The weather could have been a leveller, it wasn’t to be. It could have been a repeat of the 2006 Du Wei, Roy Keane experience. Sorry hacks nothing to see here. Six changes to the regular line up could have been a disruption, if anything it ended up an advantage. Celtic won 3-0 and the result was never in doubt.
This Treble Treble team have an eye on this year’s Quadruple treble, three-way, threesome or any other similar description that would have David Goodwillie massaging his groin strain.
That it wasn’t was down patience, professionalism, persistence and ultimately Celtic’s progress by defeating the resistance of a Clyde side who dug in well but gained no advantage from the weather.
On the same day a British Airways flight became the fastest subsonic New York to London journey, thanks to the riding of a jet stream created by Storm Ciara, the only risk the weather showed to Celtic was Johan Mjallby’s barnet being tousled in the commentary box at Broadwood stadium and the odd Ryan Christie shot meeting the same wind tunnel as the Boeing 747 record breaker. Both were carried high and wide, while only Johan’s remained handsome.
Mjallby had his own birthday to celebrate and although Cumbernauld wouldn’t have been his chosen destination under normal circumstances, the same could be said for the other birthday bhoy Olivier Ntcham. Although Avenue des Champs Elysées may have been our mercurial Frenchman’s preferred destination for his birthday dumps, he may well not be accustomed to local alternatives.
I’m sure Broony and Co can stop off at the Antonine Shopping Centre on the way home and give Olivier an opportunity to spend the Home Bargains gift vouchers he received in this morning’s birthday cards. The way the fixture list is piling up the pleasures of the French capital may have to wait for Ntcham. His birthday gift to all of us was a thing of beauty as a strike from the corner of the 18 yard box hit the net it calmed the nerves of even the most anxious amongst the Celtic support today.
With Broony himself adding a second goal while at the same time having to explain to his marker that the exchanging of shirts is traditionally completed after the final whistle or by receipt at the Antonine, the game was done and dusted in the first 45 minutes and all Celtic fans could breathe a sigh of relief at half time.
Anyone who had witnessed Hearts own plastic pitch banana skin against Falkirk last night or Hibs lunchtime late show against BSC Glasgow would have had a few butterflies prior to today’s game. Celtic however gave us no such concerns they were professional from start to finish and from Ntcham’s perfect opener the tie was never in doubt.
By the time Vkaoun Bayo wrapped the game up in bows to make it 3-0 late in the second half we all knew this Celtic team, despite the conditions and the six changes to first team recruitment had this tie in the bag.
Next up in the cup is another away tie at St Johnstone. As this particular Scottish Cup campaign will be without a Celtic Park encounter we’ll have to do it the hard way. Come Hampden in May we’ll know this trophy was won entirely on the road. It will take far more than keeping us away from Parkhead to stop this Celtic side.
Today saw the return to first eleven football for Moi Elyounoussi, Ryan Christie, Boli Bolingoli, Scott Bain and a first start for Patryk Klimala. However the kit man decides to spell our new striker’s surname he looks like he has the talent to make an impact on this title run in.
There is depth returning to this team. Our rivals I’m sure will be just as aware, as we are confident of just that.
With Frimpong, Elhamed and Bitton due to add to the reinforcements it looks like Neil Lennon’s Bhoys are coming back to the boil.
Today was a difficult encounter overcome and comfortably so. It was also an opportunity to show this team are staring to reach peak performance in time for the title run in and European competition appearing on the horizon.
It’s almost like we’ve done this before.
Niall J
ALSO ON THE CELTIC STAR…‘The fans were unbelievable to me,’ Scotty Sinclair, ‘we had a great sort of connection’
Game On – Clyde v Celtic beats Ciara, extra-special Greek visitors at Paradise.
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