The Celtic Star’s Player Ratings from last night’s goalless draw

Craig Gordon: All eyes where on him as he returned from injury. He was confident, capable with the little that he had to deal with and looked like he had never been away. Rating 5.

Mikael Lustig: The most interesting thing this week about Lustig is the picture I saw of a younger version of him in a Guns and Roses t-shirt. He was more Chinese Democracy last night than Appetite for Destruction. Rating 3

Dedryck Boyata: Was the target for those who have a goat called scape tied up in their back gardens. For me he was the best of the back four. Rating 5.

Jack Hendry: Our manager said that he did well, if doing well is giving the ball away, looking nervous while in possession and defending then why did I not make it as a footballer? Rating 2.

Callum McGregor: Offered little and produced nothing. A fish out of his tank and we flutter our eyes at KT and pray to the gods of full backs that he is fit for the weekend. Rating 2.

Scott Brown: Took a booking for the team and tried to lead by example. An Ajer less Celtic saw him come deeper for the ball than normal. Rating 6.

Stuart Armstrong: Back to the pre-Christmas Armstrong. Started well then went as flat as his hair would be after getting caught in a downpour. Rating 3.

Tom Rogic: Found space hard to come by and had sent his touch to the shops to get him some crisps. No surprised he was subbed. Rating 3.

James Forrest: Was voted the sponsors man of the match but then I’m sure that was chosen by just names in an empty fruit bowl. Struggled to stretch the Dundee defence and get beyond our inside them. Rating 3.

Scott Sinclair: Sound the controversial klaxon but I thought he was unlucky to go off and looked the most likely to create something. Was caught off-side so often that Scott McDonald was heard moaning that was his job. Rating 5.

Moussa Dembele: The Dembelition was more Dembemissing. Very French and frustrating. Rating 3.

The Subs: Olivier Ntcham, Odsonne Eduoard & Leigh Griffiths. Thrown on in a panic like when we see snow and need to buy bread. I struggle to remember a time when 3 subs contributed so little and confused a football team. Rating 0.

Match Rating: Goals do change games and Brendan is correct when he says that if we had scored then it would have opened things up and it also rings true that if/when we win the league this game will be forgotten.

The problem is that we have drawn six games at Celtic Park this season and three of them have been nothing each. We have failed to score in four of our last seven games and now average 1.94 goals per game.

Yes, last night we worked ourselves into great positions but our shooting was so woeful that the ground staff is still finding balls in the stands this afternoon. Our decision making is constantly poor in the final third and the only players that impressed last night were wearing dark blue.

We have failed tactically so many times at Celtic Park this season that it’s getting harder not just to sweep it under the carpet with looking and pointing at the glowing bigger picture. Rating 2.

Kevin Graham

Here is David Potter’s match report from last night’s goalless draw against Dundee…

‘It was an annoying night but lessons have been learned, one hopes,’ David Potter

And here is an alternative view on the player’s performances from yours truly where I actually gave James Forrest and Callum McGregor praise for their performances last night. It’s all about opinions…

It was like The Alamo without the shooting

The match was of course discussed on in cars and supporters buses making the journey home last night. Kevin Graham put together a podcast on supporters’ opinions on the Tommy Gemmell Dunblane CSC as it made its way up the road.

Kevin Graham hosts The Celtic Star Podcast – Dundee Match Day Review

The pod is in two parts first part is Kevin and Bryan Haggerty discuss in the stairwells of 412, at half time, the half we have just watched and also Scott Brown: Past, Current & Future.

The second part is the post-match “Buscast”, with Lewis Faulds, Connor Beaton, David Reilly & Daniel Kennedy where we give our visceral views on another underwhelming evening at Celtic Park, grudgingly admit that Dundee did well and ask the question who will answer the creativity and goal-scoring problem we have had since February.

Listen Below or ACAST, MP3 or ITUNES


About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor David Faulds has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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