Talking Points from Scottish Football

SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP

RANGERS ARE YEARS FROM CHALLENGING CELTIC

Ten-in-a-row: it’s the distant dream which could become a reality for Celtic. It’s the achievement that both Old Firm clubs aim for. It’s the one that would separate them; a defining moment in their historic rivalry. It would be the most important domestic season in a lifetime. Nine is not enough. Jock Stein guided the Hoops to nine consecutive titles during his golden tenure, and David Murray’s millions built Rangers into an unstoppable juggernaut from the late-80s to the mid-90s, a period during which Gers matched that momentous accomplishment. But neither made it to ten. That remains the ‘Promised Land’. But Celtic might be on course to reach it.

The Hoops side that Mark Warburton’s outfit met on Saturday lunchtime was a far different proposition from the anxious and disjointed team that they defeated in the Scottish Cup semi-final. Brendan Rodgers has instilled a refreshed sense of confidence in the side – exemplified by the return to form of Scott Brown and James Forrest – and made some much needed acquisitions to complete Celtic’s team. Kolo Toure looks an assured presence in Celtic’s defence – although it’s not like Efe Ambrose set a high bar – and Scott Sinclair has helped stretch their threat. With Forrest and Sinclair supporting Leigh Griffiths or Moussa Dembele, Celtic are dangerous on all fronts. There are no clear flaws in this team. The same cannot be said for their rivals.

Rangers were lacklustre all over the pitch. Joe Garner continues to look like a waste of £1.5 million, the pedestrian Niko Krancjar couldn’t handle the pace of the game – he was hooked at half-time, and Joey Barton just can’t seem to recapture his best form. Celtic fans also had the pleasure of witnessing the stunningly inept debut performance of Phillipe Senderos. The former Arsenal centre-back spent the game looking second best – even falling on his backside as Moussa Dembele rounded him for his second – and made the senseless decision to commit a blatant handball despite being booked earlier in the game. Mark Warburton had already lost one centre-back, after Rob Kiernan sustained a knock while committing a foul. Rangers hadn’t looked this dismal since the play-off defeat to Motherwell. Any talk of a potential title bid was shushed at Parkhead.

Celtic’s win was so complete that it’s difficult to choose how high a figure Rangers will need to spend just to build a squad capable of challenging. And with the Hoops in the Champions League, and thus collecting all that added revenue, Celtic are miles ahead in terms of finances as well. It could be years before Gers are in a position to battle them for the Premiership. It might just be long enough for Celtic to celebrate ten-in-a-row.

 

IS THERE PRESSURE ON DEREK MCINNES?

Aberdeen’s title ambitions evaporated before the end of August. The Dons laboured in goalless – and dull – draws against St Johnstone and Hearts, and fell to a humbling 4-1 defeat at Parkhead which served as a firm reminder that things had changed at Celtic. While it looked like Derek McInnes had done excellent business in the summer – signing a solid centre-back and goalkeeper, and giving himself options in the three attacking positions – that has failed to translate into on-field success. The Dons aren’t clicking, and the pressure might be building on McInnes.

Aberdeen supporters might look at the recent form of Hearts and their bid to finish second and question their failure to build upon another good season. That’s the downfall of success. Derek McInnes transformed Aberdeen from a side that threatened to sink into anonymity – or at least the Championship – into a title-challenging outfit. For two consecutive seasons the Dons filled the Rangers-shaped void and challenged Celtic. Perhaps McInnes has been too successful. Maybe he’ll be punished for not living up to the expectations that he set.

 

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP

FALKIRK MIDFIELD IS BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE

There was understandable concern among Falkirk fans at the beginning of the season. The Bairns had lost Blair Alston to St Johnstone and Will Vaulks to Rotherham United – arguably their two best players. Having come so close to reaching the Premiership – exhaustion coming into effect in a second leg thumping at the hands of Kilmarnock – there was the feeling that they may have missed their best chance of promotion.

One point from three games seemed to confirm those doubts. When a confidence-oozing Queen of the South bested them thanks to a Stephen Dobbie double, Falkirk fans prepared themselves for a season of mid-table mediocrity. However, back-to-back victories, including a 2-0 win over Raith at Stark’s Park, has renewed hope that Falkirk can challenge for the play-offs. The Bairns did an excellent job at stifling Raith and the keeping the attacking duo of Lewis Vaughan and Declan McManus quiet. Craig Sibbald put in a great performance and put through a delightful through ball for the first goal. This could be a big season for him.

 

SCOTTISH LEAGUE TWO

INSALL COULD BE CRUCIAL TO EAST FIFE SURVIVAL

For once, Gary Naysmith didn’t have to spend the summer rebuilding his depleted squad. Promotion from League 2 had offered him respite from overhauling his team for a third straight summer, giving him the chance to bolster, rather than restructure. And it had been a positive start to East Fife’s League One campaign. A point against Albion Rovers and a comfortable 3-0 defeat of Peterhead put them in a good position, and although the club then suffered losses to both Alloa and Brechin, both of those sides are expected to challenge for the title and possess stronger squads than the Methil outfit. One thing, though, was clearly missing from their team: a League One class striker.

Of the 62 goals East Fife scored in their promotion campaign, 30 belonged to Nathan Austin and Jamie Insall. Both loans came to an end in the summer, leaving a void in Naysmith’s side. Paul McManus did a respectable job in the opening games, but he lacks the legs to lead a line as the lone striker, Kevin O’Hara, on loan from Falkirk, has yet to impress, and Chris Duggan, a recruit from Queen’s Park, has been plagued by injuries. Kevin Smith, meanwhile, is more of a left-sided winger than a striker at this stage. East Fife needed the pace and movement of Insall. The striker, though, had made it clear he didn’t seek a return to the club; he wanted to impress Neil Lennon at Hibs. However, the signings of Grant Holt and Brian Graham stunted that aspiration. On deadline day, he returned to Bayview.

His first league appearance back highlighted why East Fife had missed him. With Kevin Smith, Mark Lamont, Kyle Wilkie and Scott Robinson, who operated in a slighter more advanced position than usual, feeding balls in to Insall, he proved to be a constant source of frustration for the centre-back partnership of Steven Bell and Frank McKeown. He continually made blistering runs behind the defence, seeking to beat the offside trap – the one criticism of his performance would be that he was caught out too often. If not for the adventurous Cameron Belford rushing out to challenge Insall on a number of occasions, the score-line would’ve been even larger. Insall’s sheer pace and movement had made an immediate impact. A couple of goals – the second a nonchalant chip over Belford after another defence-splitting run – earned him a deserved Man of the Match nod. If that performance was an indicator of things to come, East Fife will be more than safe come the end of the campaign.

Talking Points from Scottish Football

PREMIERSHIP

RIGHT BACK STILL AN ISSUE FOR DUNDEE

The tribal nature of football fandom means we like to see ‘our own’ succeed. There’s a romanticism about the academy graduate breaking through the glass ceiling, establishing himself in the first-team; the feeling that the club is everything to them, like it is to us; that they get it in a way that imports don’t. It’s the idea that they once stood on the terraces, cheering the team on. We all dreamt of donning the club shirt, pretending to be the striker on the school fields, and this guy managed to do it. He’s a reflection of us. For Dundee supporters, that’s Cammy Kerr.

It’s a shame, then, that even they have come to the conclusion that he is not yet good enough to be Dundee’s starting right-back. Against Rangers he was picked apart regularly. Lee Wallace and Barrie McKay found numerous opportunities to get behind Kerr, including the former’s run to set up the second goal. Against Hamilton he fared little better. His mind-set is to attack; to attack the opposition and to attack the ball. There were numerous examples throughout the game of Kerr being caught too far up the park, and of centre-halfs being pulled out of position to cover the space in behind. It’s no surprise his best performances have come when used as a wing-back; there’s an extra centre-back to cover, and his defensive responsibilities are lessened. In a back four, however, he’s a weakness.

No one can doubt Kerr’s commitment or work-rate – as is often the case with home-grown defenders – but he sometimes fails to read the game and can’t work out when to attack and when to defend. Of course, this is not to say that Kerr can never been a good full-back. He still has the potential; he just needs to develop those skills. Dundee, though, are in need of a stronger option in that position.

