MATCH REPORT: CELTIC 3 STIRLING ALBION 0

PRE-MATCH COMMENT: Was keen to see our new signing and welcome back Naka.

BORUC ….…….7 Had nothing to do apart from a little repartee with the vociferous Stirling Albion supporters, then he produces a world class save to keep another clean sheet.

HINKELL.. ….. 7 MOM The longer the game went on the more the German impressed. His natural reaction is to go forward and launch an attack, he’s not afraid to tackle and is very comfortable on the ball. Looks like a good buy.

CALDWELL….. 6 Settled in very well back at his central defensive role but St. A. only played with one man up front.

McMANUS…. ….6 A very solid, sound display. Just wish he could sometimes try and clear the ball to a Celtic player.

NAYLOR….….….7 Enjoyed the freedom of being allowed to attack and was desperately unlucky not to score his first goal for Celtic on 3 separate occasions.

McGEADY …. …..6. Set up the first goal with a delightful cross and entertained the crowd but I feel he will think that he should have produced more against a bottom of the 1st Division team.

DONATI..…. ….. 7 Of course there were times he made a daft pass but the game left him with a lot of space to show off his skills. Could have scored a hat-trick and one of his efforts would have been a contender for Goal of the Year.

BROWN …….. . 6 Another silly yellow card and an average display. He gives 100%, he works hard to recover a lost ball and has very fast feet but he hasn’t produced the consistent displays to the high standard I know that he’s capable of.

NAKA…….. …… 6 Was getting a 5 before he finished off his comeback with the most delightful of goals. The run out will have done him a lot of good as it was obvious that he was a bit ring rusty.

JVOH ………… 6 Won quite a few good balls in the air during the first 45 mins culminating in scoring a good headed goal. Vanished in the second half.

McDONALD ……6 Had 2 good shots on target in the first half and then scored his customary goal but his linking play will have to improve.

SUBS ………….1. HARTLEY …… 5 Replaced Brown
2. O’BRIEN …..…5 Replaced Naka and did alright. Had a great chance to score but headed wide.

2. KILLEN…….. 4 Just not Celtic class.

REF…………. 6 It was the North Stand linesman that was the donkey.

THE GAME ……3 St. A. came to avoid the previous score of 8-0 and succeeded but it did not make for an enthralling game.

GOALS ………. 1st Naylor wins an important tackle, feeds McGeady who gets to the byeline and send over a good cross met by a diving JVOH.
2nd Made by Naylor, scored by McDonald.
3rd Naka picks up the ball just outside the box and cuts back inside, sees an opportunity and places a delightful ball into the top corner.

COMMENTS ….. 1. The minutes applause in honour of Phil McDonald was very touching as were the goals scored by Phil shown on the giant screen.
2. Probably the last time I’ll see John Paul McBride play and he showed some of the touches that marked him out as a potential star.