Celtic Quick News

Scotland vulnerable to racial intolerance gestated in football

2008-04-29T12:17:00.001+01:00

Aiden McGeady is the victim of more racial crime than any other individual in Scotland. He is regularly the subject of assault and racial abuse and at 22-years-old, cannot walk the streets of Glasgow alone. I have sympathy for the police, who are seldom aware or involved in Aiden’s problems, I have sympathy too for the football authorities, who are charged with the responsibility of protecting young players from hoards of profane Neanderthals, but at a time of significant immigration, Scotland cannot be allowed to turn into a ghetto of racial hate. I have been reluctant to write about the truly awful, “go back home” chants heard from the visiting support at Celtic Park on Sunday, as I am a Scot, and feel the image of my country has been violated by such racial intolerance, but the slide must be stopped. Football has been hijacked as a breeding ground for racial intolerance all over the world and difficult though it is to combat, Fifa and Uefa have found ways. Whether it is a Polish goalkeeper celebrating a Polish Pope (and goalkeeper) or a Scottish born winger playing for Ireland, which he is entitled to do, Scotland’s institutions; the police, football authorities, education authorities, the media, even you and I, must continue to repeat the mantra; One Scotland, many cultures, until its resonance penetrates the thickest of skulls. Aiden in particular needs all our support; he is not here to become a poster boy for protest, he just wants to play for Celtic and enjoy a normal life.

Aberdeen - Dundee United game could determine final day motivation

2008-04-28T22:27:00.000+01:00

One of the reasons points look so difficult to collect right now is that two of the top six are chasing the league title and another three are chasing the Uefa Cup spot, but Aberdeen have an interesting couple of weeks ahead. They play Dundee United at home next, followed by a visit to Motherwell. With Motherwell, Hibs and Dundee United all playing Celtic and Rangers over this period, Aberdeen will hope that two wins will bridge the gap and set them up for a final day showdown against Rangers. Of course, if they beat Dundee United on Saturday, only a point for United at Ibrox is likely to see them still in the hunt for a Uefa place when they play Celtic on the last day.

Oh Rangers did you really think it’s over?

2008-04-28T15:49:00.000+01:00

Rangers had not lost to Celtic after getting their noses in front in 15 years, so they must have felt they had done enough yesterday when they edged in front. Celtic Park was at its very best though, which I am sure helped drag the team off the ropes and on to victory. Perhaps one small aspect of getting the mood right was the return of some traditional supporters songs on the PA system. Getting the tone right with traditional music is more difficult than getting it wrong, so well done to whoever made the call yesterday. More please against that lot from Hibernia.

One away win against top six opposition all season for Rangers

2008-04-28T12:01:00.000+01:00

Rangers will enter May with still talking their league chances up, but with only a single league victory from seven away games against top six opposition all season; over Hibs, who won at Ibrox. With a full nine months of the season expired, the premise that they cannot handle pressure away to reasonable SPL opposition appears irrefutable. They have visits to Hibs, Motherwell and Aberdeen, as well as St Mirren still to come. Celtic have won five of their eight away encounters against top six opposition, and have away games against Motherwell and Dundee United to play, where they won 1-4 and 0-2 respectively earlier in the season, two of their best away results all season. All Celtic could do these last two weeks is win their games and put Rangers under pressure. If the Rangers players are as exhausted after yesterday’s game as I was watching it I don’t fancy their chances of handling that pressure. Extra time and penalties for the work-shies in Florence please.

