Two wind assisted teams leave happy

From the studio after the game, Neil Lennon correctly noted that Daizen Maeda occupies a vault inside James Tavernier’s head.  The Newco captain seldom gets to play on the front foot when up against Daizen.

Despite this, Tavernier didn’t react to a clearance over the top from Joe Hart until he sensed a wind even stronger than normal on a blustery day.  That micro-climate was a surging Maeda, closing the ball down, as he always does.  If only one of Tavernier’s tattoos read, “Don’t let Maeda run past you” the outcome of the game may have been different.

Tavernier’s clearance struck Maeda’s shin and gave Buckland no chance; it was the seventh touch of the ball from a Celtic player.  Tavernier’s penalty early in the second half ensured his reputation continues to vacillate between being a liability and Newco’s most productive player.  He is neither a good player, nor a bad one, nor an average one; what a curse.

Celtic extended their lead through the most bizarre penalty kick I have seen.  The ball struck Connor Goldson’s extended elbow!  I have watched a lot of football in recent seasons, and I have no idea how that’s a penalty.  It hit Goldson’s arm, good grief!  How many times have we seen this defender get two hands on the ball without conceding a penalty?  The Rules of the Game clearly state, Goldson cannot concede a penalty kick, Newco have grounds for a grievance.

Matt O’Riley’s Panenka should have seen Celtic take control of the afternoon but the game changed early in the second half.  Alistair Johnston got the ball before his extended leg was jumped on by Fabio Silva.  John Beaton initially booked the on-loan Wolves player before VAR asked him to look at the incident.  For my money, if Celtic had not earlier received a penalty kick for Goldson’s handball, this one would not have been awarded.

Goals change games and Newco’s first saw Celtic shrink in confidence.  Beaton watched as Tomoki Iwata was tripped but let the foul go.  Setting aside the big incidents for a moment, I was not happy with the distribution of fouls called by the referee in the middle of the field.  ‘A homer’, as we used to say, influenced by only one set of fans shouting for an infringement.

With Iwata out of position, Newco broke forward and Cyril Dessers scored with his second attempt.  At this moment, our season hung in the balance, but VAR called Beaton to the monitor for the foul on Iwata and Celtic held their lead for a while longer.  Had the game gone level at that stage, I would not have fancied our chances of leaving with anything.

I wanted Callum McGregor on from the start but it was the captain who made the mistake that brought Newco level for the first time, with only four minutes of the 90 remaining.  A careless square ball was intercepted and seconds later a shot from Sima spun off McGregor into the net.

At this stage Celtic were struggling to gain possession in the final third but Paulo Bernardo changed that with a diagonal run and pass to the feet of Adam Idah.  Adam knocked the ball onto his right and shot below two flailing defenders, catching Buckland at his near post.  It was a cracking goal from the Irishman.

That Celtic didn’t see the game out shows we still have some way to go.  With Newco on the attack, Yang left Matondo, and was then sold down the line as the winger cut inside to send an unstoppable shot inside the far corner of the net.

A definitive game of two halves was heavily influenced by the wind.  Joe Hart’s ball for Celtic’s opener was win assisted.  In the first half, when Newco struggled to penetrate Celtic, they were unable to play their normal long balls down the line, an option made impossible by the wind.  After the game, Cameron Carter-Vickers explained that it was difficult for Celtic to withstand an outslaught from a side with a full stadium behind them.  This might be true, but we were also denied easy options to get upfield due to the conditions.

This was a rare game when both sets of supporters could feel happy at the end.  Philippe Clement talked later about the character his side have to come from two goals down at the break.  Brendan Rodgers has the end of the season he would have dreamed of six weeks ago.  We’ll talk tomorrow about what it all means.

Alex McKillop’s family have sent their thanks for the many kind messages left about Alex, especially those who attended this funeral last week.  Take care, all.