 

WIDTH HAS TRANSFORMED CELTIC’S ATTACK

The transformation of Celtic has happened quicker than one could’ve expected. Over the summer, some were surprised that Brendan Rodgers had done so little to change the Hoops; limp performances had become the norm under Ronny Deila, and there was no reason to suspect that the club could progress through the Champions League qualification stages. But three league games into the campaign, and with Celtic on the brink of a return to European football, it’s clear the effect the former Liverpool manager has had on the club.

Sometimes one can see the potential of a club – a left-back here, a centre-mid there, and suddenly a team looks miles better. That’s been the case at Celtic. There were positives under Deila – the progression of Kieran Tierney, the development of Leigh Griffiths into an all-round striker, the loan signing of Patrick Roberts – but he never completed the puzzle. Rodgers has. That was clear against St Johnstone – at least in an attacking sense.

One simple, but effective, change Rodgers has made is the signing of Scott Sinclair. The former Swansea left-winger doesn’t just bring speed and penetration, but natural width that the Hoops have so often lacked. Before Deila brought in Roberts, Celtic couldn’t stretch an opposition defence. With James Forrest falling out of favour, counting those precious moments until his contract ran out, Deila often used the likes of Stuart Armstrong in those positions. The problem is that those central attacking midfielders want to drive through the centre, and one ends up with congestion on the edge of the box. It’s also much easier to defend. All of the attacking traffic is coming through one lane. The addition of Sinclair, the revitalisation of Forrest, and the loan of Roberts, has opened up all three lanes.

Celtic relied so much on Griffiths last season. That’s no longer the case. Forrest and Sinclair already have goals to their names, and Moussa Dembele offers a great threat coming off the bench. With the classy Tom Rogic occupying the central role, Celtic suddenly look a lot more dangerous. Champions League football should return to Parkhead within the week, and one would be shocked not to see Scott Brown lifting the title at the end of the season.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP

DOBBIE AND THE DOONHAMERS

There are signings that transform the outlook of a supporter. One such example is the return of Stephen Dobbie to Queen of the South. At the beginning of the season there was a sense of pessimism surrounding the Doonhamers: James Fowler had departed after a mixed tenure, the club had done little business to improve the squad, and there was a feeling that another lower mid-table season was on the cards. Then Dobbie came back. It’d been seven years since he departed for Swansea City, and in that time he’d turned up at seven different club, including a dismal stint at Bolton Wanderers last season. A situation like that can make one long for a familiar place. Palmerston is just that. And it feels like he never left.

His first start – against Hibs in the League Cup – produced a goal that began an astonishing comeback for the visitors – Grant Anderson and Lyndon Dykes scored late on to secure a memorable win for the Doonhamers. Then he tore Ayr United apart in his full league debut, combining with the orange-skinned Derek Lyle to guide them to a comfortable 4-1 win. He even managed to upstage Gary Harkins. But his best performance to date came at the weekend during a 2-0 win over Falkirk.

On 34 minutes he made his mark. Dykes drove through the Bairns defence, not one of whom were paying attention to the lurking veteran striker. A simple sideways pass found Dobbie on the edge of the D. With poise and elegance, Dobbie, not taking a touch to settle, used the inside of his right foot to pick out a spot in the bottom corner. A simple tap of the badge, a point to the crowd, and a sincere smile summed up his celebration. It wouldn’t be his last of the afternoon.

Again he sought out a quiet pocket of space, on the edge of the action, but not quite in it. Anderson’s cross found a huddle at the far post, with the ball then rolling into the path of Dobbie. He stunned Falkirk defenders tried to surround him. This time he took a couple of touches to settle, and then lifted it over the goalkeeper and off the crossbar. Another moment of genius. A lot of strikers can score; few make it look so effortless.

This could turn out to be the best signing in Scotland. One wouldn’t bet against the Doonhamers achieving another top four finish.

 

Celtic 5-0 Motherwell – Talking Points

James Forrest receives a chance from Rodgers

Prior to kick-off, Brendan Rodgers made some interesting comments about James Forrest. Asked about the enigmatic winger following the announcement of a contract extension, the Celtic boss admitted that he’d first seen him when managing in the Premier League and had taken an interest. He also confirmed what many of us had felt about Forrest: he’d plateaued and regressed since bursting onto the scene. It’s clear, though, that Forrest is an important part of Rodgers’ plans in the future. He said that he’d seen his potential on the training field and in glimpses on the pitch and wanted him to remain at Parkhead. Now it’s up to Forrest reward his manager’s faith.

I’ve written in previous blogs about Patrick Roberts being what Forrest should’ve been: quick and direct, yes, but also consistent and a predator in front of goal. Interestingly, the pair play in the same position. We’ll have to wait to see who Rodgers favours. Roberts is the better winger, but he’s also on loan; Forrest is inconsistent but, if developed to reach his full potential, could be more important in the long run.

 

Scott Sinclair is rediscovering his game

The Etihad has become the cemetery of many promising English talents. The tombstones are a who’s who of prospects. You have to wonder why they continue to move to Manchester City – apart from the money, of course. Scott Sinclair had been an integral part of Swansea City’s promotion side before succumbing to the lure of the Etihad in the summer of 2012. Once there, three development-stunting seasons produced just 13 Premier League appearances. A transfer to Aston Villa could’ve reinvigorated his career, but he looked a shell of his former self. For a winger who relies on taking on defences, confidence is key, and he looked drained. It appears, though, that Brendan Rodgers is helping him rediscover his game.

Rodgers was the perfect man for the job. The Celtic boss coached Sinclair in Chelsea’s youth system and later brought him to Swansea; one would imagine few people understand him better. Against Hearts he made an immediate impact, making a lung-busting run from his own-half to tap in Leigh Griffiths’ sumptuous cross past Jack Hamilton. He raced behind the goal and into the arms of the Celtic support, soaked up in the moment. Against Motherwell he made his full debut.

One bonus for Sinclair is that he’s virtually guaranteed a starting berth. While James Forrest and Patrick Roberts will contest the right-flank, there’s no natural winger on the left other than Sinclair. He looked full of confidence from the opening moments, running directly at the ‘Well defence, feet a blur, and proved to be a constant source of frustration for Richard Tait. He capped off the performance with another goal. He breezed past the right-back as he cut inside the box, also evading Chris Cadden, and then curled a simple effort into the right corner. Samson stood motionless as he watched the ball nestle in the corner. After years on the bench at the Etihad and then failing to recover his form at Villa, these moments will be joyous ones for the winger.

 

Tom Rogic made a second impression

Tom Rogic didn’t make the perfect first impression on Brendan Rodgers. The Aussie started in Celtic’s embarrassing defeat to Lincoln Red Imps, giving perhaps his worst performance in the hooped shirt. For those of us who watched him last season, and those of us who regard him as the best midfielder in the league, it made for frustrating viewing. It speaks volumes that he didn’t make another starting appearance until last night. Thankfully, he made a much better impression the second time round.

It was a performance from Rogic that highlighted his best attributes. He glided around the pitch, linking the midfield, and helped get the best out of Sinclair and Forrest. The occasionally anonymous winger can drift out of games, but Rogic did an outstanding job of utilising both flanks and making the most of team’s width. He also gave a demonstration of his skill in the form of his two strikes.

Callum McGregor spotted the run of Rogic and put a perfectly weighted dinked pass over the defence. Rogic, back to goal, brought it down with his outstretched right foot, and then span around on the spot to smash it into the roof of Craig Samson’s net with his left. It was a moment of genius from the pair; from McGregor in reading his movement and lobbing the defence, and from Rogic in using his superb touch to control the ball, putting it in the perfect position to rifle it in. The midfielder’s second was a little less outstanding. James Forrest hit a driven effort at Samson, who palmed it into the path of the Aussie. Rogic, again demonstrating his timing, held off Richard Tait and tapped it into the empty net. It completed an excellent game for Rogic, probably the first of many for the campaign.