Lusty celebrations the sign of a team reborn

2008-04-27T21:52:00.002+01:00

Even though Rangers played as well as they have at Celtic Park in years, they still ended up losing to a Celtic fight back which will live long in the memory. I am never concerned when Celtic defend a corner kick; although I cannot give you the stats, we lose very few goals this way, so as well as the predictable frustration of conceding two ‘preventable’ goals (aren’t they all) I was genuinely surprised. Barcelona hadn’t lost a headed goal all season until they arrived in Glasgow two months ago, when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Barry Robson both scored headers in the first 45 minutes, which was not statistically (or tactically) significant, so I have to conclude that losing two goals direct from a corner today does not reach statistically significant proportions for Celtic. What may be more significant is the ratio of goals we lose to direct attempts on target. There can be few more satisfying goals than one which comes from both your strikers linking up. 11 days ago it was McDonald who headed on for Vennegoor of Hesselink and today Jan returned the compliment. Both players looked tired and off form recently which for me was typified in the penalty miss by McDonald against Rangers, but that injury time winner seems to have changed things. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player who didn’t score celebrate as lustily as Scott McDonald did then. He set up a really important goal and it looked as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. His touch, which we have despaired at recently, was perceptively better against Aberdeen last week and when I met a couple of CQN’ers before kick-off I predicted he would be our winning player today. Can you tell me when we signed the hard man, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink? His tackling in both Rangers games this month was uncompromising, it’s as though he has realised that these games are as much about the physical battle as silky football. He was not the only hard man today, Robson and Hartley again were up for the battle, even Samaras knew when to make an important foul. Talking about lusty goal celebrations, what can we make of Mr 167%, Barry Robson? I get the feeling this guy is loving every minute of life as a Celtic player. He also showed the experience we missed in central midfield earlier in the season, as the match drew to a close he held the ball and carried it into space. He even tried a cheeky wee one from a corner kick that hit the post. First name on the team sheet for me.

Celtic 3-2 Rangers, 27 April 2008

2008-04-27T17:12:00.000+01:00

Scott McDonald scored twice and won a penalty, converted by Barry Robson, as Celtic beat Rangers 3-2, the first time they have come from behind to beat Rangers in 15 years. McDonald opened the scoring after only three minutes after Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink set him clear with only Neil Alexander in the Rangers goal to beat. Rangers responded to going behind positively and used two successive free kicks outside the Celtic box to apply pressure. Artur Boruc was forced to palm the ball away from his area after an early Rangers corner before Davie Weir headed an excellent Steven Davis corner into the net to pull Rangers level. Shunsuke Nakamura almost gave Celtic the lead again with a free kick from a tight angle that Alexander punched away on the line before Rangers scored again. Davis found Danny Cousin with a near-post corner, who headed Rangers into the lead on 29 minutes. At this point Rangers were in the ascendancy with their extra man in midfield allowing them to force the play and pressure Celtic players into making mistakes. Aiden McGeady changed the pattern of play by committing defenders down the Rangers right and it was from such a move that Celtic drew level. McGeady cut inside and passed to McDonald who had his back to goal. The Australian international knocked the ball two yards to his left before swinging round and cracking a shot high into the Rangers net. The goal was a mirror of Nakamura’s shot that was punched off the line against Rangers 11 days ago. Nacho Novo missed what looked like a league winning chance in the second half when the ball broke free to him inside the box after Danny Cousin crossed from the left, but Novo shot wide; this was to be Rangers last genuine chance. Early in the second half Scott McDonald got behind his defender inside the box but the chance was lost when he sent an awkward cross to Vennegoor of Hesselink. On 70 minutes the same situation presented itself but this time McDonald kept his body between defender and ball, and was barged to the ground by a clumsy Kirk Broadfoot; penalty to Celtic! Barry Robson, who had another outstanding game, grabbed the ball this time and sent a thunderous shot straight into the middle of the goal, which Neil Alexander was wise to dive away from. The final 20 minutes were nail biting for the home support but Celtic never looked like conceding a goal and ran the clock down with some intelligent possession football. In the final minutes McDonald twice won free kicks by shielding the ball and being barged to the ground for his efforts before a tired looking Steven Whittaker hacked Nakamura in a similar incident and received his second yellow card of the game in the 93rd minute.

Celtic v Rangers, Match Reports, 27 April 2008

2008-04-27T10:59:00.000+01:00

Match reports will appear below.

Celtic v Rangers, second half live updates, 27 April 2008

2008-04-27T10:58:00.000+01:00

Live updates from the second half will appear below.

A Match Reports article will be published at 14:30. There will not be a ‘new article posted’ comment, so please look out for it.

Celtic v Rangers, first half live updates, 27 April 2008

2008-04-27T10:44:00.001+01:00

Live updates will appear below after 12:30.

