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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I’m astounded of forehead at the disappointment surrounding Tony Watt leaving.
1.2million for an unproven talent is great business, enough managers have looked at this lad and decided no.
Good luck Tony, I wish you all the best but there is no disappointment in Kittochland
New article posted.
Turkeybhoy
I’m fully confident.
My advice would be, if you want to keep the feel good factor flowing stay off this place.
It’s crammed pack full of Victor Meldrews.
• Por Cierto
10:46 on 28 July, 2014
and if he has such a BIG future, why were there no other clubs bidding for his services por cierto
I do believe, Ronnie tried to sign him on deadline day, last year
But it decent go through in time…………………..
JustsayingLike
Por Cierto
10:44 on 28 July, 2014
Tony Watt has probably made the decision to leave Celtic por cierto
——————————————————-
Pretty much what I was implying earlier – the clubs may agree a fee but the player still has the final say in whether he wants to go or not – especially these days. Tony decided to go. I’m disappointed Tony didn’t make it at Celtic – he showed a lot of promise. He’s hoping he is better suited to his new club and makes a go of it.
BIG JOE
Glorious Goodwood tomorrow,mate.
Donkey Derby Day today.
On Tony Watt leaving, great goal against Barca, not much to shout about either side of that. Another player who got better in each game he didn’t play, I think £1.2m is a good piece of business.
I get the distinct impression that Tony Watt is being sold (?) at the behest of PL and the board.
Didn’t Ronny try to bring him to Stromgodset not that long ago?
He obviously saw something he liked.
What’s happened since then ?
Perhaps young Tony needs to spend some one-on-one time with Jim McGuiness!
HH!!
I am astounded of forehead that people believe selling tony watt is good business.
We aren’t exactly brimming over with strikers, we are a day or so away from a massive game. But we sell our striker. Don’t forget that Ronny wanted to sign watt at his old club. So did Ronny make this decision? Would you agree to this if you were the manager? Of course not.
So we can now deduce that Ronny is a board patsy. He has no power and. No influence.
Lawwell is making the decisions. He brought in Craig Gordon and he is selling tony watt.
Other clubs want to do business now because they are trying to strengthen before the transfer window. Not celtic. We do the opposite.
What now do you happy clappers say to the Ronny has to take time to judge before making decisions? You can’t have it both ways and the board will make fools of all of you (indeed all of us).
Poor Ronny. Clearly overawed to get the job and now undermined at every opportunity.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
10.43
Thanks for the tip. No, not the Brittania Hotel, Cityroomz. Probably, worse.
Picture looks like a bunk-bed railway carriage. No worries though, by the time, bruv and me are heading for sleep, the floor will be too high again.
STILL THE PERCEPTION CONTINUES
meansong –
Watt may have been perceived by Ronny as a bad apple and his possible negative influence
his words today
“I have read a lot of things, such as my attitude was stinking, but I have never once been disrespectful to a coach.
“I have always treated them with respect. They are in charge, they are the people I need to answer to
no evidence just talk.
An example of who is boss – bet AS never snubs Ronny again.
As for the stats thrown around – how many appearance were for the closing minutes of a game as sub.
PL should come out and confirm or deny if TW is going because of attitude.
Still hope he says no
Thought every player was to get a chance under new manager!
Doesn’t seem to be the case for TW.
MWD says AYE
Is it definite that Tony is leaving or is it Daily Record speculation?
Neganon2
I’m astounded with the amount of rubbish that comes out of your archie
Jo Inge Signed for Cardiff as he had same agent as the Cardiff manager
Poor displays limited his chances
Nice eh PL is taking the Mickey a player who is not good enough for Cardiff is here to get is in CL
No loans eh Ronny. Then you spoke to moneybags lawell. That changed ur mind eh :(