Celtic made three changes to the side today from the one that claimed a point across the city on Monday in a comfortable 2-0 victory, to go twelve points clear at the summit of Scottish football.
After the underwhelming second half display in Govan, it was always a stick on the big man would fancy a few tweaks for the visit of the Ayrshire outfit and so it proved.
Ange Postecoglou dropped the out of form Matt O’Riley from the side as he freshened it up from our trip to Ibrox. Jota replaced James Forrest on the right-wing also, with Alexandro Bernabei assumed the injured Greg Taylor’s position after Josip Juranovic’s horrific display in the Glasgow Derby on our last outing.
The game was slow and terribly boring at times, with the first half an especially tough watch for the fanbase. The Jota goal was no more than we deserved, but in truth the Hoops have been lacking sharpness and that killer instinct that we are so used to under Ange Postecoglou.
It was a much needed boost just before the interval and gave us the energy and impetus to go on and see the game off.
Their was a marked improvement in the second 45 minutes and we created quite a few chances. However, it was only to be one more goal for us today and it was thought it was another for Kyogo Furuhashi after his derby day heroics; but it was given as an own goal in the end up. After that, we held onto the ball and ran McInnes’ team ragged without finding that third goal.
It’s another one down on the path to our second Scottish Premiership title in a row under the Greek-Aussie, Postecoglou. The result on Monday afternoon against the newest Ibrox club would have knocked the stuffing out of them as we equalised so late and now its just a case of keeping a firm hand on the wheel.
The pressure is on them now tomorrow to keep the gap between us to nine. Tannadice isn’t the easiest place to go and it might be Beale’s biggest surprise yet. We shall see.
But for now, we’re twelve points clear – Happy New Year!
Paul Gillespie