13 defeats in 8 years, Rangers bottle it at Celtic Park

2008-04-26T20:40:00.001+01:00

Since August 2000 when the world discovered that the balance-of-power in Scottish football had shifted, Rangers have visited Celtic Park on 18 occasions. They scored 11 goals in that time (seven of those came in three games) and failed to score 11 times. Celtic scored 31 goals in the same period, failing to score three times. There have been three draws, two wins for Rangers and 13 wins for Celtic. Of the five games Rangers avoided defeat, three league games, one win and two draws, came long after the outcome of the championship was determined in Celtic’s favour, meaning Rangers have only achieved one meaningful win (0-2 in 2005) and one draw (3-3 in 2002) at Celtic Park in eight years. There have been 13 ‘meaningful’ games, played when the league was still in the balance, or in a cup competition; Celtic won 11 of these games. The stats indicate Rangers bottle it before massed ranks of the Celtic support; make sure they know where they are tomorrow. There can hardly be a 'derby' in world football worthy of the name which such an imbalance in results at one venue exists. Sing loud, sing proud, give the bhoys every encouragement for 90 minutes – and then the rest - and enjoy yourself.

Defeat for Motherwell will suit Celtic

2008-04-26T12:06:00.000+01:00

Even if Celtic win tomorrow, we still need another two SPL teams to take points of Rangers, so a keen competition for third place is important. Motherwell have a point advantage and two games in hand over both Dundee United and Hibs so a win over United and Fri Park in the 12:30 kick off today would go a long way to achieving their objective. After today, Motherwell have five games to play, one against Celtic and two against Rangers, games which HIbs and Dundee United will hope Motherwell lose, before their last game against Hibs. I’m hoping for a United win at Fir Park followed by a Hibs win at Pittodrie, which would have all three teams fighting for every point, including, of course, Motherwell against us next week. I wish I could find some reason to believe St Mirren have something to play for as they face Rangers at home in the last week of the competition (under both scenarios), but the chance to finish 10th instead of 11th does not hold the same attraction as a few days on the Continent next season. But, I suppose as they cannot be relegated (my preferred status for this club), we should hope that they find the prospect of a few win bonuses sufficiently appealing.

Smith - Lawwell outfoxed Rangers

2008-04-25T22:35:00.002+01:00

I’ve been busy in recent weeks on the quest to oppose the season extension and did a lot of research on the subject (assisted by a few notable fellow bloggers). I actually have some sympathy with Rangers; while they were foolish to request a postponement of the Gretna game and failed to rearrange that game during a free week in December, they obliged the SFA and Celtic’s request to postpone two subsequent games, if they had not, they would be free of their current fixture problems. While I campaigned hard on this matter, the truth is that there was no clear precedent either way. Season extensions were a common part of the Scottish game before under soil heating became mandatory; thirty years ago Celtic would have played their games when originally scheduled and Rangers would have played games during the week before the Scottish Cup final. I was therefore amused by Walter Smith’s comments today, “We then have this ‘sporting integrity’ situation, which actually gave me a good laugh. Peter Lawwell seems to be the head of the sporting integrity committee — both its chairman and chief spokesman. “If it was the other way about, I would be hoping that Celtic had to play four games in a week, so fine.” Fine indeed, ‘Walter’. You had the opportunity to make your case; in fact your chairman was first to lift the telephone and broach the subject of a season extension, but the Celtic chief executive ran rings around you. What does this make you, dumb as well as a bully? And you want to talk about this in front of the media? Celtic Quick News would like to register its displeasure that Biff Smith did not correctly credit us for introducing the phrase “sporting integrity” into the football lexicon this season. The dumb are never easy to reach, but we try nonetheless.

When the good guys play the work-shies

2008-04-25T12:23:00.001+01:00

On Sunday Rangers play only their third away game in the league since February (when they last collected all three points on the road) in what is correctly being described as a league decider. Their away form in the league leaves little doubt as to why they are so reluctant to do a honest day’s work in the time allocated. The good guys have an opportunity to open up a five point gap at the top of the table. The work-shies have games in hand, but nothing in football is more important than points in the bag. Rangers have eight confirmed games remaining this season, six of which are away from home and all of which will be played under enormous pressure if Celtic win on Sunday. I have several concerns about Sunday many of which will melt away if I see Barry Robson and Paul Hartley playing central midfield. These two won the physical battle 9 days ago and have the experience to cope with this kind of fixture. The good guys are about to write a page in our history, they will never know a greater honour.

