Celtic dropped their first points of the season at Easter Road today, in a dissapointing 2-2 draw with Hibs. Henri Camara and John Hartson were Celtic's goalscorers, as the Champions came from behind twice in the first half to earn the draw.
Today is FIFA Fair Play Day and we were treated to Champions League style handshakes before the game. A complete waste of time. Didier Agathe dropped to the bench and Joos Valgaeren replaced the injured Jackie McNamara. Chris Sutton dropped into midfield, leaving John Hartson and Henri Camara up-front.
From the start, Celtic attacked the home side. John Hartson found space in the Hibs area and missed three headed chances in the first five minutes - one of which should have been better directed towards the corner of the net.
Hibs' plastic hardman Scott Brown was booked after only a few minutes of the game and it wasn't long before he fell awkwardly and was stretchered off.
Celtic looked good for an early goal, but it was Hibs who took the lead, after eight minutes. Steven Whittaker's cross was deflected over David Marshall by Bobo Balde.
Hibs obviously took a massive lift from the goal and were ripping Joos Valgaeren apart down the wing. I cannot understand why Martin O'Neill plays this guy as he is too slow, he does not have the ability anymore. Surely, after today's performance, he cannot be played in our defence again, as he is a liability.
Celtic were once again guilty of gifting the ball away to the opposition. Throughout the course of the game, every one of our players gave the ball away. This is simply not good enough.
Hibs had one or two half chances but the worrying fact was that they were getting into the Celtic area. Too many players were being played in wrong positions. Stan Petrov didn't look comfortable on the right-hand side and Chris Sutton was lost in midfield.
Celtic equalised through Henri Camara on thirty-four minutes. Hibs defender Beuzelin accidentally played the ball through to Juninho and the far-side linesman raised his flag, as he thought the ball was played through by a Celtic player. Juninho, and Celtic, played on as the referee's whistle did not sound. Juninho cut the ball back to Camara, who slotted home. Only one Hibs player appeared to stop and he had no chance in doing anything for the goal. Hibs protested and after a short consultation between the Mike McCurry and his assisstant, the goal was correctly given.
Credit to the referee for over-rulling the linesman's wrong decision.
The general feeling now was that Celts could go on and win the game, but Hibs equalised almost immediatley. Chris Sutton's stretched leg set up David Murphy, who continued his run down the wing and placed the ball through David Marshall's legs. It was an unlucky goal for Celtic to lose, but nevertheless, Hibs were back in front.
For some reason, Hibs' stupid fans pelted the linesman involved in Celtic's goal with pies and other objects. Strage, since he was actually allowing the goal to stand. Hopefully the SPL will take action against the club.
Celtic grabbed the equaliser on the stroke of half time, Juninho heavily involved once again. The Wee Man was given the ball via a cheeky back heel from Alan Thompson, and he crossed the ball for John Hartson to tap home. It was a great time for Celtic to equalise but the overall performance was still not of the highest standard.
The second period was all Celtic, Hibs didn't even have a shot at goal. Chris Sutton was replaced by Didier Agathe fourteen minutes into the half, as Celtic charged for a winner.
Stan Petrov had a chance well saved by the Hibs 'keeper, but Celtic's best chance came with twenty minutes remaining - Stan Varga should have done better with his header.
Stephen Pearson came on for Juninho, who didn't look too happy at being replaced. He did set up Celtic's two goals but we are looking for a lot more from the Brazillian. Pearson showed us all exactly why he has not started one game all season.
Celtic looked clueless and nothing was going our way. The game ended in a draw, and with the huns managing a mighty 1-0 victory at home to Inverness, we are now only five points clear.
Too many players are not performing. Stan Varga and Bobo Balde seem to be lacking in confidence and Joos Valgaeren is past it. The midfield are giving the ball away far too often and the forwards are not connecting in a way they should be.
Lumping high balls up the park isn't going to work and the sooner we realise this, the better. The players all need a good kick up the backside.
With our Champions League campaign underway, it is obvious we are going to srop silly away points. We do not have a big enough squad to be firing on all cylinders week in, week out.
Next up are Falkirk in the worthless CIS Cup. I fear we may be scalped by this outfit as we will play alot of our fringe players. I hope I am wrong.
