Match Reviews – On our way to make it 10

Riddle solved

After the terrible performance on Thursday night against Valencia, Celtic had a major point to prove. They couldn’t have picked a much harder place to do so domestically than Rugby Park, given that the hoops have lost on their last two visits there.

The first half of the game was relatively flat, with Celtic struggling to penetrate the Kilmarnock backline. Edouard did have an effort saved by the killie goalkeeper just after the ten minute mark but that was as close as they came in the first half. Celtic did dominate possession but Kilmarnock remained relatively comfortable. There was controversy just before half time when Scott Brown slid into a tackle late but was only shown a yellow card.

Into the second half and the game remained close, with both teams looking like they could break the deadlock. However the game changed when Kirk Broadfoot was shown a straight red for a dangerous challenge on Scott Brown. Celtic began to push more and were unlucky on a few occasions despite patient build up play. Then the moment came that all the fans were hoping for. Mcgregor whipped in a corner which Boyata headed back across goal where Scott Brown was waiting. His shot ricocheted off a Kilmarnock players hand and into the back of the net, right at the end of the game.

The stand behind the goal erupted, with fans flooding onto the pitch to celebrate Brown’s winner. He was sent off for the celebrations, not that he seemed to mind though, given that his goal takes Celtic eight points clear at the top of the Premiership.

It will take something special to catch the parkhead side now and you cannot help but feel that the only thing which will stop them from winning their eighth title in a row is themselves.

Groundhog day

They say there is three certainties in life; death, taxes and Celtic playing St Johnstone. At least this is how it has felt in the last few weeks due to the way the fixtures have lined up.

Not that I am complaining about this particular run of games though. They have been extremely lucrative for Celtic. Three wins, nine goals scored and zero conceded. This mini run of games has contributed nicely to Celtic’s overall flawless record in 2019 of seven wins in a row.

Yesterday’s win against the saints was the best performance of the year so far. Oliver Burke was the star man throughout, as his pace and power was causing St Johnstone problems all afternoon long. It was his first driving run of the game that set up the opening goal as he crossed for Scott Sinclair, who managed to beat the keeper at his near the post. A few minutes later it was two nil, when Scott Brown scored an unbelievable goal from twenty yards out.

Into the second half and despite a change of tactics from the visitors, Celtic continued to dominate. The inevitable third goal came on the fifty-second minute when a great run from Jonny Hayes ended with James Forrest rolling the ball through the keepers legs. A couple of minutes later and it was Burke again who was causing problems. Picking up on a loose ball and running at the St Johnstone defence, he crossed into the box where Sinclair was waiting for a tap in. One minute from time Sinclair completed his hat-trick to book Celtic’s place in the quarterfinal of the Scottish Cup and put to an end the eternity of matches against the Perth side( for now anyway).

Ladies and gentlemen, Timothy Weah

What a start Timothy Weah has made to his Celtic career. Three goals in five games with an assist or a goal every thirty six minutes. This currently makes him the most prolific striker in the Scottish Premiership and given the fact he is only eighteen, that is quite the statistic.

Weah starred in Sundays victory over St Johnstone as he came off the bench to not only assist the opening goal, but also score himself. However before Weah’s introduction Celtic struggled to break the deadlock due to the phenomenal performance of saints goalkeeper Zander Clark. Despite the large amount of possession the hoops could not seem to find their way past Clark, who it looked like was on a one man mission to keep a clean sheet.

The game was crying out for a bit of magic and Weah provided it when he was subbed on for an injured Edouard. Almost immediately he started to make a difference with his runs in behind causing St Johnstone all sorts of problems. It was this that led to the first goal when an excellent pass from Scott Brown played in Weah who only needed one touch to control it, another to steady himself and then a further one to drill it along the ground to James Forrest who poked it home, much to Zander Clark’s dismay.

Unfortunately not long after Forrest limped off injured with a suspected hamstring problem and this, along with Odsonne Edouard being strechered off, will be real concern for Brendan Rodgers.

Weah would soon get in on the act when he finished off an excellent counter attack which saw himself, Scott Sinclair and Callum Mcgregor run almost the full length of the pitch in a matter of seconds. This secured an important result for Celtic, which keeps them six points clear of Rangers at the top of the table.

It’s cold at the top

A freezing cold game against St Johnstone on a Wednesday night, it is the stuff dreams are made of. It is games like these in which you begin to question your sanity for sitting outside for ninety minutes. But then Ryan Christie scores a goal like he did the other night and you remember why you love to do it.

Celtic went into the game against St Johnstone knowing it was a must win. The chance to go six points clear at the top of the table was an opportunity that could not be passed up. The team remained much the same as Saturdays win over Hamilton with the only change being Oliver Burke coming in to replace Timothy Weah.