Lawwell’s monkeys running out of audience with ‘Wolf’ cries

2008-04-24T23:55:00.000+01:00

While the ‘Scotland’s shame’ banner was the cleverest thing I have seen come from football stands since the beach ball carpet at Ibrox in 2003, I enjoyed the Rangers’ banner, “Scot’s Mhedia, Lawwell’s monkeys” last week. Coming as it does in a season when the Scot’s (sic) media have reported falsehoods and offensive remarks against Celtic people (STV - Pittodrie, Daily Record – Jock Stein, Sun – fans in Barcelona, Sunday Herald – bead rattling), perhaps they believe Peter Lawwell has been running a subversive plot against Celtic and the club’s fans by having his monkeys report as they do. Or maybe the fact that the mud doesn’t stick is beginning to get to them and they inadvertently betrayed an assessment for the job our chief executive is doing. ‘They’re as bad as each other’ has been peddled lazily in Scotland for as long as I have been media aware, but I don’t hear it anymore from anyone worth reading or listening too. Neither do Rangers fans, which is why Scotland has new Paranoia Champions. As a result we are under microscopic analysis. If a man wearing green socks sings about the Mountains of Mourne we’ll see the ‘S’ word thrown at Celtic fans again. This situation will not last forever, cries of “Wolf” attract less and less attention each time, and clearly, ‘they’re not as bad as each other’. Enjoy the game.

Celtic ignore Rangers play again at their peril on Sunday

2008-04-24T15:54:00.001+01:00

Last week in my, How to beat Rangers, part one, article, I told you how Rangers score goals by winning the second ball. They surge forward leaving defenders who were marking up for the first ball having to cope with players who seem to arrive out of nowhere. Celtic lost a goal to this move last week which could have had dire consequences for their league challenge. Rangers’ adrenalin moment was when Mark Wilson won his challenge against Nacho Novo. Steven Whittaker pounced forward to collect the loose ball (after Wilson won the initial challenge) while Novo spun and raced into space. It was a text book goal that caught the Celtic defence, midfield and goalkeeper off guard. Despite dominating the game until that point, Celtic were back on level terms and Rangers reinvigorated. I don’t expect Sunday’s game to start the same way as last week’s. Rangers got it all wrong in the first half last week and will come with a different shape this time, so despite playing very well, I think Celtic will need to improve in a number of key areas if they are to win on Sunday.

Why Smith was not voted SPFA Manager of the Year

2008-04-24T11:06:00.003+01:00

Do you remember the classic 80s movie, Back to the Future? Michael J Fox character’s family life was dominated by his father’s boss, a bully named Biff, who tormented the father from school days. Bullies still exist in the workplace, snarling and intimidating people they have a degree of control over in order to compensate for various inadequacies. Take Walter Smith, the man who watched Steven Naismith suffer a horrendous injury on Sunday but sent him back out onto the field to do more serious damage before incredibly blaming the pitch for the problem. After Smith shoved an SFA official during a game at Ibrox in March, Kevin Gallacher, who was at Dundee United when Smith was assistant there, said that after a transgression, “I was fortunate because I was in the boot-room so he could only jab me one: if you were in the gym you were hit with full-blown punches!” Is it any wonder Lee McCulloch and Alan McGregor both tried to play on with injuries suffered against Celtic last week? I may be wrong about Biff Smith, perhaps he is not a bully, perhaps Kevin Gallagher made the whole thing up; irrespective of this, Biff is a danger to the wellbeing of his players. In two weeks he has presided over three injured players returning to the field who subsequently exacerbated their problems and face a long term layoff. Being able to shove, jab or punch is not enough of a qualification to be a football manager, you need to know when a player is injured and act accordingly, something I am sure that is not lost on the SPFA. If you want a union to vote for you your first priority should be to look after the welfare of its members. As Back to the Future reaches a climax Biff finds himself up to his neck in the brown smelly stuff, a condition that may become all too familiar to Smith if his team lose to Celtic on Sunday.

Celtic Quick News Golf Day 2008 update

2008-04-23T21:42:00.000+01:00

The SPL inconveniently announced their fixture plans yesterday minutes after I posted an article on the forthcoming Celtic Quick News Charity Golf Day, which takes place on Friday 4 July 2008 at Aberdour Golf Club in Fife. A day on the course for those who golf is followed by an excellent Celtic evening with a meal and after dinner speakers, so those like me, who don’t golf, can enjoy an excellent evening among some great Celtic fans. We will raise funds for Edinburgh Sick Kids and Aberdour Sport and Development Club U-16s. Once again we appreciate the support of 14clubs, custom made golf clubs at a fraction of the usual price. The cost of £50 for golfers and £25 for evening-only guests includes a three course meal and a charitable donation. If you would like to attend either the whole day or just the evening, email Taggsybhoy at taggsybhoygolf@googlemail.com.

