Well, that wasn’t an easy watch – at least the last ten minutes weren’t, but it doesn’t really matter all that much because we are into the next round and await, for the second time this season, the arrival of Raith Rovers at Celtic Park. They too gave their fans a hard time of it for a while today, for they had a bit of a job scoring against the gallant Banks o Dee.
🙌 Scales ➡️ Giakoumakis! 🙌 #ScottishCup | #ALLCEL | #COYBIG 🍀pic.twitter.com/faOVrUIrvS
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 22, 2022
A stunner from Abada! 😍#ScottishCup | #ALLCEL | #COYBIG 🍀pic.twitter.com/S4gWyYyfEq
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 22, 2022
But to the Indodrill (I prefer to call it Recreation Park, myself), we must congratulate Alloa Athletic (no kidding, Barry!) for a good performance, although Barry did exaggerate a wee bit when he said that Celtic were “under the cosh”. Not quite, Barry! We did sweat a wee bit, though.
"There's Joe Hart!" He's not just a goalkeeper, he takes photographs as well." 😂
Class from the Celtic keeper 👏 pic.twitter.com/e6BTkQV9mm
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) January 22, 2022
The good points were the two excellent goals. The bad points were the injuries (can we blame the pitch for that?) and the good chances that we missed in the second half, where at least three very good ones went a-begging. Daizen Maeda had a good game, nevertheless and Giakoumakis can be forgiven for the great goal that he did score. He also came across as a humble, decent sort of a man in the interview at the end.
There was also in the second half a certain lack of domination in the midfield, especially when Callum McGregor went off and a basic inability to slow the game down when we needed to. But then again, I never think Celtic play well on these funny pitches. However the lesson must be, as John Hartson kept saying, we have to keep piling on the goals, to save these tense, nervous headaches near the end.
And was it a red card? Possibly yes, but I loved the way that Ange said “the referee deals with that”. Not for him the feeling that the world and the referees are all against them! He prefers to concentrate on his own team! Great! He is never likely to get put up into the stand for too much mouth, is he?
🗣 Ange Postecoglou on Callum McGregor’s injury:
“He wasn’t in great shape. It’s not going to be short term”. pic.twitter.com/NK1QyRnlUB
— Andrew Maclean (@AndrewMaclean_) January 22, 2022
We now may be facing a few problems with the injuries that we have. Fortunately we have the squad to deal with them, but we may have to dig deep. It is important now in what is left of the transfer window not to let anyone go. We may need them! For Tynecastle, we must hope that Callum is back, and that our forwards are just a little sharper than they were tonight.
But we are still on course for our 41st Scottish Cup. Oh, by the way, did I mishear that presenter at the Cup draw when she seemed to say that Rangers had won the trophy 53 times? No! 33 times! As distinct from 40 by Celtic. So before we get into the argument about when Rangers stopped being Rangers etc. it doesn’t matter! The answer is 40 and 33! Count them if you want.
Was the 53 just to cheer up that guy who was doing the draw – the poor man’s Rod Stewart? Who was he, anyway?
David Potter
🍀 @CelticFC's Ange Postecoglou speaks of mixed emotions after his side's win over Alloa Athletic was marred by a number of injuries
🗣️ "Callum's obviously quite significant. So we'll just have to wait and see." pic.twitter.com/1o7FnqnjZI
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) January 22, 2022
🐝 @AlloaAthleticFC's Barry Ferguson reacts to his side's 2-1 defeat to Celtic in the Scottish Cup
🗣️ "Delighted with the effort my players put in." pic.twitter.com/9TkdNRac1u
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) January 22, 2022
Should Niang have seen red for his challenge on Ideguchi? 🟥
"I don't think you can defend that." 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/2P4BkDXVMk
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) January 22, 2022
Hi, @CelticFC, I’ve highlighted a few incidents after tonight’s game to take to the governing body.
Maeda no hand ball 8 mins.
Shoulder into McGregor 39 mins, no action. Salmon elbow on Welsh 47 minutes. Tackle through the back on Jota 53 mins Challenge on Gucci, only yellow.— Mark Joseph Ramsay (@meadbythepint) January 22, 2022
Alloa just out here to get as many kicks on Celtic players as they can.
— 20 Minute Tims (@20MinuteTims) January 22, 2022
WILL CELTIC DEMAND A MEETING WITH THE SFA ON MONDAY AFTER THIS ? pic.twitter.com/l4l5uoNEQn
— Boristhehead (@BigPatsy01) January 22, 2022