 

Motherwell can’t afford injuries

Mark McGhee named an almost unchanged line-up to the one that bested Kilmarnock on Saturday, making just three changes as he chose to adopt a more conservative approach against the champions. Brendan Rodgers kept a similar line-up as well, the difference being that he made three substitutions, and all three were making their first competitive outings of the campaign. The Celtic boss introduced Tony Ralston, a right-back who made a good impression on loan at Queen’s Park last season, centre-back Jamie McCart, and Liam Henderson, whose been linked with a return to Hibs. Motherwell, on the other hand, made just one change.

It speaks volumes that McGhee saw fit to make just one change as the game progressed. Lionel Ainsworth, who scored a sublime lob against Killie, came on at the start of the second-half to replace Stevie Hammell. The lack of options on the bench confirmed there was little McGhee could do to change the game. Centre-back Louis Laing has dropped out of favour since McGhee took over, 19-year-old Dylan Mackin has one appearance to his name, 20-year-old David Ferguson made a handful of starts for the Steelmen in 2014/15, Lee Lucas is yet to make his debut, and Dom Thomas still hasn’t been given a decent stretch of games to establish himself. It highlights just how limited a squad McGhee has. Scott McDonald made his second straight start as the lone striker and often found himself isolated. He’s at his best when he’s using his ingenuity to create chances, such as his through ball for Ainsworth’s chip on Saturday. He’s not a penalty box striker, but the fact he’s in that position shows how much the club are missing the recovering Louis Moult. Motherwell can’t afford more injuries.

Hearts 1-2 Celtic

Celtic put down a marker. It might not have been a classic performance, and the champions rode their luck at times, but the Hoops ended the afternoon on three points. It’s the mark of champions, and often the difference between them and their challengers. 24 hours before, Rangers laboured inside a packed Ibrox, Hamilton Academical more than deserving of their share of the points. Then, minutes before Celtic kicked-off their bid to add a sixth-straight title, Aberdeen had to settle for a point after struggling to break through a resilient St Johnstone defence.

Hearts, although ending the match with nothing, proved their point. Robbie Neilson has been criticised from sections of the Jambos support for dull and sometimes limp performances – their Europa League qualification exit to Maltese side Birkirkara ticked both those boxes. He couldn’t afford another lame outing against Celtic. The Jambos impressed, though, hassling Celtic and creating more chances than the visitors. Neilson did not set out for a point.

One might have expected Hearts to retreat and reshape after conceding James Forrest put Celtic ahead inside eight minutes, but the hosts refused to relent and got their reward, with Jamie Walker slotting in from the spot. Hearts looked the better side, creating opportunities for a winner, but Scott Sinclair made the perfect debut. He got on the end of Leigh Griffiths’ weighted cross and tapped it past Hamilton to wrap up a brilliant weekend for the champions.

The Hearts manager couldn’t be criticised for not going for a win with an attacking line-up. Both Conor Sammon and ex-Celt Tony Watt started, with Jamie Walker and Sam Nicholson providing the width. For the champions, Kolo Toure made his debut in the famous green-and-white hoops, starting at centre-back alongside the less experienced Eoghan O’Connell, as did Moussa Dembele.

The hosts got off to an ambitious start. Conor Sammon, donning the maroon shirt for the first time in the Premiership, charged at the Celtic defence, focusing on the retreating Kolo Toure, before firing his shot just past the post. It was the start Hearts fans desperately wanted to see.

But the boisterous crowd soon fell silent.

Igor Rossi edged an invading Callum McGregor off the ball but could do little about it rolling to James Forrest. The erratic winger took one touch, a curling effort that evaded the outstretched fingertips of Hamilton. There was an element of offside as Stuart Armstrong, stood behind the defence, might’ve been blocking the view of the Hearts’ goalkeeper.

Hearts didn’t retreat back into their shell, though.

There’s no doubt that Watt should’ve equalised. Callum Paterson produced an excellent cross which Craig Gordon completely misjudged. The former Celtic striker escaped his marker and met the ball at the far post, inches out. His header, though, missed the goal completely. A dumbfounded Neilson dropped to his knees, head in his hands.

Seconds later, Griffiths missed a simple chance of his own – one he would’ve buried at his in-form best last season. A goal-kick from Gordon evaded the entire Celtic defence, Rossi mistiming his header, and Griffiths snuck in behind. The usually clinical striker lobbed Hamilton but sent the ball crashing into the advertising hoardings.

The game turned into an end-to-end, action-packed affair – different from the turgid display at McDiarmid Park – and Hearts were soon rewarded for their willingness to push the champions.

Jamie Walker and Tierney both went for a ball inside the Celtic box, with the former getting there just before the latter. Walker dropped to the ground; the referee pointed to the spot. Whether there was contact is another question, but Hearts fans, after a possible offside influencing Celtic’s goal, were not going to voice their queries. Walker stepped up and coolly slotted it to Gordon’s left.

Celtic almost undid Hearts’ work minutes later. Dembele skipped in from the left and fired a shot at Hamilton. The ball bounced to Griffiths, who lobbed his marker. With the Hearts goalkeeper still recovering and the ball edging towards the goal, Rossi pulled off a sublime clearance. Retreating, with no pace behind him, he fell and leapt at the perfect moment, nudging the ball into the welcoming hands of Hamilton.

Hearts continued to threaten. Watt looked electric, confidence oozing out him. His unpredictable movement, dropping deep to collect the ball one moment, making runs in behind the next, made him a constant source of frustration for the nervy Celtic defence. Sammon offered a different option. He used his size to hassle Toure and co, creating opportunities for the more light-weight Watt, as well as Nicholson and Walker.

As the referee called for half-time, Hearts were certainly in the ascendancy. Celtic, meanwhile, needed to regain their composure.

The second-half brought a slightly tamer game. It was clear that both managers had advised a little more caution. One thing that did increase was the amount of bookings. Hearts picked up seven – yes, seven – individual yellow cards, most coming after the break.

Dembele had another chance to open his account at Celtic: he met a simple cross and drove it at the Hearts’ goal, and if not for a block inside the six-yard-box he would’ve done so.

The introduction of Tom Rogic, a more adventurous midfielder, in place of O’Connell changed Celtic to a simple back-three, with Scott Sinclair also coming on to make his debut. It would be a memorable one.

With ten minutes remaining, Griffiths burst along the left flank, beating Faycal Rherras, and delivered a stunning cross to the feet of Sinclair, who, with a deft outside-of-the-foot touch, pushed the ball past Hamilton. He rushed off into the celebrating arms of the Celtic support, enjoying a moment that must have become a rarity at Aston Villa. Brendan Rodgers also celebrated. Celtic are two games away from a return to the Champions League, and already two points ahead of Rangers, Aberdeen and Hearts.

A defining season for Patrick Roberts

The slightly startled expression on Brendan Rodgers’ face following Celtic’s loss to Lincoln Red Imps summed up the Hoops’ demise better than any sentence could. Perhaps he, having been in the cocoon that is the English Premier League, hadn’t been quite so aware of their declining fortunes during Ronny Deila’s tenure. From the outside, one would see them dominating the league, and perhaps think the Nord had been treated harshly. However, during those 90 minutes, Rodgers’ would’ve become all too aware of the true scale of Celtic’s deterioration.

Under Neil Lennon, Celtic reached the Champions League round of 16, and, as every Celtic supporter will remind you, even bested Barcelona at Parkhead. He’d created a squad that looked more than comfortable in securing qualification for the tournament. All Deila needed to do was to keep the team together, and replace those who departed for a chance ‘down south’. However, it quickly became apparent that he lacked the eye for talent that Lennon possessed. Nir Bitton, for all his qualities, isn’t the midfield powerhouse that Victor Wanyama is; Dedryck Boyata made Efe Ambrose look like a competent defender as he struggled to acclimatise to regular competitive football and failed to replace Virgil van Dijk; and Craig Gordon, while a good goalkeeper, doesn’t inspire the same level of confidence that Fraser Forster did. And that’s the spine of the squad. With Scott Brown also struggling to recapture his best form, and the partnership of Leigh Griffiths and Moussa Dembele not quite clicking yet, there’s little for Rodgers’ to be thankful for. One thing he can appreciate, though, is Patrick Roberts.