Celtic:
Marshall - 7
Balde - 7
Varga - 6
Valgaeren - 5
Lennon - 6
Thompson - 7
Sutton - 6 (Agathe - 6)
Petrov - 6
Juninho - 7 (Pearson - 5)
Camara - 6
Hartson - 7
Today is FIFA Fair Play Day and we were treated to Champions League style handshakes before the game. A complete waste of time. Didier Agathe dropped to the bench and Joos Valgaeren replaced the injured Jackie McNamara. Chris Sutton dropped into midfield, leaving John Hartson and Henri Camara up-front.
From the start, Celtic attacked the home side. John Hartson found space in the Hibs area and missed three headed chances in the first five minutes - one of which should have been better directed towards the corner of the net.
Hibs' plastic hardman Scott Brown was booked after only a few minutes of the game and it wasn't long before he fell awkwardly and was stretchered off.
Celtic looked good for an early goal, but it was Hibs who took the lead, after eight minutes. Steven Whittaker's cross was deflected over David Marshall by Bobo Balde.
Hibs obviously took a massive lift from the goal and were ripping Joos Valgaeren apart down the wing. I cannot understand why Martin O'Neill plays this guy as he is too slow, he does not have the ability anymore. Surely, after today's performance, he cannot be played in our defence again, as he is a liability.
Celtic were once again guilty of gifting the ball away to the opposition. Throughout the course of the game, every one of our players gave the ball away. This is simply not good enough.
Hibs had one or two half chances but the worrying fact was that they were getting into the Celtic area. Too many players were being played in wrong positions. Stan Petrov didn't look comfortable on the right-hand side and Chris Sutton was lost in midfield.
Celtic equalised through Henri Camara on thirty-four minutes. Hibs defender Beuzelin accidentally played the ball through to Juninho and the far-side linesman raised his flag, as he thought the ball was played through by a Celtic player. Juninho, and Celtic, played on as the referee's whistle did not sound. Juninho cut the ball back to Camara, who slotted home. Only one Hibs player appeared to stop and he had no chance in doing anything for the goal. Hibs protested and after a short consultation between the Mike McCurry and his assisstant, the goal was correctly given.
Credit to the referee for over-rulling the linesman's wrong decision.
The general feeling now was that Celts could go on and win the game, but Hibs equalised almost immediatley. Chris Sutton's stretched leg set up David Murphy, who continued his run down the wing and placed the ball through David Marshall's legs. It was an unlucky goal for Celtic to lose, but nevertheless, Hibs were back in front.
For some reason, Hibs' stupid fans pelted the linesman involved in Celtic's goal with pies and other objects. Strage, since he was actually allowing the goal to stand. Hopefully the SPL will take action against the club.
Celtic grabbed the equaliser on the stroke of half time, Juninho heavily involved once again. The Wee Man was given the ball via a cheeky back heel from Alan Thompson, and he crossed the ball for John Hartson to tap home. It was a great time for Celtic to equalise but the overall performance was still not of the highest standard.
The second period was all Celtic, Hibs didn't even have a shot at goal. Chris Sutton was replaced by Didier Agathe fourteen minutes into the half, as Celtic charged for a winner.
Stan Petrov had a chance well saved by the Hibs 'keeper, but Celtic's best chance came with twenty minutes remaining - Stan Varga should have done better with his header.
Stephen Pearson came on for Juninho, who didn't look too happy at being replaced. He did set up Celtic's two goals but we are looking for a lot more from the Brazillian. Pearson showed us all exactly why he has not started one game all season.
Celtic looked clueless and nothing was going our way. The game ended in a draw, and with the huns managing a mighty 1-0 victory at home to Inverness, we are now only five points clear.
Too many players are not performing. Stan Varga and Bobo Balde seem to be lacking in confidence and Joos Valgaeren is past it. The midfield are giving the ball away far too often and the forwards are not connecting in a way they should be.
Lumping high balls up the park isn't going to work and the sooner we realise this, the better. The players all need a good kick up the backside.
With our Champions League campaign underway, it is obvious we are going to srop silly away points. We do not have a big enough squad to be firing on all cylinders week in, week out.
Next up are Falkirk in the worthless CIS Cup. I fear we may be scalped by this outfit as we will play alot of our fringe players. I hope I am wrong.
Celtic:
Marshall - 7
Balde - 7
Varga - 6
Valgaeren - 5
Lennon - 6
Thompson - 7
Sutton - 6 (Agathe - 6)
Petrov - 6
Juninho - 7 (Pearson - 5)
Camara - 6
Hartson - 7