History turns on nights like that

354

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.

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

354 Comments

  1. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    TONTINETIM

     

     

    I doubt the average American is bothered about Kavanauhj’s sexual predilections. They voted in as POTUS a fella with a much worse past.

  2. BIG PACKY 1 on 27TH SEPTEMBER 2018 8:57 PM

     

    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.

     

     

    *what about James Kelly, Neilly Mccallum, Johnny Madden, the 2 Divers and Patsy although born in Donegal arrived in Clydebank aged 3 and played for OHR school team. Oh and James Edward was loaned ate the Bankies before becoming the islands top goal scorer.

  3. Lynott

     

    My nephew told me that Lewis Morgan was by far his most difficult opponent last season.

     

    So far so good.

     

    Looks the gallus player Celtic been missing.

     

    YNWA

  4. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    If there was a proper, honest media in Scotland, they would be pouring scorn, from a great height, on the SPFL.

     

     

    I wonder what odds Betfred will give on trouble in Glasgow from 2pm until midnight?

  5. BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 27TH SEPTEMBER 2018 9:51 PM

     

    TONTINETIM

     

     

    I doubt the average American is bothered about Kavanauhj’s sexual predilections. They voted in as POTUS a fella with a much worse past.

     

     

    *Unfortunately Hillary had more baggage than him, it was called slick willy.

  6. Embramike

     

     

    “he didn’t just call me ‘a fat baldy bastard’”

     

     

    So he had the defence of ‘factually accurate’?

  7. BIG PACKY 1 on 27TH SEPTEMBER 2018 9:58 PM

     

     

    TONTINE TIM, APOLOGIES KIND SIR.HH.

     

     

    *nae need BP, BTW Renton born James Kelly was our first captain, Bonhill lhad Neilly McCallum our first goal scorer and Dumbartonian Johnny Madden as centre forward kicked the first ball for Celtic

  8. Tontine

     

    Pity John McGinn hisnae followed in his fellow Bankies through Paradise gates journey Yet.

     

    Only Time Will Tell

     

    Robert Nesta Marley CSC

  9. Tontine

     

    Was in Dumbarton Harp CSC social club wi Petec a fortnight ago. A mighty fine establishment in Dumbarton centre. Will be down more often. Great wee club wi great West Dunbartonshire fenian punters.

     

    YNWA

  10. GuyFawkesaforeverhero on

    By happenstance I saw two thirds of last night’s game on tv this afternoon in Nico’s, Sauchiehall St. It’s different to the game experienced as it plays out.

     

     

    My brother and I watched the second team lose three first half goals in Greenock on Tuesday.

     

     

    We have the most extensive academy programme in Scotland. Martin Commper is our only left-footed centreback among 90+ fulltime professional footballers training at Lennoxtown. Morton reserves had a left-footed centreback.

     

     

    Wallace Duffy? No harm, son but no thanks. Soft-centred with a hairtrigger temper and not an intelligent rightback anyway. Move him out, bring Dan Church across from leftback. He doesn’t have the guick feet of Kieran so give him a shot inside.

     

     

    Not one player in the current reserve squad is anywhere close to first team standard.

  11. DELANEYS DUNKY on 27TH SEPTEMBER 2018 10:10 PM

     

     

    Tontine Was in Dumbarton Harp CSC social club wi Petec a fortnight ago. A mighty fine establishment in Dumbarton centre. Will be down more often. Great wee club wi great West Dunbartonshire fenian punters.

     

     

    *Next time check out a gift from a Canadian CSC which used tae be behind the bar, it was me that carried it across the Atlantic, didnae even get a pint for my troubles.

  12. DELANEYS DUNKY on 27TH SEPTEMBER 2018 10:03 PM

     

     

    Tontine Pity John McGinn hisnae followed in his fellow Bankies through Paradise gates journey Yet.

     

     

    Only Time Will Tell

     

     

    *Harry harry turned us down but still made it back.

  13. The Blogger Formerly Known As GM on

    What on earth are the sheep bleating about?

     

     

    ‘Move on’ Milne and a manager who refuses to put out a compative team against his alma matre.

     

     

    You reap what you sow.

     

     

    Their fans are more stupid than Servco’s.

  14. G-D on 27TH SEPTEMBER 2018 9:45 PM

     

    FIELDOFDRAMS on 27TH SEPTEMBER 2018 10:00 PM

     

    Naughty step – next one’s a yellow card !

  15. WBC

     

    I am a Lucky Man.

     

    His concert at Old Trafford Cricket Ground wi Liam Gallagher last month was magic.

     

    Richard Ashcroft Wigan CSC

  16. Back in the hotel after an afternoon session in Cheers – noticed belatedly that the beer was 5.3%- a well quick shower and ready for the evening

     

    Didn’t see the draw take place but whoever was drawn first should play first.