As expected Celtic dominated most of the possession in the first half, but unlike recent games the saints provided a much sterner challenge defensively. The majority of the half was played in front of the St Johnstone back line and Celtic struggled to break the Perth side down with best chance coming when the goalkeeper made an excellent save from a Scott Sinclair header.

Into the second half and Celtic came out with a sense of urgency about their play. This urgency and quickness was personified in the two goals they would go onto score. The first came from a excellent shot from outside the box by Callum Mcgregor. Then two minutes later Ryan Christie scored a phenomenal goal, curling it right into the top left hand corner, to take Celtic six points clear at the top of the table.

Results like that one on Wednesday are so important in Celtic’s bid to win eight titles in a row and they make the risk of hypothermia very much worth it.

Project management

Celtic are a club that in recent years have always felt like a project when realistically they should have been well on their way to be becoming the finished article. The most recent example of this is the clubs failure to properly invest in the last couple of transfer windows and the lack of backing given to the manager in signing players in key positions such as at right back.

The fans frustration was clear to see on Saturday.

Frustration aside, Celtic looked to make it three wins on the bounce when they played Hamilton on Saturday. Much like the previous two games they dominated possession from the start. They had plenty of chances with the Hamilton goalkeeper pulling off a string of terrific saves including in an excellent one on one with Weah, who really should of scored. Despite his terrific first half performance it was his own mistake that gifted Celtic the lead when he allowed a Callum McGregor shot to slip through his legs just before half time.

Into the second half and Celtic continued to dominate but there was an air of sluggishness about their play. Despite the high rates of possession, a lot of the passing was poor and the ball was consistently being played back. However Celtic would go on to score two more with Christie getting a lucky rebound after the keeper spilled the ball and Sinclair scoring a header after not being picked up at the back post. It was a good result even though the performance was quite average. They will need to be better however when coming up against better opposition.

Saturday was a reminder from fans that the clubs bid for ten titles in a row is not a project and that it is something they cannot allow to slip away.

Wanting what you cannot have

I have always been fascinated by the men who sign for Celtic that I know the club can’t keep. Players such as Robbie Keane and Patrick Roberts are amongst the talent who I have grown to love most in my time watching football. After Wednesdays game against St Mirren I can now add Timothy Weah and Oliver Burke to the list of players whose departures I won’t ever get over.

Putting the future emotional damage to one side, it was back to basics for Celtic on Wednesday, as they returned to league action for the first time since losing the title to Rangers on the 29th of December. Brendan Rodgers made one change from Saturdays victory against Airdrie, with Kristoffer Ajer replacing Dedryck Boyata. Almost identical to the weekends performance, Celtic dominated possession from the outset. The ball was moving fast and the opening came on the 11th minute when Burke scored his first goal for the club with a header from a Ryan Christie free kick. Celtic continued to pile on the pressure in the first half and the Paisley side were opened up again when Scott Sinclair was fouled inside the box. Just like on Saturday Sinclair stepped up but this time he converted the spot kick.

Into the second half and Celtic continued to dominate. It was only a matter of time before the next goal came and it arrived on the 55th minute when Burke scored his second. Ten minutes later he was replaced by Weah who himself would go on to score four minutes from time. It was another instinctive finish from the American, who similarly to the weekend, ran in behind and finished with one touch.

Even though both Weah and Burke have just arrived it is fair to say that I am already upset at their future goodbye posts on Instagram.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

When The Outhere Brothers wrote their song “Boom Boom Boom” they could only dream that the track would be played at a 4th round Scottish Cup game. However I am sure they will be glad to know that they can now tick that off their bucket list. While some fans complained about the tune, I think I can speak for everyone when I say that it is a musical masterpiece compared to the Scott Brown tribute song released last year.

Questionable song choices aside though, Celtic had a job to do on Saturday. Coming off their embarrassing performance against Rangers and the three week winter break which followed, the team had a point to prove. The game started as many would have expected with Celtic dominating possession and Airdrie putting every man behind the ball. The game was going to open up eventually and it happened just after the half hour mark when Izaguirre was fouled inside the box. Scott Sinclair stepped up but his spot kick was saved. This was the start of an up and down game for Sinclair which saw him miss an open goal shortly after before scoring in each half and then being denied a hat trick due to a poor offside call from the linesmen.

Scott Sinclair was involved in a lot of the games key moments.

Airdrie offered little throughout the game, apart from a moment in the first half when Scott Bain pulled off a remarkable string of saves in a row to deny the league 1 side an equaliser.

Celtic played with pace and intent throughout and this was exemplified when new signing Timothy Weah came off the bench to score. An excellent pass by Dedryck Boyata played Weah in behind allowing him to slip the ball past the goalkeeper. As he scored the aforementioned Outhere Brothers track played and if he continues to play like he did at the weekend then I am all for it.