The winger arrived on loan from Manchester City in January, having signed for the Etihad club from Fulham for £12 million – a sum that reflects his potential. His debut come in an eight minute cameo at the end of Celtic’s 3-0 thrashing of Inverness at Parkhead, and full debut in a mid-week game against Dundee at the same venue. Although the Hoops had to settle for a share of the points that evening, Roberts showed flashes of brilliance. Another couple of substitute appearances followed, as he stood on the side-lines waiting for a chance to prove himself. That moment came at the beginning of April against Hearts.

Roberts started on the right, going up against Igor Rossi and Juwon Oshaniwa. The staunch Hearts defence did an excellent job at marshalling the City loanee in the opening 30 minutes of the game, refusing to let him cut inside as he so often does to great effect. However, when Hearts’ Nigerian left-back lost possession to a persistent Tom Rogic in the 35^th minute, it opened up their back-line. Rogic sprinted inside, luring Alim Ozturk out of position and leaving John Souttar caught between two potential targets. The Aussie midfielder slipped a deft through ball ahead of Roberts, who remained cool as Neil Alexander closed him down, and chipped the ball to the goalkeeper’s right. A cool goal to announce himself to the Celtic faithful. A second came just after half-time. This time the Hearts defence opened up acres of space on the right flank, perfect space for Roberts to make an impact. He charged at the maroon shirted defenders and used his clinical left-foot to send the ball past the outstretched fingertips of Alexander.

His performance that afternoon earned him a starting berth on the right flank. Although he failed to add to his two goals in the next four games – including a shocking miss against Rangers in their Scottish Cup semi-final clash – Roberts continued to highlight his considerable talents. His sheer pace and quick feet are one thing – James Forrest has those – but his sublime touch and quick thinking make him so dangerous for defenders. Add to that a dangerous left foot and you’ve got an understanding of why City were willing to separate with £12 million to bring him to the Etihad.

But it was in Celtic’s next two matches during which Roberts cemented his position as one of Celtic’s best players. The winger tormented a frustrated Hearts defence for a second time, forcing Alexander into making numerous stops to save his side’s blushes, before pouncing on a loose ball to punish the hosts and slotting his shot through the legs of the veteran goalkeeper. His tormenting didn’t end there. Graeme Shinnie had a nightmare against Roberts, being caught out of position several times and struggling to handle the speed of the loanee. A brilliant run and 25-yard thunderbolt and then a stunning curling effort help guide Celtic to a 3-2 win against their title rivals. These two performances proved he was capable of turning a game on its head; something Brendan Rodgers needed after Celtic laboured in their defeat in Gibraltar.

Roberts made an immediate impact. His drive, challenging the nervy Red Imps defence, was a far-cry from the lethargic build-up play Celtic utilised in the first leg. Many of Celtic’s attacking midfield possess the technical skills but lack the confidence and drive to force chances – that can’t be said of Roberts. In the 30^th minute he completed the 3-0 rout with a goal that summed up his talents in one burst. He dragged the ball along the line, waiting for his moment to pounce onto his left-foot. He feigned right, deceiving the full-back, and dodged to his left. A sudden pull-back sent the same defender one way, before twisting past another. Roberts then pulled a pass back to Callum McGregor and darted into the box. McGregor reciprocated and slipped a through ball between the closing defence, inch-perfect as Roberts prepared to shoot. He reached the ball just before a Red Imps defender could make the block, and curled the ball into the bottom corner.

It would be ignorant to suggest that Celtic’s improved performance, and the besting of Lincoln Red Imps, all came down to Patrick Roberts’ influence. There were numerable things for Rodgers to be positive about following the game. That being said, Roberts’ impact is obvious. His pace and directness terrifies defenders, who await the moment he switches to his left-foot and cuts inside. Yes, he’s too one-footed and perhaps a little too predictable, but his deft touches and sublime control of the ball mean defenders can’t seem to prepare for the moment he does make that bursting run. This is the final season he’ll spend at Parkhead. It’s just as important to him as it is to Celtic. He’ll find playing time scarce at the Etihad – Dedryck Boyata is the prime example of the lack of development a young player has when he’s stuck rotting on the bench or in the youth leagues – and that ground can be a rotting ground of once promising talent. If he doesn’t want to be among those names, the ones that fill in the ‘could’ve been’ box, this needs to be a defining season for him.

Rodgers must solve Celtic’s problems quickly

Tens of thousands of Celtic supporters turned out to welcome Brendan Rodgers to Parkhead. There was a buzz about his appointment; a feeling that the Hoops had taken a step in the right direction. In hiring him, the Celtic board had made a signal of intent. He’d been made the highest paid manager in Celtic’s history; the board weren’t doing this on the cheap. Rodgers’ arrival alone brought about a huge increase in season ticket sales. There was something to be excited about this coming season.

That feeling dissolved in his first competitive fixture. Under the shadow of the Rock of Gibraltar, Celtic lost their first round Champions League qualification match against Lincoln Red Imps. This is a team made up of part-timers who’d finished working hours before the game – their left-back’s taxi round had ended at one that afternoon. Lee Casciaro, a police officer, outfoxed and outmanoeuvred Efe Ambrose to score. Their captain, Roy Chipolina, even described it as the ‘biggest shock in European football history’. It was certainly one of the most embarrassing defeats in Celtic’s illustrious history, even if Rodgers tried to downplay it.

Rodgers looked stunned upon the final whistle. After the game he tried to act as a fireman – there’s not one among the Red Imps’ line-up – and handled the criticism aimed at his squad. He even said the result was not an embarrassment. It’s not a surprise to hear a manager come out and defend his players – they all do it – but Rodgers must’ve realised that his side’s limp performance indicated deep-rooted problems that he needs to fix.

The problem for Celtic managers, as Rodgers discovered last night, is that they are not afforded time to organise their teams; to work out the correct formation, the best tactics, and the most efficient line-up. These Champions League qualification games come thick and fast. He doesn’t have the luxury of less important matches to test out his squad. He especially needs time to work out his attacking situation.

Leigh Griffiths scored 40 goals for the Hoops last season yet found himself pushed out to the right flank against the Red Imps. It’s a possible concern about Rodgers. Will the former English Premier League manager think less of players who’ve matured in Scotland in favour of ones who’ve developed in England? Will Griffiths be pushed out of position to make space for Moussa Dembele? The former Fulham striker laboured in the Gibraltar heat. He hasn’t developed a connection with his team-mates; an understanding of their qualities and how to get the best out of them. Griffiths has that. He’s also been a consistent and reliable goal-scorer – he deserved all of his Player of the Year awards last season. It’d be unfair of Rodgers not to give him a chance in his preferred position against the Red Imps back at Parkhead. That would be the first of many changes Rodgers needs to make.

Another is that the partnership of Nir Bitton and Scott Brown needs to end. The holding midfielders are too alike, and the underperformance of Brown in the last year is a cause for concern. He lacks the bite and pace to break up attacks; the confidence that made him such a terror in midfield; and the movement that helped him turn defence into attack. He looks like a shadow of his former self. Bitton, on the other hand, looks like someone who’d rather not be playing for Celtic. It’s been claimed that the Bhoys turned down a £6 million offer from Espanyol for the combative midfielder, hoping to squeeze a further four million pounds for his services. Celtic would lucky if the Spanish side even paid £4 for him after his lame performance in Gibraltar. He looks disinterested. Rodgers must make a change here. Either sell Bitton or drop Brown. The pair are too similar and the team can’t afford both underperforming. Whether that means dropping Tom Rogic deeper, allowing Kris Commons or another to sit behind the striker, or to change the system to a four-four-two, with Griffiths and Dembele working as a pair, Rodgers can’t set out the same line-up. But this still isn’t the most pressing alteration he needs to make.

