MATCH REPORT: CELTIC 1 ST MIRREN 0

PRE-MATCH COMMENT:. Great to be back and I was fervently hoping that the Flag raising ceremony would go off without any moronic booing (it was my most embarrassing time as a Celtic supporter when Fergus was booed).
Only once in the past six seasons has the team who have claimed the championship won their opening encounter so there was going to be a certain logic applied if Celtic didn’t pick up all 3 points, however I was looking for at least 3 goals.
Last years corresponding game against St Mirren ended in a very nervy 1-1 draw with Riordan scoring the late equaliser.

BORUC ….…….6 Had very little to do but took the crosses well.

HINKEL.... ….. 5 I was hoping to see the form one would expect from a German international but again he failed to reach those standards.

CALDWELL…. 8 MON I think he won every aerial challenge and also managed to execute some very good passes.

McMANUS…. …7 Made some very good hard tackles and was only caught out once by a fast moving attack.

NAYLOR …….….6 If he could just stop his erratic distribution his performance would be so much influential. His overall contribution was better than his average of last year.

McGEADY …. …..6 For a player of such talent I think he would have been a bit disappointed with his overall performance. Was well marked by the right back and when he got past him there was always another one or two to beat. He is thinking more about releasing the ball more often and that can only improve his overall game.

ROBSON. ……….6 We will not see the best of him whilst he is played wide on the right but the guy gives 100% and he did score with a penalty.

HARTLEY ……… 7 He is really settling into the holding midfield role and I think it will come into his own in the away European games.

BROWN…….. …….. 8 I watched the warm up and it was very noticeable that he was the player giving 100%. He took that onto the game and gave a very impressive performance. He even managed to avoid being carded!

McDONALD.. ….. 5 The question of the moment must be “Does he have a worse first touch than Millar?”. Needs a goal to bring the swagger back to his game.

JVOH………………6 Won a lot of good ball in the air but his lack of pace and skill on the floor were painful to watch on occasion,


SUBS

SAMARAS …….. 3 Did nothing

WILSON ………. 5 Played at left back and the longer he was on the more effective he became.

CADDIS ………… 4 Will be disappointed that he did not make much of a contribution after replacing Robson.




REF…………. (Smith) 6 Should have awarded a penalty to Celtic when JVOH was pulled down by the goalkeeper but I’m not sure about the one he did award (haven’t seen it on t.v. yet). The North Stan linesman was the real problem.

THE GAME ……5 A disappointing performance by Celtic but St Mirren played some nice football.

GOALS ………. 1. A bad mistake by the two central defenders allowed JVOH to burst into the box but he was being pulled by the defenders and Robson managed to get the penalty past the keeper eventually!


COMMENTS ….. 1. The improvement in the P.R./Media side of our club was highlighted by the tribute to Tommy Burns and the professional way that the Championship flag was handled.


2. I’m sure our possession % was quite high but the old problem of not breaking quickly was all too evident.

3. The dilemma for GS is how does he change the midfield when Naka comes back? Who does he drop?

4. Well at least we are 2 points better off than the opening game last year.