Celtic 3 Stade Rennais 1 – Five Talking Points

1. LEWIS MORGAN arrived as a proper Celtic player tonight, proving Neil Lennon right and just about the rest of us wrong. With Odsonne Edouard nursing a thigh complaint, that hasn’t got as far as being an injury, Morgan played up top and was outstanding. He scored a peach of an opener after fine play from Taylor – a what a find he’s been – and James Forrest. Morgan’s first touch finish was as sweet as it was deadly. He almost scored with a header just before the interval – he thought it was a goal all the way but Rennes keeper made a decent save. Any talk of Morgan going back to St Mirren is fanciful to say the least after that performance tonight. Well done Lewis, our Man of the Match tonight.

2. The group has been won with a game to spare are all he have to do now is play in Cluj where a draw should be enough to see Lazio eliminated. The Italians need to win in Rennes and hope Celtic do them a favour in Romania. With Celtic’s hectic December schedule you can forgive Neil Lennon for using the squad in Cluj and playing the likes of Scotty Sinclair, Nir Bitton and obviously Lewis Morgan. How ironic though that a win in Romania could see Cluj going out of Europe. We just need to worry about ourselves and hope Rennes beat Lazio! Tonight Celtic have an impressive 13 points in the Europa League, that’s more than a Hearts have in the Scottish Premiership!

3. Talking about Rennes, their 2500 strong support tonight was absolutely magnificent. They cheered their team on throughout, even when Celtic were three up and looking for more. They deserved the late consolation that gave those of us who predicted 3-1 a secret little smile. They started the Huddle, tried to turn it into a Mexican Wave and joined in the lights on for 67 moment. They must have wondered what was happening when the mass exodus started fifteen minutes from the end. Hopefully they enjoyed their night despite losing.

4. The Green Brigade were missing, those made to measure covers over their section were certainly not ordered and delivered ready for use over the last couple of days. This was pre-planned and well throughout by the Celtic Board. Maybe it would take Phil to chase up his contacts at UEFA to get some clarity on which banner from the Celtic v Lazio game that they found to be illicit. It may possibly have been the banner displayed by The Bhoys at the back corner of the Jock Stein Stand. Was that green smoke tonight? At least no-one can blame it on the Green Brigade!

5. The difference in this Celtic team and the way Neil Lennon has them playing in comparison to the tactics employed by Brendan Rodgers is night and day. The tempo tonight blew Rennes – the French Cup holders away. Lazio – a top four Serie A side – couldn’t live with this Celtic team. The first to ever win in Italy and the first to win a European League Group. This of course means that we should get a more favourable draw and will be away from home first. The Scottish co-efficient given the Rangers got a draw in Rotterdam, will have improved and we could be at the stage where there are two places coming to the SPFL.

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who 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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