League programme irrelevant compared to winning on Sunday

2008-04-23T12:22:00.000+01:00

By tomorrow evening we will have a better idea of how the league programme will turn out. Assuming Rangers fail to eliminate Fiorentina from the Uefa Cup, starting at Celtic Park on Sunday, they will play eight games in 22 days, six of them away from home. Celtic have four games in the same period. Celtic will have three games in the first 18 days of May, Rangers will have seven; only 11 days without a game. On the face of it, reaching the Uefa Cup final seems to marginally ease the pressure on Rangers league challenge. But whereas their only remaining home games against Motherwell and Dundee United looked like their best chance to pick up points, both these games are played in the week before the Uefa Cup final, which would stretch their depleted resources. I am sure this realisation was the cause of the bluster coming out of Ibrox yesterday. I expect Rangers to drop four points after their visit to Celtic Park; the opportunity is there for Celtic if they rise to the challenge and will their four games, the most difficult of which will be on Sunday. We will need to be at their absolute best on Sunday. All of the things we got right last week, such as playing Hartley and Robson in the middle, must be repeated, and the things we got wrong, such as going to sleep at the second ball (more on this later), must be corrected.

Illegal SPL action has dollies flying in all directions

2008-04-22T19:56:00.005+01:00

I am somewhat amused to read indignant statements from both Celtic and Rangers at the SPL fixture announcement. Peter Lawwell correctly says, “We do not want to disadvantage Rangers should they reach the UEFA Cup final, but we are extremely disappointed and concerned at the manner of the decision-making process – which was done without consultation with the clubs or the SPL board.” The rules of the Scottish Premier League Limited clearly states that “The [SPL] Board shall have authority to order that any League Match be moved from the scheduled date in order to facilitate the re-arrangement of fixtures.” The SPL executive have, therefore, acted illegally and beyond their remit in extending the league fixtures, as only the board, not the executive, have the ability to move fixtures. Messrs Gold and Blair may need their CVs updated after all. I campaigned heavily on Celtic Quick News for the season not to be extended, but in truth, no clear precedents exist. The Scottish Football League was extended regularly in the 1970s, but final-day fixtures have never been moved to ensure that no club would, for example, know how many goals they need to score to win the league. Rangers chief executive, Martin Bain, led with a frankly ridiculous comment, "It is hardly the best preparation in the lead-up to the UEFA Cup Final - if we get there - to play Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday in advance of that.” Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday before a Wednesday final is no hardship; Bain really should have someone proof-read this stuff before his utterances get out. He goes on to ask, "Why is the season simply not extended to conclude on May 27 (sic) regardless?", though perhaps is unaware that Euro 2008 starts eleven days later and Poland have a game planned for 26 May. By Friday morning I expect this debate will be academic and hope we have our minds on the task in hand. Beat them, beat them soundly and go on to win the league.

SPL to extend league if Rangers reach Uefa final

2008-04-22T13:43:00.000+01:00

The SPL have finally ‘used the pot’ and announced that they will move the entire final round of fixtures for the top six clubs form their scheduled date of 18 May to Thursday, 22 May 2008 if Rangers reach the Uefa Cup final. My initial anger at this announcement, which would unquestionable hand Rangers an advantage, is tempered only by the realisation that the scenario looks far from likely. On the positive side, I am pleased the league understands the importance of maintaining the sporting integrity of the tournament by having all top six final matches played simultaneously. The more likely scenario is that Rangers will lose to Fiorentina and the league will not be extended beyond 18 May (which the SPL have confirmed); Rangers would therefore be forced to play two midweek games in the final week of the season. This might sound like a setback, but I have a feeling that after Thursday night we might be quite happy with Lex Gold.

