15/08/2007 SPARTAK MOSCOW 1 CELTIC 1

Decided not to accept Celtic FC's kind offer to travel with team for the princely sum of 1.6k!, so once again I settled down to watch the game on t.v. My hope was that we would not lose by anymore than 2 goals and that Millar would play on his own up front.Disappointed to learn of Millar's injury and a wee bit surprised to see both McDonald and JVOH playing up front.

BROWN......... 5 Had very little to do but will be very disappointed not to have kept the header out that led to the goal. Thought his positioning was just a little suspect. Did pull off a good block in the second half but we did miss Artur's presence.

WILSON ........8 For a player who admitted that he found the heat in America difficult to play in I thought he coped very well with not only the temperature but also the artificial pitch. Good to see him regaining the form he showed when he joined.

KENNEDY ........7 I would be sceptic if he said that there was no trepidation running out to play in his first C.L. game since that terrible injury 3 yrs ago. Also, he was making his comeback on an artificial pitch with all of its strange bounces, etc. Might have been badly positioned for their goal but overall played very well.

McMANUS ...... 7 Concentrated on just doing the basic things well and was a rock for most of the game. He will have to sort out with Kennedy how to cope better with the looping cross ball.

NAYLOR ......... 5 Was up against a very tricky opponent and never really got the better of him. Most of our problems were coming down his flank but he will be wiser for the return game.

NAKA..... ....... 5 Difficult one to judge. He put in more defensive running than I ever seen him do but not with great effect. Was seen very little of as an attacking threat and again his passing success will have disappointed him

BROWN ........ 7 Was forced to play a more defensive role with a lot of success and made one great run into the box, rounded the goalkeeper but just took too long to deliver the coup de grace.

DONATTI ........ 6 He may have made a few poor passes but his composure on the ball will be a great asset to the team during the season. Again failed to make the full 90 mins.

HARTLEY .... ... 9 MOM Played his best game for Celtic at the perfect time. Was played out on the left which is not his favourite position but he ran and harried for the full 90mins. On top of that he produced a great run into the box to meet McDonald's great cross to score that vital away goal. This will take away a lot of the criticism he's been rec. since joining The Hoops.

McDONALD .......8 What a moment to make your competitive debut and his C.L. debut. There were times during the game I thought he reminded me of the great Henrik. Has very good upper body strength, can hold the ball up and can set teammates up for the goals. What a perfect run off the shoulder of the last defender to set up the goal with a great cross.

JVOH .............. 5 Once again I fail to see what this guy is bringing to the team. I don't think anyone covered less ground than he did, I was not aware of him being a handful for the defenders and I doubt if he had a shot at goal.

SUBS ............. SNO .... 6 Replaced Donatti and performed well in the holding role.

McGEADY ....... 6 Replaced JVOH after 80?mins. Had a wonderful run in which he took out two defenders before releasing a superb ball to allow Brown his golden chance. I'm sure he can't wait to face that defence on grass.

REF .................6 Certainly believed in allowing the game to flow and he did not make the awful decision I felt sure was about to come.

COMMENTS.......... 1. I know the GS detractors are only waiting for the return match to watch him fail but he must be delighted to have secured a draw against the most difficult team Celtic could have met, to have played in the humidity/heat that is Moscow and to triumph over a pitch that made the ball act like a hot potatoe.

2. The return match is no gimme but we are ahead at the moment and I'm pretty confident that we will be in the draw on Thurs 30th. 3. Will be disappointed if Millar goes to Preston as is being rumoured but he will have a fight to dislodge McDonald on this showing.4. Although McManus and Kennedy played well there is no doubt that their weakness is in dealing with high ball delivered from the wings. This will have to be sorted out as many teams will be alert to this weakness. Rangers and McCulloch for one!