Efe Ambrose. How does this man – I refuse to call him a defender – still have a role at Celtic? His mistakes and red cards have cost Celtic innumerable points in recent seasons – yet he’s still in a starting berth. Ambrose’s dismissals against Ross County, in the League Cup semi-final, and Fenerbache, in the Europa League group stage, are two notable examples of his errors proving to be turning points in matches. There are many more. And he added to that long montage of mistakes last night. His fumbled defending, sticking too close to his man and reacting too late to his movements, allowed Casciaro to swerve past the Celtic centre-back and put himself in front of Craig Gordon. His mistake again cost Celtic. Brendan must be wondering why Ambrose is still at the club. Does he have something on Dermot Desmond? Did someone accidently sign him to an indefinite contract? It’s an area that Rodgers needs to address in the transfer market. Dedryck Boyata is no better, and Jozo Simunovic, although a promising looking option, is often injured.

In the post-match press conference, Rodgers asked for the support of the Celtic fans at Parkhead. It says a lot about the result that he feels he needs to do this already – normally this cry for help comes much later in a troubled tenure. But it’s important that the Celtic fans – and board – do back Rodgers. Little of the blame can fall at his feet. No manager can truly understand the problems within a squad until he’s seen them playing competitively. But against Lincoln Red Imps he witnessed the absolute worst of Ronny Deila’s Celtic. He’ll have been made aware of the problems and should be coming up with a list of solutions. That is what Rodgers must be judged on.

Celtic: a season review

What are the ambitions of Celtic Football Club? One could argue that the club has had an identity crisis in recent seasons, missing out on the Champions League, unable to test themselves against the European giants, and struggling to find competition in Scotland. It’s left them drifting in limbo. It could be said that the return of Rangers fixes this on the domestic front. But is that the limit of Celtic’s ambition? No, and nor should it.

Much has changed since Celtic reached the UEFA Cup final in 2003. European competition is dominated by a few mega-clubs, and the financial success of the English Premier League means that from next season all 20 clubs will feature in the 30 richest in the world. These points in particular effect Celtic. Big clubs from smaller nations, such as Ajax, Benfica, and Celtic, can’t challenge in Europe as once was the case. Teams like Barcelona have a stranglehold on such honours. At the same time, the cash swirling around the Premier League behemoth means smaller English sides like Bournemouth and West Bromwich Albion can afford bigger wages than Ajax and co. It’s the reason Southampton, although often not involved in European competition, attract Virgil van Dijk and Fraser Forster. As depressing as it is, clubs like Celtic are stepping stones. Although this is a sad fact, it can work for the Hoops. It did so under Neil Lennon.

During Lennon’s tenure, Celtic had great success in the Champions League, reaching the last 16 on one occasion and scalping Barcelona. The system worked. Thanks to this, Celtic could attract young prospects, like van Dijk, develop them, get the best out of them for a brief time, have success on domestic and European fronts, and then sell them for profit to English sides. It worked for the club, the fans, and the board. And is where we begin our review of Celtic’s 2015/16 season.

 

A FIGHT ON FOUR FRONTS

Under Ronny Deila Celtic regressed. It’s not debatable. As I explained above, reaching the Champions League was the most important part of the Celtic system. During a spell without Rangers pushing them for domestic honours, this was going to be the standard Deila had to meet; and he failed to do so. He’s disrupted the mechanics of the club.

The Hoops thumped Stjarnan and then beat Qarabag in a tight tie. The one hurdle blocking Deila from the Champions League was Malmo FF, and Jo Inge Berget. The midfielder had been a bit of a flop at Parkhead, and so it came as a shock when he put in a brilliant performance against his former club and scored twice, including a 90^th minute effort which cut Celtic’s lead to one going into the second-leg. Still, Celtic held all the cards. 23 minutes into the second-leg and Malmo snatched a lead on the night and levelled the aggregate score. Markus Rosenberg got in front of van Dijk from a corner and headed the ball past a flapping Craig Gordon. 30 minutes later, Malmo celebrated again. From another corner – defending set-pieces has been a recurring problem in Europe – Dedryck Boyata came rushing back, for reasons known to him, and knocked Felipe Carvalho’s flicked header into the net. Malmo celebrated a second straight Champions League qualification; a dejected Celtic questioned a second straight failure to reach the group stages. Deila’s position was being scrutinised, and the season had barely begun.

For the most part, Celtic had better luck in domestic football. The Hoops lost four times all season: twice at Pittodrie, at home against Motherwell thanks to a Louis Moult double, and at McDiarmid Park in the penultimate match of their campaign. Not a bad record. The club finished on 86 points, six fewer than Deila’s first season in charge, the lowest since Lennon’s second full season at Parkhead – 79 points and seven defeats that season. That’s one advantage Lennon had. During his tenure, after Rangers’ liquidation, Celtic had no challenge. Even when they finished on 79 points, second-place Motherwell finished 16 behind. To put this into perspective, Aberdeen finished on 75 points for 2014/15 and 71 for this season. It highlights that Celtic managers aren’t judged on the league. It’s an absolute minimum. Without Rangers, there’s no reason for the Hoops to come second.

Although Celtic had not been given the chance to fight it out against Europe’s biggest hitters, Deila could have won back some goodwill in the Europa League. Instead, it seemed to make his situation even worse. It began promisingly, as Celtic picked up a 2-2 draw against Ajax, another former European giant struggling to match their former successes. The Hoops then dropped a two goal lead, letting Fenerbahce snatch a point at Parkhead. After that came three defeats. Molde claimed back-to-back victories over the Scottish champions, before Ajax finished off Celtic’s chances of picking up a win at Parkhead. Another draw against Fenerbahce meant the esteemed club exited the Europa League winless. It was getting a tad depressing.

After the exits from Europe, Deila was handed one final task: a domestic treble. Perhaps that could save his job. It was not to be. An energized Celtic emerged for the League Cup semi-final against Ross County. The Highland side were blitzed in the opening minutes. Leigh Griffiths, in particular, terrorised a fumbling Staggies defence. 26 seconds in the clinical striker turned creator, going one-on-one with Scott Fox before cutting the ball back to Gary Mackay-Steven, who redirected the ball into the net. Celtic were coasting on route to another League Cup final. Then Efe Ambrose, as Efe Ambrose does, handed the Highland side a lifeline. The centre-back clipped Alex Schalk as he penetrated the Celtic box, something he didn’t need to do – Gordon was reaching the ball before the Dutch striker. Celtic were reduced to ten men and Martin Woods equalised from the spot. Paul Quinn put the Staggies into the lead in the second-half, and then Alex Schalk went on an excellent run before slotting home to send County to the final. Dreams of a treble were in tatters. Well…let’s call it a double then.

After scalping East Kilbride and Greenock Morton, it was going to be an Old Firm clash for Celtic in their Scottish Cup semi-final. Deila needed a win. Mark Warburton had revitalised an ailing Rangers squad and achieved promotion from the Championship; his season wouldn’t be judged on this match. Deila, on the other hand, had little to hang his hat on. Yes, he’d claimed a second-straight league title, but he needed something else; he needed the Scottish Cup. And he could not lose to Rangers.

Rangers looked more assured the start, handling the pressure of the occasion and controlling possession. 16 minutes in and Rangers struck. Andy Halliday’s free-kick rebounded off Scott Brown and into the path of Kenny Miller; the poacher couldn’t miss. Celtic forged a couple of chances, Patrick Roberts missing one an open goal at one stage – a moment that seemed to sum up Deila’s tenure. The Hoops improved as the match progressed and looked all the more dangerous after the break. The green half of Hampden erupted in the 50^th minute, as Erik Sviatchenko rose high and headed the ball past Wes Foderingham. The arch-rivals needed extra-time. Rangers struck first, Barry McKay firing an absolute thunder-bastard into the top corner; Celtic struck back, Tom Rogic drilling a shot in after Kieran Tierney’s cut back. Deila’s Celtic career hung in the balance. Penalties would decide; a Scottish Cup final or a P45? It was to be the latter. Rogic fired into the Hampden crowd. The blue-half shook, the green-half emptied. Deila cut a forlorn figure on the touchline, the horror etched in his face, the slow realisation of what had just happened.

