CELTICMATCH REPORT:  CELTIC 0  RANGERS 0

PRE-MATCH COMMENT: After a week of trepidation I suddenly remembered that Celtic are the Champions, Celtic have the better players, Celtic were playing at home and Celtic were two points clear  at the top....................I felt a lot more confident.

Celtic  1  Rangers  0

BORUC ….……....7  Made two great saves and looked as though he was back to his best.

HINKEL..... ……..6  Snuffed the threat from "Scotland's best young player" by some good hard defending and also some calm footwork. Faded a little in the second half.

CALDWELL......... 7 A rock in the middle, he was composed, destructive and constructive.

McMANUS…. … ..6  I was a worried when I saw how little confidence/ability he had with the ball at his feet at the beginning of the game but he steadied and played his part in a rare clean sheet.

NAYLOR...….……7  Another good game from the much maligned full back. It was interesting that he did not have a winger to pass to as Naka had gone wandering inside from almost the start but he pinged some great passes, particularly in the first 45 mins.

HARTLEY........... 6  Showed a lot of energy and commitment and did not allow the Mendes/Ferguson axis have any influence.

BROWN…..…...... 6   Was seen in a more holding role but still managed a couple of surging runs.

FLOOD.... ……....6  Handled his Celtic debut well, particularly in the first 45mins. Set up the best chance of the game with a perfect cross for McDonald. Was rightly subbed in the second half as he tired visibly.

NAKA.................5 Amazing that he played the full 90mins after his travels of t.w. He once again disappointed in his influence on these derbies. 

JVOH................4  He tried but with no sign of any success or ability. To think Celtic reportedly turned down a 5m offer from Feyenoord for him!!!!

McDONALD....... 4  Mad a real hash of converting a relatively simple header and had no impact at all.

SUBS:

CROSAS ............ 5  Replaced the injured Brown but not on long enough to apply his calming, passing style.

SAMARAS...........5 Replaced the ineffective JVOH but frustrated rather than inspired.

McGEADY.......... 5   I like every other supporter was impatient for him to come on and bring some skill to the game but he was hardly seen.

REF…………...... (Murray) 4  He toed the 'party line' by trying to even out the bookings (to book from as a result of Naismith's stranglehold was ridiculous, to give Celtic a corner after Samaras clearly put the ball out was typical of his inability to show some matureness. He saved his worst error of judgement by allowing only 2 mins of extra time when not only 5 subs had been used but to cheat the supporters out of an extra 5 mins of play was so reminiscent of how the Right Rev did the same thing at Ibrox last season after Thompson had lain injured for fully 5 mins. There was actually 5 mins and 50 secs of hold ups at Celtic Park due to Brown's injury, Lafferty's cramp and sorting out the free kick.........................a disgrace!

THE GAME ……4 As Celtic supporters we will continue to support our team onto 4 in  a row but the fare being served up at the moment is dreadful.

GOALS ………. 

COMMENTS ….. 1. We won the banner competition hands down but the old gripping atmosphere is slowly ebbing away.

COMMENTS ….. 1. I fail to understand why Celtic did not get the paperwork in on time re. the Flood transfer or deliberately delayed it to allow him to play for Dundee U against Rangers.

                             2.  "Another game without a goal. I mentioned a few weeks ago that, whilst I think our defence is weak, Celtic's greatest weakness is in attack. Our style of play does not lend itself to the goal scoring exploits Celtic supporters are used to" This comment from the ICT game applies to this one also.