By Alex Gordon.
A DREADFUL penalty-kick miss by Bahrudin Atajic condemned Ronny Deila to his first defeat as Celtic manager.
The Bosnian striker had the ideal opportunity to level the scores four minutes from time after substitute Paul McMullan had been downed in the box.
Unfortunately, Atajic blazed his spot-kick over the bar into the Hamburg crowd much to the annoyance of the new Hoops gaffer.
It was a largely experimental Celtic line-up with Deila taking no risks ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier against Legia Warsaw in the Polish capital.
Alas, appalling defending by Filip Twardzik gifted the Germans the winning goal before the interval.
The left-back made a mess of trying to control a long and hopeful punt into the Celtic penalty box. The ball broke clear and was immediately presented to Christopher Nothe who could hardly believe his good fortune.
Nothe struck his effort first time from eight yards and Craig Gordon had no chance as the low drive zipped past his right hand in the 39th minute.
Twardzik toiled in the opening 45 minutes and was also booked in the 33rd minute after a lunging tackle after once again giving the ball away with a slack pass.
Celtic started at whirlwind pace and had three excellent opportunities inside the opening 10 minutes.
Atajic fizzed in a low shot from just outside the box, but keeper Philipp Tschauner got down swiftly to hold the ball at his right hand post.
Five minutes later, Tony Watt, looking lively on the left wing, tried his luck from a tight angle.
His shot totally bamboozled Tschauner, but carried over the crossbar and out to safety.
Amido Balde should have got the game’s opening goal in the 10th minute when he was through on goal after some neat play outside the box.
However, the Portuguese Under-21 international lacked composure at the vital moment and allowed the keeper to block his hurried parting shot.
Gordon, making his second appearance for the Hoops, showed he was still rusty after being out for over two years with a slack goal-kick to Nir Biton.
The Israeli midfielder, captain for the day, was taken unawares and St Pauli broke forward, but made a mess of the opportunity.
Stuart Findlay, partnering Eoghan O’Connell in the middle of the inexperienced back four, was also sloppy with some wayward passes, but the Hoops escaped punishment.
The game was billed as a friendly – and the clubs have an affiliation – but the home players weren’t slow to put in some punishing challenges.
Skipper Soren Gonther was yellow-carded for a rugby tackle on McGeouch that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Celtic’s current home at Murrayfield.
Liam Henderson tried to set up Balde with a neat chip into the danger zone, but the ball carried over the giant frontman’s head.
It looked like being a stalemate at the interval until Twardzik’s lapse in concentration and control allowed St Pauli to snatch the lead.
Deila put on Lukasz Zaluska for Gordon at half-time and replaced the ineffective Balde with Paul McMullan.
Henderson brought the St Pauli keeper into action with a long-range free-kick in the 65th minute. The idea was good, but, unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite match the ambition.
Zaluska produced one memorable moment when he pushed a raging effort from Sebastian Mhyre over the crossbar 10 minutes from time.
Then came Atajic’s dreadful spot-kick blunder which was followed in the last minute by an effort from Watt which swept just wide of the target.
As an exercise, it was worthwhile and the Celtic youngsters will expect to do better when presented with the opportunity to impress the new manager.
CELTIC: Gordon (sub: Zaluska 46); Herron, Findlay, O’Connell, Twardzik; Biton, Henderson, McGeouch; Atajic, Balde (sub: McMullan 46) and Watt.
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No bother I’m hoping Paul finally tells us who Kojo is
why don;t the SNP want it’s own currency?
Tricoloured Ribbon, further to Paul George’s leg break.
From match reports I read, Paul was taken out, the ref played advantage and we scored with hee haw punishment for the guy who done him.
I had the misfortune to read the match report on the Hun website. They said something along the lines of the Celtic player who scored after Paul was done showed no concern for his stricken team mate by not stopping play to allow treatment. Completely hunbelievable, it was like they were blaming us for Paul’s broken leg. Another case of them blaming someone else for their own transgression.
