MATCH REPORT:   CELTIC  1  HEARTS  1

PRE-MATCH COMMENT: Enjoyed the comment made going to the match "Setanta should not force Rangers to play on a Sat before Celtic..............it isnae fair!"

BORUC ….……....6  Pulled off a good save after having had no chance with the opening goal and genrally eas sound.

HINKEL...... ……5 The concerns I have had about his defensive play were highlighted unfortunately by the roasting that Driver gave him. He'll have to work hard on this aspect if he is to balance his ability when  attacking.

CALDWELL......... 5  Was completely off his normal standard with regards to his passing, it was pretty poor.

McMANUS…. … ..5 Once again his inability to build attacks from defence proved frustrating. He did show his indominitable spirit when scoring the equaliser.

WILSON...…. ……5  Will nver be our regular left back

HARTLEY........... 7 MOM He played like a guy who wants his contract to be extended (only has 6 months left). He tried to drive the team forward but they just did not respond.

BROWN…..…......4  He really will have to do something about his passing. As last week it was his poor pass which led to a goal. He never seems to underhit a pass!

NAKA....... ……..6   Naka at least tried physically to affect the game but his touch and vision were not at the level of Wednesday. He did send over the cross for the goal.

MALONEY.........5 Had to go off early in the first half with a pulled hamstring.

McGEADY..........5  He received no protection from the ref and I do feel that this eventually affected his performance. 

McDONALD....... 3 Totally ineffective! Had one shot on goal.

SUBS 

SAMARAS..........3   O.K. he headed back the ball for McManus to score but that apart he was just awful.

NAYLOR........…. 5 Tried to bring an attacking element to the game but he failed.

REF…………...... (McDonald) 4  There were two things he should have done:

 a) given McGeady protection

b) yellow carded Kingston for his tackle on McGeady.

THE GAME ……5  Hearts played well and tactically won the battle with a good performance but Celtic were bereft of any constructive ideas and deserved no more than a draw.

GOALS ………. 1.Brown gave the ball away, he was then nut-megged by Kingston who then managed to slice his shot into Drivers' path who then cooly slotted the ball into the corner.

                                 2. Celtic had obviously decided to play the high ball and it kept on being dealt with by the Hearts defence until Naka lobbed the ball in, Samaras won the challenge and McManus headed the ball in.

COMMENTS ….. 1. Didn't think that GS would have gone with the same team as Wednesday and the biggest change was taking Naka out of the midfield and starting off with him on the right.

2. If Celtic have a problem it is not in defence or midfield, it is in our forwards inability to score enough goals. Oh for some brawn and skill a la Sutton or Larsson or Hartson.