MATCH REPORT: FALKIRK 0 CELTIC 1

PRE-MATCH COMMENT Back from holiday totally committed to following and supporting the tam all the way to the Championship title. Had never been to the new Falkirk stadium and was delighted that the game was on (the no flooded fields around the stadium was amazing). Didn’t know whether to be pleased with the news that Dougal had been ruled out as referee due to injury, after all it was Underhill that was replacing him!

BORUC ….…….8 MOM Pulled off two great saves in the first half and went through the game showing why he was voted Europe’s 3rd best goalkeeper. The fans have been looking for a long time for an icon to replace Henrik and ‘The Holy Goalie’ is that guy. The reception from the fans at the end was amazing.

HARTLEY... ….. 3 Felt the manager was right to replace Hinkell with Hartley instead of moving Caldwell or bringing in Caddis (the conditions were not right for such a slightly built player) but I’m afraid that from the first moment it was obvious that Hartley was going to be the weak link. He was slow, he was indecisive, in fact he was rank rotten!

CALDWELL….. 7 The conditions and the way Falkirk played meant that it was not a day for fancy footwork and Caldwell just concentrated on clearing his lines.

McMANUS…. ….7 As above. Interesting to listen to john Hughes after the game say that although McGeady and Naka and Boruc are the really skillful players in the Celtic team, he thinks that the key player is Big Mick.

NAYLOR….….….5 Came onto a slightly better game in the second half but his distribution in the first was awful.

McGEADY …. …..5. The conditions just did not suit him and he took some stick from the Falkirk defenders but he never stopped trying. His flick to McDonald to set up the move that led to the first goal, was brilliant.

DONATI..…. ….. 7 I thought that he was the best of the outfield players. Although the conditions were not conducive to the ball being played on the deck, Donati was always looking to play the skillful pass. He continued his recent improvement in giving his all for the team.

BROWN …….. . 4 If it wasn’t for his 100% commitment I seriously consider resting him. The no. of times he over hits his pass is amazing for a 4.5m buy. I’m sure he will come good and he may well be one of those players who needs a season to settle in.

NAKA…….. …… 4 It was never going to be a day for Naka and so it proved. He did make the goal with a typical piece of Naka skill but that apart he was very poor.

McDONALD ….. 6 Scored the vital goal and never stopped trying.

JVOH ………… 6 Another player who is now giving his all for the team. He was very unlucky not to score in the final minutes when his shot came off the post. Still can’t see the qualities that made him an internationalist.

SUBS ………….1. SNO …… 6 Was pleased to see him come on in place of Naka. He has a presence about him and he stiffened up the midfield.
2. CADDIS …..…6 Replaced Hartley and did a much better job.

3. KILLEN…….. 1 min. appearance.

REF…………. (Underhill) 6 By his standards he had one of his better days. He did not give a penalty to Falkirk despite their claims in the second half.

THE GAME ……4 Falkirk played the better football but the conditions were always going to mean that good football would be at a premium.

GOAL ………. 1st A delightful flick by McGeady to McDonald, who then gets a lucky break of the ball and runs from inside his own half to the edge of the penalty area, passes to Naka out wide, runs into the box and finishes it all off with a header.

COMMENTS ….. 1. All that matters is that Celtic took 3 pts from the game and Wednesday’s game will be no different, i.e. a poor pitch, an attacking opposition and probably some wind and rain thrown in for good measure.
2. Great being with a Celtic support who were only interested in helping the team to victory.

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.