Celtic Quick News Charity Golf Day 2008

2008-04-22T12:12:00.000+01:00

The fourth annual Celtic Quick News Charity Golf Day will take place on Friday 4 July 2008 at Aberdour Golf Club, just over the bridge in Fife. An afternoon of golf at the picturesque course will be followed by a three-course meal and after dinner speakers (including me). Numbers are limited; we have been oversubscribed in recent years, so if you would like to come along and meet some of the people you debate with and read throughout the year, book now. If like me, you have never played the game, you can join the party for dinner and speakers in the evening. The day starts at 1pm for a 1:30 tee off; evening guests are welcome in the club house anytime, but should be there no later than 7pm for a 7:30 meal. This year we will raise funds for Edinburgh Sick Kids in recognition of some special care they have dispensed in recent years, and Aberdour Sport and Development Club U-16s. Once again we appreciate the support of 14clubs, custom made golf clubs at a fraction of the usual price. The cost of £50 for golfers and £25 for evening-only guests includes a three course meal and a charitable donation. If you would like to attend either the whole day or just the evening, email Taggsybhoy at taggsybhoygolf@googlemail.com. I look forward to seeing you there.

Lex Gold must answer questions about his leadership

2008-04-21T22:31:00.005+01:00

The SPL is running out of time to schedule Rangers two outstanding league fixtures. Not counting this week, there are only three midweeks left until the end of the league season. Rangers have games scheduled in two of them, with a potential Uefa Cup final, and games against Motherwell and St Mirren still to fit in. They must bring forward the Motherwell game at Ibrox (which is not the previously postponed game) to Tuesday 6 May and schedule the St Mirren game at Love St for Thursday 8 May. This would allow Rangers a four day run up to their potential Uefa Cup final, or the outstanding Fir Park game against Motherwell. The delay makes me think Lex Gold is scared to ask his board to make the decision. I am beginning to wonder if Gold has the leadership skills to be CEO of the SPL. Answer the question, Lex, and sort this matter out, doing so will look great on your CV. On the face of it this might sound like a difficult problem, but just imagine sitting in front of an interview panel for the next ‘big one’ that comes along and telling them how you handled the matter correctly, even though the supplicant party claimed to have 80% of the media in their pocket. Such a heroic anecdote has international-body board member potential about it. It’s time to show some leadership.

Young POTY award the most telling comment on McGeady

2008-04-21T12:31:00.000+01:00

Congratulations to Aiden McGeady, Player’s Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year, a fitting reward for his magnificent form this season. When Kevin Keegan was at the peak of his abilities he responded to a comment that he had an abundance of natural talent by insisting that sheer hard work was behind his position in the game. Since breaking into the Celtic team four years ago, Aiden has shown sublime talent. He has the ability to control the field as well as he controls the ball, drawing three, sometimes four, players towards him before finding space for an escape or a pass. But his natural talent was only ever going to get him so far, he needed to add the missing element to his game, speed, and that came from hard work in the gym and training field. By the time European Champions Milan visited on Champions League duty, Aiden was thriving in his role as chief creator and out-ball in Scottish football. He scored the only goal in the win over Benfica and sparkled when Celtic were subjugated by a superior Barcelona. The season has not been without its challenges. His increasing importance to Celtic has led to an increase in racially motivated taunting from the stands and bookings, the latter may be related to the former. The secondary award, for Young Player of the Year, is perhaps the most telling comment that can be made about Aiden McGeady. He is young; still five years away from his prime. What a mouth-watering thought.

Season reaches critical point for top five

2008-04-20T18:12:00.005+01:00

While I would have preferred a different result, 90 minutes plus extra time was what I was hoping for from Hampden today. While Rangers are a much better team than St Johnstone, the effects of so many games away from home is beginning to have an effect.

I was hoping for a Hibs win at Tannadice which would have put them into third place in the league. The remain fifth, level on points with Dundee United and a point behind third placed Motherwell, who have a couple of games in hand.

Hibs entertain Rangers in two weeks which looks like a must-win game for them if they are to finish third. A win for Celtic on Sunday would really put pressure on Rangers.

Inevitable adrenalin crash does not stop Celtic collecting the points

2008-04-20T12:41:00.000+01:00

On Friday night I wrote about the adrenalin crash that follows an important Celtic win. The sheer emotional climax that an injury time winner in a game as important as Wednesday's or October’s win against Milan inevitably leads to lull. Football is not like athletics, it depends enormously on the creative juices as well as more industrial talents, so it came as no surprise that the tank was low yesterday. Aberdeen came to obstruct and score on the break, which could easily have had severe consequences for Celtic. The delight in the crowd at full time was palpable as although Celtic were sailing close to the wind, there was an appreciation that three points is all that matters at this stage of the season.