  17. GuyFawkesaforeverhero on

    TontimeTim on 27th September 2018 10:01PM

     

     

    Another Celt from Renton never forgotten is the one season wonder flying winger1892 treble winner (cups!) Alec Brady. I’m told he’s a legend in England also, Everton, whatever that might be.

  18. FRIESDORFER on 27TH SEPTEMBER 2018 10:56 PM,

     

     

    Dissent is it?????

     

     

    Who the F**k are you to decide?

     

     

    Ya F’N Teuchter…

     

     

    BTW J’s ankle is still gubbed :-)

     

     

    TornFacedBassaCSC

  19. Watching question time.

     

     

    Jacob Rees sounds and looks like someone from the SS party in the late thirties.

     

    God help us if he became a Tory prime minister.

  20. Hoi, DD,

     

     

    Did you catch Mr Ashcroft dropping his wee Cocaine Package on Soccer am at the weekend.

     

     

    Obviously the drugs hadn’t started working yet!

     

     

    YearslaterCSC

  21. GUYFAWKESAFOREVERHERO on 27TH SEPTEMBER 2018 10:36 PM

     

    TontimeTim on 27th September 2018 10:01PM

     

     

    Another Celt from Renton never forgotten is the one season wonder flying winger1892 treble winner (cups!) Alec Brady. I’m told he’s a legend in England also, Everton, whatever that might be.

     

     

    *Only heard about him last year, he’s buried in the Millburn Church which was the former parish church in Renton, its now disused but a ceremony was carried out there by the Celtic Graves and Everton Heritage Societies.

     

     

    He was part of a group of players from the area that played for Everton and after they moved across town Liverpool who were formed to replace them.

  22. CT

     

    Take the bhoy oot of Wigan etc…

     

    I think cocaine is a horrible drug and coke heids bore me shitless

     

    Ashcroft I love. ?

     

    YNWA

  23. OOTBALL

     

    SPORT

     

    TV & SHOWBIZ

     

    NEWS

     

    FABULOUS

     

    RADIO

     

    FREE BOOKS

     

    MONEY

     

    MOTORS

     

    TRAVEL

     

    TECH

     

    DEAR DEIDRE

     

    PUZZLES

     

    All Football

     

    All Football

     

    Scottish Premiership

     

    English Premier League

     

    Champions League

     

    DONS ANGER Betfred Cup fixture fall-out: Aberdeen and Hearts rage at decision to play two semis at Hampden on same day

     

    Aberdeen’s clash with Rangers has been scheduled for noon on Sunday, October 28, while Hearts will face Celtic in the second match kicking off at 7.45pm

     

     

    By David Friel and Andy Devlin

     

    27th September 2018, 10:42 pm

     

    Updated: 27th September 2018, 11:04 pm

     

    ABERDEEN have branded the decision to play both Betfred Cup semi-finals at Hampden on the same day as APPALLING.

     

     

    The Dons will face Rangers at 12 noon on Sunday October 28 — with Celtic v Hearts following at 7.45pm in an unprecedented move.

     

     

    Aberdeen fans

     

     

    KENNY RAMSAY – THE SUN GLASGOW

     

    3

     

    Aberdeen fans will be forced to make an early trek down to Glasgow

     

    Cops gave the green light but raging Pittodrie chiefs claim their fans have been shafted — and reckon SPFL beaks should have looked at alternatives.

     

     

    A Dons statement said: “We appreciate the authorities have a difficult job to schedule games in what is an extremely congested calendar.

     

     

    “But to yet again ask our supporters to be in Glasgow for a 12 noon start on a Sunday is, quite frankly, appalling.

     

     

    “As a club we have repeatedly asked that the authorities stop giving us kick-off times which, for our large travelling support, are completely unacceptable.

     

     

    “But yet again, what should be a showpiece occasion is scheduled to start at a time that does not take supporters into account.

     

     

    “We believe that having both games in the same stadium on the same day is inappropriate.

  24. Hello again all you young rebels.

     

     

    Well thank god that wee crisis is over,was beginning to think

     

    we would never win another treble again.

     

    O.k. i’ll take my tongue out my cheek now 8-))

     

    Often wonder how i managed to live through the late fifties

     

    early sixties with hardly a victory never mind a treble.

     

    Brendan will get it right just like big Jock did but we need all

     

    parties working together against this onslaught of outright

     

    bigotry.

     

    Thats my wee rant over, and it’s the weekend starting here

     

    in Oz, time for another hunt a hun bit of fun now that they

     

    are the super duperest team on the planet, but i’m still not

     

    so sure i’ll find any here on the rebel peninsula.

     

    Preseason training starting again next week for our young

     

    team, not much of a break but i’m happy, nothing pleases me

     

    more than driving down that big hill from my house on a

     

    beautiful sunny night and seeing the hoops out on the park.

     

    Ahh blisss.

     

    H.H Mick