A game I had been looking fwd to so much for so long had suddenly taken on a much more worrying aspect as a result of Ranger’s deserved entry into the Group Stage and the financial implications.The atmosphere was great and the Jungle Bhoys are to be congratulated for the impact of their hard work in arranging all the flags in Jock Stein Stand.
BORUC …….. 10 MOM I have only given a 10 to one player before and that was Henrik but the best Celtic goalie that I have seen (he might even be just behind ‘The Prince” in the all time greats. In the first half he came off his line to save Celtic on at least a couple of times. He produced a great save in the last few minutes of extra time but his real moment of glory was in the penalty shoot out. What an unbelievably emotional occassion it was when he saved the crucial penalty.
WILSON….…. 7 He’s a young player playing against some very good players but he stuck to his task and made some very good tackles. He will have to work on his crossing as very few of them get past the first defender.
CALDWELL…. 6 Felt it was the right decision to play him but half way through the first half I felt other wise. He was being caught out by the speed of movement of the Spartak forwards early in the game but the longer the game went on the more assured he looked. All credit to him for taking the first penalty and scoring.
McMANUS……..8 Although he too was caught out early on he made some great saving tackles to save Naylor’s blushes. He played a real Captain’s in shoring up the defence.
NAYLOR….….. 4 He was so poor in the first half we wondered if he would reappear in the second. He has lost all confidence and Celtic must go out and get a big, fast replacement.
NAKAMURA … 7 The increase in his work rate is amazing and his touch is still sublime. Of course he should have score from at least one of the chances he had within 2 mins in the second half but it was amazing that he was the player surging forward. It must have been playing on his mind that he has never scored against the Red Star goalie despite meeting him on several occasions. His penalty miss was hard to take.
DONATI ….. 7 Continues to impress and showed some lovely touches. It must have been the most physical 140 mins he’s played.
BROWN …….. 7 Found it hard to reproduce last weeks form but it will be a game that he’ll learn a lot from in terms of C.L. football.
McGEADY…. ……8 Thought he was Celtic’s best player whilst he was on the park. Full of direct running, full of heart and made some lovely, decisive passing.
McDONALD ……….. 7 Scored his first goal for Celtic and continued to show that he is going to be a very good player for The Hoops. May have scored earlier but he kept on trying.
JVOH…. ……….5 Missed a crucial penalty and quite honestly did very little to make anyone who thinks that he is a luxury we can’t afford change their minds. He is very slow. He does not use his strength and he does not win enough balls in the air. He needs to be rested. He gets credit for scoring in the shoot out.
SUBS …………. MAGIC..….. 3 Came on as a fresh new player and yet at no time did he show any speed, any great conviction or any involvement in the game. He must be sold. Oh, he did score his penalty!
RIORDAN … 6 Replaced McGeady, had a good shot which went just wide but the most important thing he did was score with a penalty.
O’DEA…. …..5 Came on for the stricken Naylor and did o.k. Don’t fancy him as a real full back as he is too slow.
REF ………….3 Far too pernickety and should never have awarded a penalty against Caldwell. Should never have sent the Red Star player off. Should never have been appointed.
THE GAME ……8 It was a fast moving game with lots of incidents and of course it had that finale!
COMMENTS ….. 1. This was a very good team we beat to-night and one that would have beaten any of the other team in this qualifying round
2. Can well understand Artur’s frustration with Naylor at half-time. We were all frustrated.
3. It didn’t matter how Celtic got through to the Group Stages all that mattered was that they did it but to leave it to the last kick of the game was just unbearable, unbelievable and unforgettable.
4. I just loved Billy Connolly’s reaction at the end. Whilst all the other ‘suits’ were leaving the Directors box Big Billy was giving the songs pelters.Now 16.30 on Friday will start the next chapter.
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