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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BCW. Game was poor. However even my football hating wife loved the day. Wtf are we doing in Scotland. Beer food and kids stuff would attract so many.
Can’t believe the negativity about keeping a tie alive. We should score in Poland and attack.
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
Holding onto players is just one angle. The club need to accommodate those looking to move on to remain an attractive option for attracting new recruits, particularly those aspiring to better things. Sad but true.
A score draw on Wednesday would be a great result. 4 5 1 with Griffiths to nick one.
Captain Beefheart
Aye, that’s it, let’s just go over there, attack gung ho, I mean it’s only the champions of Poland we are playing, should be easy.
cap beefy
I’ve read your crap. I have no desire to enter into debate with the loony fringe.
Scroll by!!!
MWD says AYE
Big-cup….,
So you reckon the player would have refused to play if they were told they were going nowhere for another season ? And destroy the reputation they built up
I said any team getting further will pick up more than we got for transfers
glendalystonsils. Who would your midfield be for Wednesday ? H.H.
There are truly some amount of master-de-bators on CQN now-a-days.
MWD says AYE
Remember that we will be a big step up for Legia compared to St Pats and that a “home” tie even at Murrayfield will be a daunting prospect — though I would much prefer it to be at Celtic park.
One of the key things about selling your best players every couple of years is that you don’t actually get to see them with experience — and when it comes to facing really good opposition in the later stages experience and confidence are big factors.
The ‘beautiful’ / ‘wonderful’ Shetland medallist…..FANTASTIC
thanks lads i’ll pass on your good wishes etc to john when I see him tomorrow, what a wonderful and diverse place CQN can be. and when you explain to those not of the(CQN) faith, they just don’t believe it !!! paul67 don’t fix whats no’ broke
big-cup-winners
20:03 on 27 July, 2014
Putting aside the cash for a minute. Anyone else think the EL may be more suitable level for the Celtic just now ? Not just in footballing terms but relative to the new management team.
————————————————–
Finances aside, as you say, I would love another crack at the EL. The loss of glamour is made up by Celtic fans who truly lit up that whole tournament in the Seville season.
It’s a great way for a young team to develop, a lot of Lennon’s players were properly born in the EL with Celtic. Ki away v Athletico springs to mind. Could be a good fit for Ronny and his team this season.
Loss of CL group cash should not be underestimated though.
Is the game on Celtic TV on Wednesday ? ….. And can anyone tell me the venue for the Celtic v Tottenham friendly, please?
If your interested. Here is the invite code to the EPL CQN Championship Fantasy Football League
296638-123206
You have 20 days left to register your team & join the league.
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon ….The angels are with Wee Oscar in Heaven.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
The game against Tottenham is being played at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki
67heaven … i am neil lennon ….the angels are with wee oscar in heaven.. ibrox belongs to the creditors
20:46 on 27 July, 2014
Olympic Stadium, Paavus Nurmis vag, Helsinki. 14:30 K.O.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
67Heaven etc,
the wee girl from Shetland,absolutely brilliant
I hear what posters say about the epl and my head says this is our level. – my heart however is glued to the big cup for obvious reasons hh
Brusselsbhoy 4 minutes ago
Papers in Belgium reporting Tony Watt to Standard Liège, 1,5 millions euros
By the way — no matter who we do or don’t sign a key player for us in Europe will be Stefan Marius Johansen who I think will shine especially if he has a running forward in front of him.
He is the kind of player we have not had in the past.
gordybhoy64
20:50 on 27 July, 2014
Melted my heart.
With all the bad going on in the world, this was a special moment
HH
CRC
67Heaven
CelticTV have the Tottenham game advertised as an upcoming live game but no info on if that includes for UK based subscribers.
67Heaven
& yes, the Legia game is on CelticTv on Wednesday
FWIW….
Martin O’Neill didny put Celtic into debt.
O’Callaghan and MacDonald did that with their recruitment of Rafeal(the only Brazillian that couldny play fitba) imho
As time went on, MO’N accurately observed that he didn’t put Celtic into debt, the debt was there before he arrived.
But of course, the carefully selected CQN brain-washing plants tend to, over-write ‘that’ fact.