Sure enough, days later it was announced that Deila would be leaving Parkhead at the end of the season.

 

COLE, BOYATA AND CIFTCI: DEILA’S SIGNINGS

The main issue facing Deila at the beginning of the season was a need to bring in two centre-backs and forge a partnership. Van Dijk, who departed for Southampton, and Jason Denayer, who returned to Manchester City after his loan spell expired, both left the club in quick succession, leaving Deila in a tough position. His first port of call was the Etihad. There he signed Dedryck Boyata. The Belgian centre-back was a different prospect than Denayer; the latter was a teenager in need of experience, the former, however, was already in his mid-twenties, but had made just 32 first-team appearances. It showed. Boyata has the relaxed attitude of van Dijk, but without the skill, concentration or defensive capabilities. And he still needed a partner. As amazing as the idea of a centre-back partnership of Boyata and Efe Ambrose sounds, it came as little surprise that Deila felt the need to again dip into the transfer market. Jozo Simunovic, brought from Dinamo Zagreb for £4 million, looked to be a good acquisition. One problem: he’s been injured…a lot. Deila again needed to plug the gap. He loaned in Tyler Blackett from Manchester United, but the less said about him the better. The same goes for Saidy Janko, the right-back who could neither attack nor defend. During the winter transfer window, Deila finally managed to find a competent centre-back in Erik Sviatchenko. The 24-year-old arrived for £1.5 million and has all the qualities that could earn him a move down south in the future. He’s comfortable on the ball, dominates in the air, and reads the game. If Deila’s successor can manage to keep Simunovic and Sviatchenko fit and able, there might be a good centre-back partnership there.

The second major issue Deila faced during his second season at Parkhead was the need for a second-choice striker, someone who could lift the burden off Leigh Griffiths. In the summer he signed Nadir Ciftci, completing his dismantling of Dundee United’s squad. The Turk, an erratic, skilled, quick-footed striker, had been productive at Tannadice, but there were questions about his temperament and attitude. Deila couldn’t use him for six games, after Ciftci decided to snack on Paul McGowan during the Dundee derby. When he did eventually debut, he proved his doubters right. His looked out of place – six months later he left Parkhead on loan. Six months had passed and Deila still needed to ease the reliance on Griffiths. What about an England international? Perhaps someone with Champions League experience? Of course, I’m speaking about Carlton Cole. The robust striker made his full-debut against Stranraer in the League Cup, a headed goal opening his account for Celtic. He couldn’t be stopped. Months before, when coming off the bench, he’d used his considerable strength and determination to force Danny Devine into scoring an own-goal. Unfortunately, he’s been used sparingly since his appearance at Stair Park. Perhaps Deila’s successor might give him more time? The final attempt at helping Griffiths came in the form of Colin Kazim-Richards. It was at this point Celtic supporters started questioning their transfer dealings. Kazim-Richards had left the Netherlands after being banned for two weeks for threatening a journalist – just the sort of hard-working, right-minded attacker Celtic needed. He marked his debut against Aberdeen by stamping on Aberdeen’s Ash Taylor, the biggest impression he’s left on the Scottish game during his time here. Kazim-Richards hasn’t been as bad as Cole – he’s strong, can be a nuisance in the air, knocks the ball down, and gets the odd goal – but there’s not enough there to warrant him be kept on. Apart from the two-and-a-half-year deal Celtic signed him to. Good job.

 

TIERNEY, GRIFFITHS AND ROGIC: IT’S NOT ALL BAD

It would be unfair to insinuate that all the players under Deila either regressed or underperformed. You just have to watch their 7-0 demolition of Motherwell to see that’s not the case. Although the game had an end-of-season atmosphere, the Glasgow sun even making a rare appearance, and ‘Well started Marvin Johnson at left-back, some of Celtic’s prospects had stand out games.

Part of Deila’s legacy at Celtic will be Kieran Tierney, and his progression in such a short time. The left-back made his league debut just over a year ago, made sporadic appearances in place of Emilio Izaguirre during the first-half of the campaign, and usurped the Honduran’s position in the second-half. His performances warranted a Scotland call-up and links to Arsenal. He even made it into Marca’s 11 most promising youngsters in Europe. He might be 18-year-old, but he’s as reliable as a seasoned pro. He can often be seen shouting at more experienced team-mates, organising and chastising. These aren’t characteristics usually associated with someone so young; it should be the other way round. Tierney also had an excellent game against Rangers – part of a limited bunch – quietening James Tavernier, who’s terrorised most left-backs he’s come up against. Although he has a size disadvantage, he’s 5ft 10 and slender, something Simon Church and Adam Rooney took advantage of when Aberdeen beat Celtic 2-1 at Pittodrie in February, he’s comfortable on the ball, strong in the challenge, and dangerous pushing up. He grabbed the opener against Motherwell, cutting inside before slotting in from the edge of the box. He’s one for the future, if Celtic can keep hold of him.

There are others as well. Ryan Christie, although often limited to the bench under Deila, looked threatening against ‘Well and should be getting a chance ahead of the inconsistent and unproductive pair of Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong. Patrick Roberts, in on loan from Manchester City until next summer, has proved why he cost the Blues £12 million in the last month. He crucified Graeme Shinnie a couple of weeks ago, grabbing a brace with two excellent long-range efforts. Tom Rogic, if he remains at Parkhead, is another who’s stood out under Deila. The Aussie centre-midfielder has proven himself to be the best in his position in Scotland, looking inventive on the ball, and scoring some cracking, and important, goals. His thunder-bastard against Kilmarnock all but ended Aberdeen’s title challenge. As I mentioned earlier, Sviatchenko looks a solid purchase and a back-four of Lustig, Simunovic, Sviatchenko and Tierney looks decent on paper.

But the most improved player under Deila has to be Leigh Griffiths. The Celtic striker is undoubtedly the best player in Scotland and arguably the most important to his team. During Deila’s tenure, he’s progressed from a talented, one-dimensional and inconsistent striker, who was just as famous for his off-field antics as his goals, into an all-round attacker, who looks bound to score each time he touches the ball. He scored seven in 13 appearances in 13/14, 14 in 24 in 14/15, and 31 in 34 this season. He used to be the sort to hang on the shoulder of the last defender, make those quick runs, and he’d often be caught offside; now he’s threatening on the ball, running into space, running at defenders, in the air. At his best he can’t be stopped. He’s achieving Henrik Larsson figures. Celtic just need him to replicate that form in Europe, against more skilled defences.

 

FAREWELL, RONNY

It’s been a dismal season for Celtic. Deila achieved the bare minimum in defending the league title, but that’s not enough. He again failed to take the team to the Champions League, crashed out of the Europa League group stage without a single win, was knocked out of both the cups in the semi-finals, suffered defeat to Rangers, and has a questionable transfer record. He came with a roar, left with a whimper.

Celtic 3-2 Aberdeen – Talking Points

Roberts: what Forrest could have been

James Forrest never achieved his true potential at Celtic. That much is undebatable. The winger had the speed and the skills, darting past static defenders, his feet a blur, but he lacked the final product and the footballing mind to match his feet. He needed that big step up, from an inconsistent, promising talent to a proven attacker – if he had done, a move down south wouldn’t have been out of the question. But he never did. And, therefore, it was not surprising when he announced his decision to leave the club at the end of the season.

At around the same time, Celtic brought Patrick Roberts to Parkhead on a two-year loan deal. The Manchester City prospect had arrived at the Etihad for £12 million, a sum that reflected the promise he demonstrated at Fulham in the English Championship. There was some criticism of the deal from Celtic supporters: should they be developing prospects for other clubs? Recent performances have silenced those doubters.

Roberts has the pace, drive and skill of Forrest. He’ll run at defences, sometimes being a little single-minded and not looking for simple passes – this is something he needs to improve. But he offers much more than Forrest ever did. His runs are much purposeful; he floats around outstretched legs, darts past a bigger opponent, and he’ll end up in a position to do something. He’s also capable of finishing – ignoring his embarrassing close-range miss against Rangers. Aberdeen can attest to that.

