MATCH REPORT: CELTIC 3 HEARTS 0

PRE-MATCH COMMENT. It was good to walking up to Celtic Park as part of a Celtic support who had started, once again, to believe that Celtic will be Champions once again.
Interesting to see that Donati had been preferred to Hartley.

BORUC ….…….6 Did nothing wrong throughout the game apart from his unacceptable behaviour when, after he made a poor clearance which resulted in a good chance for Hearts to score, he rounded on Captain McManus, waving his arms and pushing him. Luckily Hinkel intervened, as Big Mick was having none of it.

HINKEL... ….. 6 As an attacker Celtic have discovered a very good player who capped off his display with a good goal. As a defender Celtic have work to do in ensuring his positional awareness is honed.

CALDWELL….. 7 A very solid game.

McMANUS…. ….7 A good, sound performance, the highlight being a very important header over the bar to prevent a certain goal. He did kiss and make up with Artur.

NAYLOR….….….6 Fortunately Naylor gets better as games progress. Was weak in the first half, slipping, bad passes, being nutmegged, etc. but when playing in front of GS he always steps up a gear.

McGEADY …. …..8 MOM. Was tightly marked throughout but never gave up. His perseverance led to the 1st goal and a delightful pass to Hinkel led to the 3rd goal.

DONATI..…….. 7 He doesn’t close opponents down as Hartley does but he has a self belief when he is on the ball and you can recognise the footballing brain with some of the things he attempts.

BROWN …….. . 8 I don’t think that goal scoring is going to be his forte this season but breaking down opponents moves and denying them space are certainly two of the many benefits he brings to the team.

NAKA…….. …… 7 Another 90 mins and more than a few glimpses of his consummate skill.

McDONALD ….. 7 Kept his goal scoring hot streak going by putting another simple opportunity away.

JVOH ………… .. 7 Won so many balls in the air (an aspect of his play which had been sorely missing before) and took his goal very well.

SUBS ………….1. SAMARAS …… 7 This time he replaced JVOH and he lit up Celtic Park with delightful footwork, a bit of aggression and a fantastic effort which it the post. The Greek is going to become a fans favourite.
2. ROBSON……….6 Took Donati’s place in midfield and showed that no-one will walk over him.

3. HUTCHINSON……..5 Only had 5 mins but he’s a powerful lad who made some very good runs. The great thing about him is that he has knocked Killen off the bench!

REF…………. (McDonald) 7 You can’t expect McDonald not to make mistakes and he did but he allowed the game to flow and he did not red card Boruc which a certain minister of the cloth may well have been tempted to do!

THE GAME ……8 Hearts were no pushovers (if they play like this against Rangers they will cause problems) and helped create a good, fast, skillful game.

GOALS ………. 1st McGeady takes the ball down the left side with two defenders in close attendance however a burst of pace gave him just enough room to send over a semi cross which JVOH met bravely to steer into the far corner.
2nd Simple goal. A Naka corner, a McDonald header, an important goal.
3rd The goal starts off with Samarass showing some lovely skill and about twenty passes later Hinkel accepts McGeady’s flick and blasts the ball into the net from a tight angle.



COMMENTS ….. 1. The important job for the week was done, i.e. 3pts. The Barca game will be exciting and Celtic have a chance but it is not as important as Celtic continuing undefeated this year.
2. Hinkel and Brown are out for the Barca game and I’ll go along with whatever team GS sends out.
3. The atmosphere in the stadium was much better, long may it continue.