History turns on nights like that

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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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354 Comments

  1. Ah smell a trap.

     

    A Celtic board with balls would cite that, the authorities failed to keep Celtic supporters safe on 2nd of September, so with that in mind, we’re withdrawing from the semi final, citing that the safety of Celtic supporters is far more important than any game of football.

     

    Don’t want 30 years of masonic / orange inquests etc…..pull the house down.

     

    HH

     

     

     

    Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

  2. Can’t understand the reaction to the LC Semi solution

     

     

    Both Glasgow clubs want a post EL rest so games are Sunday

     

     

    BT Sport have the rights to both games so can’t be on at the same time or they lose advertising revenue

     

    Rangers are at home in Europe , Celtic are away.

     

     

    Rangers on first ; makes sense

     

     

    In terms of travel, Celtic fans from outside Glasgow face this challenge all the time

     

     

    I travel from Ireland and take risks on flights and hotels all the time. I book the whole weekend for Rangers games as I know the time will move. I assume home games won’t move and am normally right

     

     

    The Motherwell game moved to Sunday during a long trip to Scotland with my family and I moved a big family meal to the Sunday

     

     

    Now I have to think about the semi. Poor me! It is just how it goes

     

     

    The Aberdeen lads need to book buses or stay in the fine , non radioactive toun of Glasgow for the night on the Sat. We will make them welcome

     

     

    The jambos might miss the last train. They are used to the Glasgow SFA bias and will get on a supporter bus or drive

     

     

    As for the big riot; work in the morning, I bet there are zero arrests and zero additional fights over and above

  3. Watching Glasgow vBarcelona,womens CL.Glasgow one down,but 2-1 up on agg.,at half time.Some good players on show.

  4. okay im up for it had my nose broken in helen st, 4 teeth knocked out in mount florida, and 12 stiches in my cheek in kirkshaws in Coatbridge, which I still have the scar today, and that was 50 years ago, but although im 65 now ill be up there, dirty orange bassas.hh.

  5. What a perfect opportunity for Celtic fans to stand united and FtSFA

     

    ( they are the ones who gain from playing games at Hamdump)

     

    Take a token 5-7 k tickets, and leave rest of ground empty

     

    Try to get Edinburgh Huns to join a mass bhoycott of this game

  6. Massive result last night after a shocking first half.

     

    Beatons’ snarling face, reminded of brother Steven Mclean’s in the semi final handball incident , pure hatred and anger.

     

    I think everyone already knew that we were getting the short straw, regarding the semi final.

     

    Amazed the police are allowing these games to be played on the same day.

     

    Sevco getting beat on penalties.. i see trouble ahead.

     

    Personally , i wouldn’t be anywhere near the place that day.

     

    Anyway bring on the sheep.

  7. CONEYBHOY. could tell you a few stories about a fight in Alexandra parade where we wiped out 6 huns, and there was only 3 of us .hh.

  8. Lynott

     

    Do not think we were shocking first half. Boring and clueless aye ?

     

    I am pinning a lot of belief in Lewis Morgan.

     

    My kinda fitba player.

     

    Love him already.

     

    YNWA

  9. To be fair, a Hun kick off at 7.45pm on a Sunday would allow those horrible mutants 8 hours in the pub before kick off. Recipe for disaster that. Best to get them in and out ASAP. Overall thoughts are that Huns v Aberdeen should have been played at Murrayfield.

  10. DD dae the polis look in here???

     

     

    Hey polis wtf ye doing making us play on a Sunday night ya DOB

     

     

    There a feel better

     

     

    D. :)

  11. DELANEYS DUNKY, garry wish you had been born in Lanarkshire like me and gftb/sadiesbhoy/frannyb67/ron67 a cast of thousands, sorry not forgetting Hamilton tim and all the rest.hunskelpers.com.

  12. D17

     

    How do you get huns out of Glesca before oor game?

     

    Carnage that day in the toon por cierto.

     

    YNWA

  13. Mod if you want to delete that last post its up to you, obviously.

     

     

    But I have no regrets about posting it.

     

     

    D. :)

  14. David 66

     

    They spend more time on spying sites than getting out there aff there arse and catch a few criminals.

     

    We pay their wages

     

    They do not give us value for money.

     

    Unfortunately the Polis are the biggest gang in Glesca.

     

    YNWA

  15. DD I know.

     

    I shouldn’t really make comments like that on here. Stupid is as stupid does.

     

    That’s me.

     

     

    D. :)

     

     

    Forresstgumpcsc

  16. BP

     

    I was born in Paisley.

     

    Reared in Partick and Knightswood.

     

    Now live in Dalmuir.

     

    Why the feck would I wish to be fae Lanarkshire? ?

     

    YNWA

  17. MCPHAIL BHOY on 27TH SEPTEMBER 2018 5:16 PM

     

    Thomthethim

     

     

    Saw Black47 a couple of weeks ago; it is both shocking and wonderful at the same time. As I said to my youngest after it was over your grandfather’s grandparents lived through that, hard to believe the horror. I’d imagine most on here find themselves in Scotland as a result as of course does Celtic!

     

     

    *just read an article on the beeb about Thomas Lipton well known tea boy that his family left Fermanagh because of the “famine” settling in the Gorbals where he was born in 1848.

     

     

    They were Church of Ireland which proves that the ethnic cleansing didn’t just pick Catholics, wonder if they were ever told “the famine is over why don’t you go home”.

  18. DAVID66/DELANEYS DUNKY. don’t you know the best tims are from Lanarkshire/jinky/bobby Murdoch/billy mcneill/john clark/tommy gemmel need I say more.hh.

  19. DD ,

     

     

    Agree on Lewis Morgan, the one shining light that gives me a bit of hope for this season.

     

     

    Someone commented last night, it looked liked the players had downed tools in the first half.

     

    hard to disagree with that.

     

     

    WTF is going here?

     

     

    Boring , clueless and once more full of our tippy- tappy backward triangles.

     

     

    I was worried for young Hendry when he came on but the bhoy did well.

  20. celticrollercoaster on

    ?⚽⚽⚽⚽Last Man Standing 11 update⚽⚽⚽⚽?

     

     

    104 entrants have noted an interest in joining, Thank you

     

     

    Don’t forget to send in your team prediction before the games commence on Saturday or even quicker to give me an easier life.

     

     

    Still time to take part Just email us at cqnpredictor@gmail.com

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  21. Tontine Tim @9.14pm

     

    My granny lived in the building on Crown Street ,Gorbals where the Lipton family set up residence.. she herself was one of four children born to a couple from Letterkenny in Donegal who settled initially in Govan.

     

    To get work in the shipyards John McHugh ( with his Ulster accent ) changed his name to McEwan . I wonder why he did that?

     

    I have a photograph of that man taken in the late 19th century in the years after Celtic were born. On those days when belief might be suspended it would be instructive to go back in time and have a conversation about his experiences in Ireland and Glasgow . From scenes like these old Scotia’s grandeur springs…..

  22. MIKE IN TORONTO on 27TH SEPTEMBER 2018 8:10 PM

     

    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 ..

     

     

    *nothing tae dae with his conservative ideology, mcconnell pleaded with the trumpet not tae pick him, carried too much baggage. He’s only there because he once stated the president should NOT be investigated never mind indicted.

     

     

    Should this go through and I expect it will there’ll be carnage out there as the #MeToo movement goes intae over drive.