MATCH REPORT:   HIBS  2  CELTIC  0

PRE-MATCH COMMENT: Being the sort of superstitous guy I am the fact that this is Celtic's chance to make it 13 conseutive victorys makes me slightly nervous. However Hibs have not kept a clean sheet at home this season. Other thoughts, Boruc will want to attain for his awful display of last year, find it hard to accept that Sheridan is leading the line after his last two performances, disappointed there is not more creativity in the team.

Prediction: Hibs 1 Celtic 2

BORUC ….……....3  I mentioned last week my concerns about his state of mind after reading his comments in a Polish magasine and to-days performance clearly highlights that we have a troubled mind in goal. His mistake was as bad as the ones Frank Haffey used to make and his distribution was almost as poor. The other worrying aspect of his current demise is that his asset value is shrinking by the day.

HINKEL...... …….. 5 Was a threat going forward but to often failed to capitalise by his poor crossing. 

LOOVENS......... 5  He did not really make any mistakes but he just does not look like an acclomplished defender.

McMANUS…. … ..6 Fletcher will trouble most central defenders but McManus was quietly sound.

WILSON...…. ……6  MOM  Don't think he'll ever make it in either full back position but he was not to blame for the defeat and in the second half he did try to inject some threat down his wing.

CALDWELL........ ……..6  Played in midfield and managed alright but he does try and play the most difficult passes too often.

HARTLEY........... 5 Steady enough but strangely not put under too much trouble.

BROWN…..….....4  His performance last week was poor but this was worse. He looked good for the first 15 mins and then faded right out of the game.

MALONEY............. 5 Another player who did not play poorly but neither did he produce the standard we grew used to when he was performing two years ago.

SHERIDAN.. .........3  Should never have been selected. He has done his bit for Celtic but is now washed out. Hutchinson should have beeen in his place.

McDONALD..........4   Muscled out of the game by Bamba and Jones and failed to do any effective link up play.

SUBS 

SAMARAS………....5  Did more in the first 5 mins than Sheridan did in the 60 mins but still seems rather lethargic.

McGEADY........…. 5 Good to see him back and he looked dangerous on a couple of runs.

REF…………...... (McDonald) 7  He can't be blamed for anything.

THE GAME ……5 A game so similar to the others this season in which we have dominated early possession and yet have found it so difficult to score. Hibs were much more effective than us in their closing down play.

GOALS ………. 1.A shocker! When Brown made the poor pass I was disappointed but when Rankin shot from 40 yds I had no worries at all. It was not even a hard shot that Boruc had to deal with but he made a complete fool of himself with his attempt.

                                 2. A good fast break down the left wing but the ball should have been dealt with. Boruc again did not cover himself with glory by rushing out from goal and being stranded.

COMMENTS ….. 1. The odd thing was that it was not as though celtic had so many poor players, it was really the fact that they had too few who could produce the sort of magic to unlock a good defense. Naka was badly missed.

2. Afetr his ill-advised walkout on Friday, Sunday was not any better a day for him. He picked the wrong team and was too slow in changing the personnel.

3. This result has been coming. Celtic have won too many games recently without playing particuarly well and the real problem is in the striking dept. Since Samaras went on international duty our fast attacking style of football has disappeared. We are fortunate that Hearts produced the result last week.