MATCH REPORT: HAMILTON 1 CELTIC 2

PRE – MATCH COMMENT: 'The Ship' in Portal Nous managed to find the game on an Arabic channel and I was pleased to find that Zheng was on from the start, Brown was not and intrigued to see Zaluska between the posts. A must win game after Hibs had done so well the previous day.

ZALUSKA................7 MOM A very impressive SPL debut and a magnificent last minute stop to ensure the victory.

HINKEL...................6 Did well to set up the first goal but would have liked to have seen more of him in an attacking role.

McMANUS..............4 The game was going quite well for him until the last 20mins when Hamilton started to use the long ball and he was being out jumped all the time. He and Caldwell tried hard to gift the equalising goal. Just not good enough.

CALDWELL............5 A flash of Beckenbaur in the first half when he set up McGeady with a great pass, a steady defensive display until the last 20mins. Just not good enough.

NAYLOR.................5 Two moments in the first half highlighted the weaknesses in his play. Firstly he did a great move to run past the full back but then put the cross in the stand, then he gave the ball away whilst under no pressure. Just not good enough.

ROBSON................ 5 From a defensive point of view very steady but very little from a creative aspect.

ZHENG...................5 Was hoping for a more cultured display and surprised at how he was not more physical but it's early days.

McGEADY............. 5 Was correctly subbed as he was producing very little.

MALONEY......... ...6 A great goal (he doesn't do easy ones) and was much more dangerous than McGeady.

SAMARAS............. 6 Not a bad overall display. He put a lot more effort in and was the danger to the Hamilton defence.

McDONALD......... .5 Scored a poacher's goal but still not back to his best.

SUBS..................

CROSAS...............4 Looked for him to bring a bit of composure to the midfield but he didn't.

McGINN................4 No service ...... no impact.

McCOURT.............6 Got a little service but no impact.

REF ....................(Brines) 4

GOAL............... 1. A poor piece of play by the Hamilton defender allowed McDonald to play Hinkel in and he delivered a great cross to the far post, where it was met by a hitch kick from Maloney.

RATING: Quality: 5.8 (Av. 5.9)

POSSESSION:52%

COMMENTS:

1. Only getting the 3 pts mattered and we got them but it would have been nice to have done it with a bit of style. Everyone watching the game must have had the same feeling the longer the game went on..............."Celtic are going to give away a goal" but it was the way we could not defend nor hold the midfield which was shocking.

2. The Hearts game is next and it would be nice to see Fox and Fortune back.