Yesterday’s 3-0 win at Hamilton was the best Celtic have played in the Scottish Premiership all season. There was also something we’ve seen too rarely if at all this campaign. A 90-minute performance.
Despite going in at the break level it was clear the Hoops had a grip on the encounter and in the second half chances created were converted, and a comfortable enough victory ensued.
On paper it looks a stroll in the park but when you consider Celtic were playing in the eye of a storm, on a plastic pitch and in the midst of inconsistent form it was more than a simple perfunctory performance.
This game showed a team with grit, determination and a will to win, and they had to show all three to emerge with the points. Neil Lennon’s team also showed a tactical side of the game that’s also been missing at times this season.
The headlines will go to a front two of Leigh Griffiths and Odsonne Edouard who linked up superbly and grabbed a goal apiece. For Edouard in particular there was a swagger and confidence that returned to his play.
As Griffiths played as the out and out striker, Edouard took up the role of dropping deeper, allowing him to turn, face up to and run the legs off his opponents. It was the Edouard of old as we saw the young Frenchman slaloming through both the Hamilton midfield and defence, often surrounded by three, four even five Accies bodies and still emerging with the ball at feet.
Much has been made of the apparent 4-4-2 Celtic are employing and with Turnbull forcing himself into advance areas to support the forwards it made life very difficult for our opponents, unsure who to cover. Yet there was a fluidity to the formation that belied the normal rigidity of a 4-4-2.
Out of possession Edouard almost dropped to a left side attacking midfielder, Callum McGregor dropped in to support Ismaila Soro creating two in front and protection for the Celtic back four. And when we broke, McGregor galloped into the left side of an attacking midfield, Edouard supported Griffiths and vacated the space Callum McGregor filled. Both full backs in Frimpong and Greg Taylor supplied no little width, and when countered, or when starting attacks, Ismaila Soro – who was again magnificent yesterday – dropped back to assist Bitton and Ajer in defence to ensure three bodies covered a possible break away from Hamilton.
As a defensive unit from front to back Celtic had a discipline that’s been missing for a while but there was also less reliance on the individuals to take it upon themselves to impact a game. There was also a bona fide game plan, and patterns of play expected within it, something that was probably the most welcome aspect to yesterday’s play.
Celtic scored three goals and it could have been many more. Yet despite that heart stopping hospital pass from Ajer to Bitton early on that could have cost us a goal, had Bitton not taken one for the team to halt the Accies attack, we didn’t panic, lose our heads and blame each other as has been evident in previous weeks. We stuck to our game plan and deservedly imposed ourselves on the encounter. We also got stuck into the dirty side of the game and won our battles that allowed us to play.
There were of course moments of frustration. At times we appeared too imprecise with our passing and coughed up possession a little too easily – a better side may well take advantage of that. We were also perhaps a little less clinical in front of goal when opportunities arose, however confidence isn’t rebuilt in the space of days, it will take time but we are certainly getting there and the timing of it can only be welcomed.
On Wednesday we face a strong Dundee United side. One well drilled and with a team spirit that has been evident all season. They are capable of knocking teams off their stride with their physicality and have attacking players who can counter when given the chance.
It’s the ideal preparation for a Celtic team who will have to navigate that test before heading to Ibrox. If we are to win there Celtic will need to be the ones knocking theRangers out their stride and upsetting their patterns of play.
On Wednesday United will get in Celtic faces and if we can match that and from there impose our own game, we’ll have a better idea as to whether or not we are ready for Ibrox.
United’s ability to force free kicks and bombard the opposition with cross balls and set pieces will also be beneficial prior to facing an Ibrox team who will try to win cheap fouls, create overloads in our full back areas and deliver into our box.
Yesterday’s win was a welcome return to a team that appeared to have a plan, showed tactical discipline and put together a full 90 minutes, but we should also be aware we were playing a team hit by injury and illness and on a wretched run of form.
Dundee United will be a better game to judge progress prior to our trip to Ibrox, however with three consecutive clean sheets in the league, a strike partnership capable of scoring goals and a midfield attacking and defending in unison, we appear to be hitting a run of form at long last. The timing of it couldn’t be any better.
Niall J
Yes on a plastic potch that was well watered now that’s how that surface has to be well watered water it at half time teams make it dry so.tesms that are slick cant play cause ball gets held up kilmarnock never water it at interval can cause serious injury if not watered at every opportunity it should be a rule to have ur surface best for players