The loanee grabbed a brace in half-an-hour to hand Celtic a comfortable lead.

For the first he sped along the line, cut inside behind Graeme Shinnie, and charged towards the box. Aberdeen did their best to help Roberts out. The red sea parted, not one defender closing down the onrushing attacker. Shinnie tried to catch-up but Roberts shot. The ball, at pace, curled into the bottom left corner, skimming the fingertips of Adam Collin.

The second wasn’t much better for Shinnie. The Dons left-back, excellent most of the season, moved out of position to help Ash Taylor, leaving Roberts free in space. The pass came through and Roberts’ first-time shot, a move that exuded confidence, sent Celtic on route to their fifth successive Premiership title.

 

 

Brown wasn’t missed

Scott Brown’s performances this season have been scrutinised; so much so that some pundits predict that his career is all-but-over, unless he can change his style, moving from a box-to-box, combative, midfield-dominating captain to…something else – something that masks his failings. Against Rangers he was a ghost, drifting around, losing possession. All this despite shaving his head! It used to be the sort of match he’d thrive in: He’d dive into tackles, frustrate opponents and be desperate to get one over Celtic’s Old Firm rivals.

With injury ending his season prematurely, Celtic started without their captain against Aberdeen. Callum McGregor dropped deeper than usual, filling the Brown-shaped gap. Unsurprisingly, McGregor didn’t try to emulate Brown – he’s a much more inventive, creative operator – and that was reflected in Celtic’s style.

Instead of a midfield duo of Nir Bitton and McGregor, the Israeli defensive-midfielder tended to be a lone operator, leaving McGregor free to help Tom Rogic, Stuart Armstrong and Roberts create chances from deep. Perhaps it’s an indictment of Aberdeen’s lack of bite until the latter stages of the game that Celtic felt comfortable enough without using a second defensive-minded midfielder helping Bitton. It’s perhaps also a sad indictment of Brown’s performances that Celtic didn’t miss their captain and instead thrived, putting in an exciting attacking performance.

 

 

Aberdeen have an unexpected comeback

Simon Church hadn’t had a sniff of the ball during his 42 minutes on the pitch. Erik Sviatchenko and co had nullified Niall McGinn and Jonny Hayes, isolating the lone striker, whose crucial goals have helped Aberdeen chase Celtic in Adam Rooney’s absence. Church then went down with an injury, one that forced him off and left Aberdeen with no options up front. It was Mark Reynolds, a centre-back, who replaced Church – not the sort of substitution that inspires a come-back.

Aberdeen, three down, did manage to reduce the deficit. Quick passes and the introduction of Efe Ambrose opened up Celtic, allowing McGinn to flick the ball around Craig Gordon as Bitton’s outstretched legs tried to block the effort. It looked to be a consolation. The Dons had done little all game, not enough to warrant ideas of a miraculous comeback. Celtic had looked comfortable. And then a second bounced off the back of Gordon’s net. A long free-kick found the head of Andrew Considine, whose dinked header caught out Gordon and further reduced Celtic’s lead. Game on.

Nerves started creeping into Celtic’s game. The error-prone and unpredictable Ambrose didn’t help in this regard. Aberdeen found some much needed verve, opening the expecting champions up with regularity. Ultimately, Celtic held firm and, despite a couple of nervy moments, managed to collect all three points.

 

 

Shinnie has a mare

There are bad full-back performances that live in the memory. One remembers Glen Johnson’s marauding runs against Germany at the 2010 World Cup, charging the length of the pitch before cutting inside, as usual, and losing the ball, as usual, leaving a promising Mesut Ozil in acres of space, which he exploited to full effect. Graeme Shinnie’s performance against Celtic had similar tones.

The Aberdeen full-back, and sometimes centre midfielder, contributed to all three of Celtic’s goals. For the first he let the left-footed Roberts cut inside, thus putting him on his favoured foot, rather than pushing him along the edge of the pitch and limiting his options. Seconds later the loanee rifled an absolute belter into the back of the net. For the second he came rushing out of position. He tried to help Ash Taylor doubled up on his opponent but instead left Roberts in space, and, again, seconds later, a through ball rolled in front of Roberts, and he produced a clinical one-touch finish to double Celtic’s lead. Then he completed his personal-failure hat-trick. Shinnie offered McGregor too much space in behind, and the Celtic midfielder used it to take the ball to the touchline. McGregor then cut inside, before using his quick feet to take the ball around the Dons left-back and cutting a pass back to Mikael Lustig, whose simple shot wrapped up another three points, and a another Premiership title, for Celtic.

Five Things We Learned From Rangers V Celtic

Time is up for Deila

There was a brief flicker of hope for Ronny Deila. After being serenaded with chants of ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’, Tom Rogic equalised in extra-time and handed the Celtic manager a lifeline. But Rogic gave, and Rogic hath taken away. As the Aussie midfielder fired his penalty into the atmosphere, endangering the lives of those on board in the International Space Station, the blue half of Hampden erupted and a despondent look crept on to Deila’s face. Perhaps it was at this moment he realised that he’d run out of time.

The performance exemplified some of the notable problems that Deila and the board have created. Dedryck Boyata was withdrawn after a shambolic 25 minutes, proving that the Norwegian manager has yet to find a settled defence; Gary Mackay-Steven and Stefan Johansen offered little creativity, as supporters and critics alike questioned why Kris Commons sat unused on the bench; and Scott Brown continued his decline, failing to take control of a game he’d usually thrive in. All of these problems are of his creation; ones that might come back to haunt Celtic.

The Hoops should be far ahead of their arch-rivals. Rangers have had to rebuild from scratch; Celtic possess the resources to have built a comfortable lead over their nearest challengers. Deila’s side might be on course to lift their fifth-straight league title, but that can’t mask their failures in other competitions. Celtic crashed out of the Champions League qualifiers twice; failed to pick up a single win in their short-lived Europa League campaign; and have won just one of the four available domestic trophies – the 2014/15 League Cup.

All of this – their failings in the cup, in the transfer market, and in building a squad capable of reaching the Champions League – culminated in that performance against Rangers. It was a damning indictment of Deila’s tenure.

 

Rangers are ready for the top four

It’s been a fun four years for Scottish football supporters. Rangers, once a bully, beating up all the smaller kids, reduced to a laughing stock. Incompetence at all levels, from the pitch, to the touchline, to the boardroom, made them a joke figure that kept on giving; who can forget their defeats to Stirling Albion and Peterhead in League Two, or their complete collapse against Alloa Athletic in the Challenge Cup? Great times. Then Rangers had to go and spoil the fun. Things behind the scenes calmed and the club, shockingly, hired a talented manager in Mark Warburton.

This season Rangers cantered to the Championship title – no thanks to Hibs’ recent run of embarrassing results. It’s clear that the first-team has improved immeasurably, with a clear strategy and a host of young, promising talents, but there’s still a question to be answered: how will the Gers fare in the Premiership?

This smooth and gifted side laboured against Kilmarnock and crashed out of the League Cup at the hands of St Johnstone, who countered to great effect. Both performances gave little credence to the suggestion that Rangers would be challenging for the title. But the Gers smashed Dundee, before this inspiring performance against Celtic. Yes they beat Celtic, but they did it in style; keeping possession, passing the ball around, staying composed under a mountain of pressure. This team has talent in abundance. Improvements will have to be made in the summer. There are questions about the centre-backs, and Rangers could also do with a more clinical striker – one who doesn’t need penalties to reach double figures. A title push might be a little too optimistic – winning a league is about performing over 38 games, not just one – but top four is on the cards.

 

We’ve missed the Old Firm derby

Most of us hate the old ‘Scottish football is nothing outside the Old Firm’ argument. It’s insulting and ignorant. There are 40 other clubs in the SPFL, and it’s disrespectful to them all to believe that Scottish football revolves around Celtic and Rangers. This mind-set, which seems prevalent among ex-Old Firm players and the media, has created a backlash against the two, to the point where some fans would be pleased to see them both bugger off to England. And that would be a shame.

