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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squire danaher
23:23 on 26 July, 2014
Weans grow up and leave home!
###
And spouses don’t necessarily divorce.
I suppose it says something about the nat mindset that they see Scotland as a child.
Kojo and his many imaginary ‘friends’
23.23
A Scotland where everything is as it should be will never happen.
Auldheid
23:25 on 26 July, 2014
Thanks, lots of work and patience gone into this. Pls keep up good work.
HH
CRC
Some politics on the blog now so in honour of Henry Lee (Canterbury MP 1685 and 1715)
Nick Cave & PJ Harvey
http://youtu.be/QzmMB8dTwGs
Mincey I laughed more at the penalty miss than the streaker.
Woohoo, on call over now time to bevy :-)
Auldheid
23:25 on 26 July, 2014
I have to say I can’t help thinking that if The Great Desmondo had a fraction of your interest or concern in the matter an answer would have been forthcoming within hours.
Nonetheless I salute your indefatigably.
CharlieBhoy, I have little in the way of answer for you, but I understand your frustration, spend time with John when you can, help him make the most of it.
You will be in my thoughts.
squire danaher
I don’t usually get involved with politics on here but hasn’t most of the competing teams gained independence and became a free state already?
Mirror reporting that the Southampton bid for Forster has gone up to £9Million but adding that Forster is not pushing for a move but expects it to go through.
prestonpans bhoys dam justice for the 5
Where’s the party…:))
sipsini
23:34 on 26 July, 2014
I think you’ll find most of them were British colonies.
And that Scotland was a very activate participant in the colonising process.
Kind of makes us a wee bit different to them.
.
TSD..
You should have seen the ‘Wanted’ posters for my Weekend ‘Work’ in the Netherlands..;-)
Maybe it was Fate that l was called Bruce all them Years ago..
Ps..l knew about the Kidney..;-(
001
I see the debate has turned to politics and surprise surprise usual professional protagonists appear.
So, for anyone interested in football & watching Real vs Inter played in USA…..
Having watched a bit of a Team USA in World Cup & seen some of the attendance figures at MLS domestic games, I think USA could be on precipice of a step change in their football credibility.
It might take another 10/15 years, but, I suspect that when we talk about the big money / big profile games in the future, USA will be very prominent.
The job of our board is to think about where the next big play will be – we have missed the EPL ship, so what is the next big thing, and how do we get on board
Sipsini
Prestonpans! :—-)
BRTH
“Mirror reporting”
file that with
“BBC Scotland understands”
sipsini
I don’t usually get involved with politics on here but hasn’t most of the competing teams gained independence and became a free state already?
———
They were gaining independence from Scotland :O)
Big Forster to Southampton for 9 million is 2maros ‘latest’ transfer news.
If we don’t take care of Legia I’m convinced both VVD and Forster will be gone. If we do reach play off I still think both will be sold!lol
But I’m a moaning negative doom and gloom merchant!
Genuinely think CL will be a step too far for this current squad.
auldheid
23:25 on 26 July, 2014
Would it be appropriate to ask your opinion as to how you think this will all pan out?
I do not think Celtic have the stomach or the will to take this any further but would be delighted to be proven wrong.
Ernie 23:28 – i don’t view the Union as a partnership of spouses like equals and don’t think many of any non-Tory persuasion do either
Squire Danaher, the timing he was forced into was the best he could get.
But I think he would have preferred a SNP Government for another Parliament before calling one, only an opinion.
With regard the CG and it’s effect on the referendum, if Scotland do well National pride will crest, that may well give a boost to the Yes vote, as would patronising English media.
A CG in Scotland with one Scottish presenter on the British Broadcasting Company! Gets my vote.
eddieinkirkmichael
23:28 on
26 July, 2014
Auldheid
23:25
Have Celtic PLC parked the Res12? in a laybye somewhere?
====================
See my reply to Celticrollercoaster about the time you were asking.
SFA are doing the parking.
Ernie,
Wasn’t most of the colonies used for recruitment for the British forces?
charliebhoy
Prayers and best wishes for your friend.
God grant you both the serenity and strength to deal with the future.
prestonpans,
Really…;)
Have there been any indications that HMRC will appeal the farce that has happened in Scottish courts so far and try and take the issue further?
sipsini
23:42 on 26 July, 2014
‘Ernie,
Wasn’t most of the colonies used for recruitment for the British forces?’
###
You think Scotland’s role in building the British empire was restricted to supplying canon fodder?
Clashcitybhoy
23:39 on 26 July, 2014
That’s of less relevance to Celtic than the referendum is.
Frankly.
Pink Floyd on BBC4. Heaven. Charliebhoy. That’s some load to carry and I don’t mean the seagull doo.
HH
Clashcitybhoy, on the BBC website football page, there is an article on football possibly turning the corner in the good US of awesome.
Awsome is a very overused word in America.
Someone had posted earlier about New Zealand beating Scotland 71 14 today and they thought it was a misprint.
New Zealand beat Scotland 71 14 at Netball.
I see Paul George was at Turriff today and not in Germany..
Really hope that leg break has not finished this lad
Ernie,
Nope, the usual rich parasites ensured they were well looked after, it’s looking the same way ie… London…which is the reason I will vote YES.
Anyways, been invited to a party across the road…see you all soon.HH
Silly question from an ill informed non voter.
If Scotland votes YES and enters the EU, will you retain Commonwealth membership?
sipsini
23:56 on 26 July, 2014
Yes Londoners are all rich parasites, aren’t they?
I despair.
Sipsini, enjoy the party mhate.
For the population of Scotland in relation to other countries,their medal haul is phenomenal so far.
Ernie Lynch,
I normally scroll past your posts, as IMHO rarely are they related to our performance on the park.
However, as you saw fit to comment on my post, I have two questions I would be obliged if you would answer
1) Your view that my post is ‘ of less relevance’ , is that a fact or an opinion?
2) Do you come on this site in any sort of professional capacity?
A simple yes or no will suffice..thanks in advance
Been a while but a tune everyone should hear :O)
The Walkmen – The Rat
http://youtu.be/aWR1h-5EzUo
‘GG
23:57 on 26 July, 2014
‘Silly question from an ill informed non voter.
If Scotland votes YES and enters the EU, will you retain Commonwealth membership?’
###
We’d have her maj as head of state and a currency union (according to the nats) so I think the answer would be yes.
No doubt the answer will be in the SNP’s white paper.
Not that any of the nats on here support the SNP.
In truth, we’ll ever know, because it ain’t going to happen.
To be honest I’m more concerned about FF leaving.