MATCH REPORT: HEARTS 1 CELTIC 1

PRE_MATCH COMMENT

Wondered how Celtic could lift themselves after the exertions of Wed night and would have accepted a draw before the game.
Was sitting right at the front, just to the side of the goal, so my view of what was happening at the far end was not as clear as I would have liked.


BORUC ….…….7 Took an unacceptable amount of abuse from the Hearts fans but did not let it affect him and produced two great saves towards the end. Would expect him to play in Milan.

CALDWELL ….5 It was a hard, punishing game which suited him but he’s a bit like Anton Rogan and you’re just waiting for something to happen and so it did. He gave away a silly penalty (no matter how soft it might have been he should not have had his hands up).

PRESSLEY…….. 7…MOM Felt sure that his presence and composure would have resulted in an end to Celtic’s unenviable record of conceding a goal since Harry Hood played :>) but it was not to be. Feel very comfortable about him playing in Milan. He took an awful lot of abuse from his one time admirers.

McMANUS…. ….7 I’m sure he prefers to play alongside Pressley as it enables him to concentrate on doing what he does best, i.e. braking up attacks.

O’DEA….….….. 6 Started of very rusty (perhaps understandable given his lack of games) and he appeared slow and indecisive but the longer the game went on the more composed he played. Not a full back because he is too slow but a central defender who is very comfortable on the ball.

HARTLEY…. ….7 Was full of running and apart from a few early misplaced passes he was positive in his play and struck a wonderful free kick which led to the goal.

JAROSIK…. ….. 6 Continued in the form of Wed night but this time he played deeper than normal and in a more defensive role.

BROWN …….. 6 Made a couple of uncharacteristic errors in linking attack with poor passes and did not have the impact I was hoping for.

McGEADY…. ….6 Although he put in the effort he did not have the impact he has had in recent games. Was quite impressed with the Hearts left back (Concalves, I think)

JVOH ………… 5 He won as many balls in the air as he committed fouls although there were one or two moments I thought he might be about to make an impact but that thought did not last for too long.

McDONALD ………5 Although he scored the goal his performance and contribution to the game was pretty poor. He missed a great chance to score early in the game and it was his poor pass with a minute to go that led to Boruc pulling off a great save only to be beaten by the penalty.

SUBS ………….

1. KILLEN ……….. 3 Did nothing.




REF…………. (K.CLARK) 7 Was a difficult game to manage due to the physicality of the game. Was too far away to adjudge the penalty decision.

THE GAME ……5 Not much in the way of good football.

GOALS ………. 1st A wonderfully struck free kick by Hartley led to the goalkeeper just palming it away. McDonald did a good poaching job.





COMMENTS ….. 1 Because of the impending game in Milan this game was always in danger of being a bit of a damp squib and so it proved. I expect that I will be watching as much of the Shaktar v Benfica game as I will the Milan game. I fancy Benfica for a draw. Had to give my ticket away due to my 'Florence Nightingaling'!