I hate all the media attention the teams get; I hate all the long-forgotten ex-pros clambering out of the woodwork to give their two-pence on the game – one which they’ve not watched in a decade; and I hate all the vitriol; the abuse that people involved in the game receive for stating an opinion. But I love the match. I love the passion and the atmosphere, the tension and the desire. It’s something that no other match in Scotland generates. Yes, the Dundee, Edinburgh and Highland derbies all do this, but not on the same scale. It feels like an international event. Scottish football would be poorer without it.

 

Miller has stepped up in Waghorn’s absence

With Rangers’ Premiership status for next season confirmed, preparations have begun. Who do Rangers no longer need? Where could the team strengthen? Will this player make the grade at a higher level? These are the questions Mark Warburton will be asking about his squad. One player such questions have been asked about is Kenny Miller, and yesterday he answered quite a few of them.

The veteran striker is 36. You can’t build a team around someone of that age. Yet, in Martyn Waghorn’s absence, the Rangers attacker has stepped up to the plate, and against Celtic delivered a performance he’d have been proud of a decade ago. No, he can’t last a full 90 minutes, nor does he have that burst of pace to speed past an opponent. But he has developed. It would be unfair to label him as a simple poacher. Yes, he gets into good positions and finishes chances from close-range, but he’s more than that. Against Celtic, ignoring the goal, he had a great time operating as a false-nine, dropping deep and picking out the wingers. It’s something he also did against Falkirk to great effect, seeing runs and space, and putting simple but effective balls behind the defence for quicker players to make use of.

It’s expected that at his age he’ll be used in more limited fashion next season. He’ll be an experienced head, offering advice, and perhaps helping out from the coaching side of things. But these recent performances, including against Celtic, showed that Miller’s still got something to offer Rangers.

 

Scott Brown might be done

One word I’d never thought I’d use to describe a Scott Brown performance: invisible. Yet no other term better sums up his performance against Rangers. It was the sort of encounter the Celtic skipper used to thrive in; putting in full-blooded, strong challenges to get the Celtic supporters roaring; bossing the midfield and refusing to let his team-mates shirk their responsibilities; doing as much as he could to make an impact on the game. He used to be the absolute perfect man and captain for such an occasion. Used to be.

Against Rangers he floated about, losing possession, making mistakes. He didn’t even attempt to break an ankle or two. But this isn’t something limited to this game; he’s performed like this, for Celtic and Scotland, all season. It’s become a problem for Deila and Celtic supporters. You don’t want to lose faith in a character like him, place him on the scrap-heap at the age of 30, and admit that he’s past his best. The one thing, though, that stands out is his confidence. Perhaps I’m wrong, but Brown looks like he’s nervous. He looks unsure on the ball and seems to second-guess himself, and that’s something else I’d never thought I’d write about Scott Brown. Unless he drags himself out of this rut, his career at Celtic might be coming to a premature, and sad, end.

Hamilton Academical 1-1 Celtic

Hamilton came from behind to hold Celtic to a 1-1 draw at New Douglas Park, one month after losing 8-1 to the Premiership league leaders.

The result means that Aberdeen, facing St Johnstone at Pittodrie tomorrow, can close the gap at the top of the table to just four points.

Hamilton adopted a more defensive approach after the embarrassing result at Parkhead in their last meeting.

The Accies held out for 34 minutes before Dougie Imrie tripped Leigh Griffiths inside the box. The Celtic striker scored from the spot to send the visitors ahead.

Then, just before half-time, Dedryck Boyata seemingly caught Callum Morris when he was through on goal. Referee Craig Thomson reduced Celtic to ten men.

After the break, Celtic were awarded another penalty when Ziggy Gordon brought down Mikael Lustig at a corner. However, this time McGovern came out the better and blocked Griffiths’ shot.

Hamilton made the most of their life-line and grabbed an equaliser in the 74^th minute. Celtic failed to clear an Accies corner and substitute Eamonn Brophy smashed the ball into the top corner from close-range.

In the end, both teams had to settle for a point.

Ronny Deila made two notable changes to the Celtic starting eleven. Scott Allan made his league debut having signed for the Hoops last summer. Craig Gordon also dropped to the bench in favour of Logan Bailly, who stepped up between the sticks. James Forrest, having rejected a contract earlier this week, was not included in the match squad.

Hamilton returned to three at the back after the 8-1 hammering suffered at the hands of Celtic one month before. In the four matches since the meeting, the Accies conceded just three goals.

Martin Canning set-up Hamilton to defend as Celtic started on the offensive.

A sea of red-and-white shirts flooded the Hamilton box whenever Celtic came within sight of Michael McGovern. Canning did not want a repeat of their last encounter.

The visiting Hoops dominated possession but couldn’t find a gap in the packed Hamilton box. After ten minutes Celtic hadn’t challenged McGovern – he’d picked the ball out of his net three times at the same stage of their previous encounter.

With such a defensive approach, it meant Hamilton had to make the most of their opportunities.

Ally Crawford missed a glorious chance to snatch a lead. Scott Brown lost possession to Morris, who then slipped the ball out to the Accies midfielder. Crawford was in clear space but he took too heavy a touch, giving Bailly had time to rush out, and his last ditch effort ended up gliding over the crossbar.

Celtic continued to search for that opening. The Hamilton back-three did an excellent job at quietening Leigh Griffiths, who had nothing to work with. Allan and co had been neutralised thus far.

But all of Hamilton’s brilliant defensive work was undone in the 34^th minute.

Dougie Imrie tried to get to the ball before Griffiths and tripped the in-form striker inside the box. Griffiths stepped up and struck the ball down the middle for his 33^rd goal of the season.

Imrie couldn’t hide his frustration as McGovern and Michael Devlin criticised his decision minutes later.

However, seven minutes later Hamilton were handed a lifeline.

Morris broke through the Celtic back-line and darted towards an exposed Bailly. Boyata charged to make up the difference and made a sliding challenge just outside the box that caught the Hamilton striker. Craig Thomson brought out the red and reduced Celtic to ten men. Replays, however, showed that Boyata made the slightest of touches to the ball before hitting Morris.

Crawford tried to capitalise moments later, switching onto his left before firing a shot at the Celtic goal. Bailly produced a good save to keep Celtic’s lead.

As the teams went in for half-time, Celtic held the goal advantage, but Hamilton had the extra man.

Celtic should’ve gone two up in the 50^th minute. Kieran Tierney’s excellent block bounced straight through the Hamilton defence and put Gary Mackay-Steven through one-on-one with McGovern. The former Dundee United midfielder ran straight at the Northern Ireland international and had his shot blocked.

The Accies had a more attacking approach in the second-half. It was Celtic who looked to counter, as Hamilton pushed for an equaliser.

Griffiths almost added his 34^th as the game reached the final third. Celtic hit Hamilton on the counter and Griffiths’ curling effort just wide of the mark.

Minutes later he forced another save from McGovern after breaking through the Accies’ defence. The ball rebounded to Mackay-Steven, but his deflected effort swerved into the crowd.

From the resulting corner Thomson again pointed to the spot.

The referee had warned Ziggy Gordon about his tight man-marking of Mikael Lustig prior to the corner. When the ball did come in, the Hamilton right-back had his arms wrapped around his Celtic counter-part. Thomson awarded the penalty, but this time McGovern stopped Griffiths’ shot to keep the Accies in the game.

With 20 minutes remaining Canning made a statement of intent. Changing to a flat-back-four, Eamonn Brophy, who scored Hamilton’s one in their 8-1 defeat, replaced Darren Lyon.

It proved to be an inspired move.

Less than four minutes after the substitution Brophy capitalised on Celtic failing to clear their box from a corner and smashed the ball into the top right corner.

Hamilton refused to settle for a point, though.

The hosts continued to push for a goal. Crawford’s driven cross found Greg Docherty in the centre of the Celtic box, and if not for an outstretched leg the Hamilton midfielder might have grabbed a winner.

The New Douglas Park crowd – although travelling Celtic supporters outnumbered Hamilton fans – got behind their side as the Accies pushed for three points.

Hamilton tried to snatch a late winner but Celtic were resolute and both teams had to settle for a point.