Strange that, eh?
Off oot tae work, bye.
Neil canamalar
No, what I’m theorising is that any club promoting themselves as a conduit to “bigger” things need, out of necessity, to sell. Otherwise they may be viewed as more obstructive than let’s say an Ajax, Porto etc by agents of those aspiring, developing talents so necessary for us to finance the club’s development.
Gary67
You on twitter sir.
I have just had a phone call from a worried man, saying he read on twitter we are talking to (wait for it ) Charlie Adam :))))
I told him I would look on blog to put his mind at ease as requested.
CRC.
Aye a smile that could light up any room,
only 13 too great future ahead of her
Captain Beefheart
20:31 on 27 July, 2014
Moonbeams,
I take it you also boycott products from the fascist Saudi Arabia? You should also boycott Britain as she sells arms to various dictators who kill women and children. How about American products? The Americans are killing innocent Muslims with drones.
============================================
I think we ought to.
You clearly know the score.
Solidarity Comrade.
leftclicktic
There’s mention of Adam on KDS transfer rumours thread but I chose to ignore that!! Tony Watt tweet also there
Gary67
Thank you.
Back to the couch for me:))
Be good now
gary67
20:52 on 27 July, 2014
That would not surprise me.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Please no to Charlie Adam,nothing to do with his former team,
just that he is not a very good footballer
Last season after the the first qualifier, we only scored once away from home in the next five games. This has to be improved on.
Our first Europa and Champions League group section games under Neil, we scored in five of the six away games we had in those seasons.
Last season we fell into our bad old ways of not scoring away from home in Europe. An attacking style is not suitable for us as we don’t have a strong enough team yet to do it.
Our defending, use of the ball, discipline and taking our chances needs to improve from last season’s campaign.
I would rather Griffiths played up front if we go for a lone striker, he is our best finisher as was posted earlier. He did it well with Hibs and I know this is a big step up but he is a good player.
I see “expertsrus” are in full flow tonight. Thank ghod I just support Celtic. Away to watch the games.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Charlie Adam? Has someone been sent on to Celtic Cyber space to sound out the support?
Not for me.
Interesting question though – are there any currently playing ex Rangers (1972-2012 vintage) that would be good signings for us?
I am very blinkered generally in football matters by Celtic and can’t think of any but there might be a few?
Helmet on for this one, but I always thought Whittaker was decent – thankfully I don’t pick the team and buy the players (I’m not PL or DD!) and we don’t need a full back, but other than him? I’m struggling?
For that matter are there any ex-Celts still playing that we’d have back if money was no object? Wanyama for sure, Hooper, maybe… after that I’ve drawn a blank.
Any thoughts?
Big cup winners
You know nothing about the club, nothing about Celtic’s finances, Desmond’s motivation, Ronny’s targets, the lot in fact.
Full of negative supposition and speculation.
But why ?
Firstly you claim I know nothing about celtic. That’s just nonsense and very childish.
Why am I critical of the board? Because I believe they are not doing all they can to progress our club. Because they are treating the supporters badly and that they don’t have our best intersts in mind.
Because I believe it is shameful and wasteful and that we forever through good opportunities away with a lack of vision and ambition.
They are self serving and self interested and they are holding us back.
I think they have repeatedly lied to us.
And that they are trying to hoodwink us and scare us to ensure we don’t complain.
And it’s working isn’t it. A large section of you on this site are now making excuses for them. It’s not that we want to sell our best players it’s because they want to leave. It might be best if we get beat by legia because we will do well ithe Europa. Of course missing the point that we would not get into the Europa. It’s too early in the season, we have a new manager.
Paul is fund of saying that we should remove any excuses for players to allow them to fail.
And here you are making excuses and preparing us for a defeat which shouldn’t happen and would be disastrous for the club, for the support and particularly for our new manager. He not recover from it.
The fact that celtic haven’t strengthened ahead of these ties is disgraceful but not surprising. Last year we sold our best players before the final qualifying tie. We have previous form.
I don’t think we even aspire to mediocrity now. We are happy being poor.
gordybhoy64
21:03 on 27 July, 2014
Rest easy, two chances of Charlie Adam signing.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!