The SNPs soft soap approach about monarchy, NATO, the pound etc is only designed to convince the scared and reluctant. If we get a yes vote then all bets are off. We can choose what we want. BTW if we use the pound it will not be as Salmond imagines.
probably because they are trying to get buy in from the scared. Try no keep it as normal as possible.All of the safe familiar things are still there. The £, the Queen, the EU, NATO, If we vote YES it’s all up for grabs as I said earlier. We, the Scottish electorate have the opportunity to get what we want. the SNP white paper is AS’s dream or nightmare. It counts for nothing. What is your position on the ref?
Just dropped into say that there is something hypnotic about this and I don’t know what it is but the song has been in my head since yesterday and I haven’t heard this version for weeks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K-5NCGTVPc
FFM,
You, friend, are just sensationAl.
Off to bed for much needed beauty sleep….. When ye get there, Home, ye know ye can always counterstrike on me..
TCR, re your odds posted earlier, I’ll have some of that yes vot odds. I’m not a gambling man, I find other ways to chuck my money down a stank.
A couple of years ago I got given odds of 14/1 on Celtic beating Barcelona and like a green eyed numbnut I stuck a twenty on……………………………………..HAW HAW HAW!!!
Mr bookie doesn’t often get it wrong but when he does it’s nice to pick up yer winnings.
£50 for me on yes.
HH
I wont be voting, I know I should but I voted for a Scottish Parliament and its been an utter money sink. I deal with MSP every day and they disgust me with their money grabbing and inept ways.
One of my favourite songs on BBC4 Cruel to be kind Nick Lowe. Such a joyous song.
HH
Dallas Dallas,
That wouldn’t be like them eh?
Willie McVie’s thuggish assault on Brian McLaughlin always springs to mind for me when a Celtic player’s career comes under threat.I was there that day.I was young but I remember it distinctly.
BRTH, did you notice old Andy Coogan hand the baton to Chris Hoy on Tuesday just before auld queeny her mitts on it?
He was the subject of the book I gave you. A Scottish legend and a true gent, very nice to see him finally receive the recognition he so deserves.
Kojo etc. Yes. I agree. I am on personal terms with our local MSP and SNP MP. Both buck fits. Doesn’t however mean that we are better off under Westminster rule.
HH
skyisalandfill, any joy on the camera software problem?
I don’t believe Salmond is any different to Cameron so why would I vote for more of the same, do you really want me to tell you about the moron to population ratio O)
acgr,
Hello comrade.Out of it mate as I am out of the equation.
Was only posting the odds.
Makes no odds to me.
Doc 00.08ish and 00.28
Good posts.
the currency question as you point out is a little more complex than Gideons view of what the £ is.
HH
More Mairead & Anna
ACGR
Bloke I work with is a Camera nut and we have agreed that I will take my new crappy, stupid, laptop into work on Monday and he will install photoshop for me.
Must have a chat about Whisky sometime.
HH
Kojo etc
Don’t really know what that means.
Why not be upfront and say what you think
HH
kojo, collie, maggie and philis are the same person
01:37 on 27 July, 2014
I wont be voting, I know I should but I voted for a Scottish Parliament and its been an utter money sink. I deal with MSP every day and they disgust me with their money grabbing and inept ways.
……
Funny I was just waiting for a post like that.
skyisalandfill
——–
I think the Scottish public are morons, I think the UK public are morons and I know Mrs Salmond wanted gold Christmas decorations shes a moron
Dallas Dallas etc
No offence taken at US of Awesome. I was tickled pink, well maybe light red, with it.
Re Soccer. The uptake at school level in the last decade or so has been impressive.
I think a number of factors contribute.
NFL at HS level is attracting some criticism due to injuries sustained and teenagers being bulked up and then left to cope with the consequences of obesity and drugs.
The coverage and success of the US national side at WC level and particularly against Mexico which provokes a very volatile rivalry.
The spread of the influence of Latinos in line with the growth of the South American communities, particularly the Brazilian and Mexican ones.
The organization at MLS level and their success in promoting the sport by negotiating good TV deals, partly by allowing highly paid foreigners and attracting US players who previously played in Europe. Adding teams to the league which helped create local rivalries/ derbies has seen a big rise in attendances.
When I arrived on these fair shores over 20 years ago, the only football played at street level was in places like Harrison and Kearney. Now the local council have added at least 6 soccer fields that I’m aware of and on Saturdays and Sundays they are being well used.
