule change for refs regarding assaulting opponents, oh that’s right feck all.
D. :)
Jobo
Yes, I mentioned that in my 7:29 post.
Unfortunately, this will lead to the Dons fans lumping `the Glasgow Two ` together.
I like the boycott idea
.I think I will boycott all games I cannot get to in future. That way, I will feel better about not being there.
JJ
CELTIC MAC
Trying to beat us on and off the park doing everything to undermine our club and our team.
800 tickets at Poundland etc etc.
The idea of those four sets of fans in the toon on the same day, somebody needs their head looked just from a possible violence aspect that’s before the transport situation for the long suffering supporters.
Just when you think that the game couldn’t be any more badly run and up they pop with the next genius idea..
adi_dassler
Not so much toil and trouble PoliceScotland are concerned with, more double bubble.
`Darwin`s Dangerous Idea` just about to start on BBC 4. Seems appropriate!
Anyway, I am off to watch it.
Cheerio for now,
JJ
PS Instead of talking of the stupidity of the semis, perhaps we should be offering solutions. I have only seen the one that suggested the following week. I don`t know if that would work. Would it?
Adi D
It is the perfect storm for a perfect riot.
English firms will be in Glasgow that day for the ruck too. Madness decision by the authorities.
Jobo
Are there nae buses or cars in Aiberdeen?
YNWA
starry plough
Doesn’t bear thinking about Starry, it really is shocking. The Scottish government and the GCC will be all over it?????
Hot Smoked- Doncaster said the police decided Sevco v Sheep game first,no reason given as you would expect….
hot smoked
I like it. And all this talk of contractual obligations is complete bollocks. Contracts can be rewritten.
The polis will put pressure on train companies to run extra services on the Sunday, to try and get them out the road as quickly as possible.
As soon as I heard there was a possible problem with the semi fixtures ,i knew right away sevco would be the ones who would be least inconvenienced.
Is there a rule in place that says celtic have to play second in every semi final as I struggle to remember anything different .
I would like to hear the reasons behind this decision and who made the call .and what if anything celtic had to say about it all.
Bada/FU
I think the Republicans will just rush through a vote tomorrow or Monday.
I had thought they might sacrifice Kavanaugh, to galvanize their voters for the November elections… but, I dont think they will risk it…. they wont get another nominee through before the midterm elections… and, frankly, the Supreme Court is more important than Congress… Kavanaugh will effect change for the next 10 years, but the house can change every two years ..
Starry …
as you suggest, I think there will be trouble. and, sadly, I dont think anyone involved would be too upset by that … will be used to justify more spending and draconian laws directed towards fans.
As a former referee and with the dust settled, can I give my perspective on the Boyata red card ?
In my 18 years and over 1,000 games, I only had recourse to red card a player for language on 2 occasions, (ironically in the same weekend and half way through my career).
As opposed to ever-present ‘dissent’ – a yellow card offence, the “foul or abusive’ language” offence was changed over 15 years ago to “abusive, offensive or insulting language or gestures” – either way a red card offence.
Let’s be honest, if referees stuck to the letter of the law with this, we would be playing 7-a-side by half time. Nearly all Dissent is actually red card material ! This ‘abuse’, either from on or off the park, is why 80% of all new referees give up in the first 18 months !
When i asked how much “Dissent” before a line was crossed and it became a red card, I was given the guideline – “when it becomes focussed and vindictive”. Even then it’s a personal call – how much leeway do you give a player taking all things into consideration.
To last night, Dedryk was aggrieved when he did not get a free kick for a challenge on the half way line (not debating rights or wrongs here) and had a go at the ref – nothing unusual. Then Lustig was fouled with a little ‘afters’ which stopped the game only 20 yards away, thus allowing Dedryk the opportunity to have another rant at the ref while approaching him at pace.
Believe me, no matter how strong you are, a big player approaching you and screaming and gesticulating in your personal space can be quite intimidating.
When Beaton moved across to deal with the Lustig challenge, he can be seen saying to Broony that if Dedryk continued his tirades he could be sent off. (I always tried to use a senior player (captain) to help get the message across). Beaton then called “Dedryk” twice to him, and I can only assume that Dedryk said something ’untoward’ in reply which resulted in the red card being brandished. By that time Dedryk was already walking as he must have known what he said. Broony and Keiran were close by and must have heard the comment too and did not react much to the red card.
While I’m not justifying any of Beaton’s decisions, Dedryk’s continuing comments were of a nature that must have crossed a line – very few red cards are produced for language offences. I agree it was stupidity for Dedryk to give the referee a decision to make, particularly the way the game was poised at the time. Dedryk has unfortunately let himself, his team mates, the club and the fans down again.I hate to think of the possible backlash if we were to lose the semi-final he’ll miss.
PS My fist red card for such an offence actually resulted in 4 red cards and a 3 year ban from the SAFA for the player – he didn’t just call me ‘a fat baldy bastard’ – it took sustained offensive and intimidating comments to deserve that kind of sanction!
The (deserved) 2nd red card the following day, the guy was in the wrong place at the wrong time! Any other refs on here may hopefully understand what I’m talking about.
Bada
Its so the hun ‘fans’can get a few beers & get home for the early beat shift next day.
Para….noid