BTW I live in a typical leafy suburban town about 50 miles from Manhattan.
Exposure of EPL, La Liga and others on national TV has also helped.
There’s nothing American viewers like better than a success and seeing these animated crowds at games on TV will drive other youngsters to take up the game.
I know we all hate the evil EPL buy the photography on this is amazing
http://youtu.be/l5Lgznz7_UQ
skyisalandfill, I’d like that. I’d like your opinion on my last bottling (the Telford’s Bridge Craigellachie). Also just about to bottle a 12 Y.O. Linkwood that we had decanted to an oloroso cask for finishing. Tried it when it was ten and we all agreed it needed sparking up a bit. The DM at Tomatin had a wee try and advised a sherry finish to provide that spark. That was in 2012 and we went ahead when the got us a decent cask. Tried it again this April and what a transformation………………..HUBBA DINGGGGGGG!!!!!
Do you think the Spey malts need a longer maturation than their Islay cousins? I drink lots of young Islay malts and Ardbeg seem to be able to turn out top class drams from about 7 Y.O. Aye, the peatiness can hide a lot of flaws that light speyside’s cant.
Ardbeg, Almost there is a good example.
Fair enough. My views aren’t dissimilar, but I am some sort of idealist who believes that post UK, the Scottish electorate will elect a govt that may do stuff which only reflects Scottish aspirations. I know that the current Mps and MSPs are rubbish, but to me they are a product of the environment. Stranglers on TV now.Cool. Indy gives a chance to build something better and stop trying to be a world policeman.
skyisalandfill
—————-
I’m a great believer in that the world only has a small percent of good people the smaller you make yourself the less chance you have of being ruled by someone good :O)
ACGR
I’m. A fan of young under matured Malts. Linkwood was the first still I worked at. I remember the old bottling, Mcewens. Bottling I think. Top dram. I’m naturally biased to Diageos whiskies but I believe that they still produce most of the best whiskys around. coal Ila and Clynelish are beyond comparison IMO.
HH
Whisky or Whiskey has to be drunk sensibly.
Really sensibly.
If not it can be disastrous.Absolute firewater.
Kojo, Collie, Maggie and Philis are the same person 01:52 on 27 July, 2014
I think the Scottish public are morons…………………………………
……………………………..
Hee hee, funny post and to an extent I agree, even as a member of the group you lambast, ya bass.
But the late great Mr zappa says it better than I ever could.
I’m a moron and this is my wife.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKE3ZLj7_V8
HH Frank
TCR, 02.11,feck off ya eejit. Are you trying to ruin my life with that post?
Got to go golf at 7 and no way I’m making it :O) Lets argue later I’m off on Monday
Any goals from st pauli? HH
ACGR
Thanks for the fishing invite from late last night.
Despite my love of the Keys I do not fish.
When the kids went offshore fishing I stayed at home to watch the grandchildren play on the sand, fly kites with them, kayak in calm waters along the shore and explore the beach looking for turtle nests.
I went once with them out to the reef to scuba dive. While they were watching the fish and coral, I was hanging over the side of the boat throwing up, chumming the waters they said.
I much prefer to eat than catch.
ACRG
If you get Linkwood or Linkwid as it’s pronounced locally from about 1988 to 2004, it will I be the stuff that included the new side with condensers and the old side with worm tubs. I think this unique in terms of Scotch.
HH
Acgr,,
I have witnessed what whisky does to families from people who cant handle it.
Trust me pal.You obviously can.Enjoy it mo chara
Charliebhoy
In our hearts and in our minds…
KTF
TCR good point well made.
HH
skyisalandfill, Clynelish is stunning, I used to buy lots of the bog standard 14 Y.O. at the Buccaneer garage in Elgin at a good price. I also had a couple of SWMS cask St bottles and the flavour was consistent.
I’ve not had Coal Ila for a long time but they done a rum finish which G&M put out via their connoisseurs choice label that was very very special. Sadly, I drank the lot and it’s no longer available:-((
We need to organise a meet in the Pot Still after a paradise game and take this chat aff the blog and into proper dramming territory. We could even talk about Celtic for a wee while……….ha ha.
HH bruv.