CELTIC lost to Hearts at Tynecastle this afternoon with Rangers bound Kyle Lafferty scoring the only goal with a fine volley.
Brendan Rodgers made five changes with the trip to Athens in mind. Other leagues accommodate their Champions by postponing league matches to allow their representatives in the European competition the best possible opportunity and it is surely something that Scottish football needs to look at for next year and beyond?
There can be no excuses for Celtic today though as they were always likely to concede a goal and looked unlikely to score at the other end – save for one piece of magic from substitute Tom Rogic near the end. There was also a case for Lustig getting a penalty in stoppage time after a blatant push but we know that was never going to happen.
Craig Levein had kept his grass long then lost his captain to what looks like a bad injury just before half time. Berra’s studs looks to have caught in the ground and the length of the grass could have been a factor in that injury. Another Hearts player seemed to get caught in the same way in the second half.
Celtic elected to miss out the midfield but the long balls to Griffiths and Hayes always looked like being fruitless and it was much the same result when Edouard came on.
Griffiths almost scored as Berra was injuring himself but his shot was cleared on the line to bring goalless first half to an end.
Naismith – who should have been sent off the last time the teams played here for his shocking challenge on Scott Brown – should have been off today as well. Hayes was injured yet the horrible little Zombie still went up to the former Aberdeen man to put in a fly kick to an injured player.
Stephen Naismith, Totally disgusting.
“To lean over a player while he’s injured on the floor and screaming in his ear, you know, is disgusting” pic.twitter.com/PqVdKpfXqQ— Michael McCahill (@MickMcCahill) August 11, 2018
Naismith could also have been booked for trying to con a penalty in the first half.
What is it with these Zombies and cowardly kicks at opponents?
Eventually Naismith was caught doing exactly the same thing that Morales did last week at Pittodrie and the referee obviously adjusted to the new SFA stance on such matters by issuing a yellow rather than a red card.
Hearts picked up five bookings, Celtic two. Celtic had the majority of possession, won most corners and were the team that tried to play football on the long grass.
For Brendan Rodgers it brings to a close his most testing week as Celtic manager.
He takes his side to Athens tomorrow, where the weather will be warmer and the grass shorter, and will hope to get the season back on track in what is the most important game of the season.
The Celtic manager brought in some fringe players today and none really stood out. Griffiths seems short of match sharpness after his long period of picking up one injury after another in between short periods of being able to play.
Kouassi looked rusty and well short of what is required for Celtic and Jonny Hayes worked hard enough but failed to shine.
Jack Hendry, if he is to be the replacement for the want away Boyata, clearly represents a drop in quality.
One bright note was the improvement in form from Scotty Sinclair.
“We have got a great opportunity to go over there. We have to recover now. We will be in tomorrow and travel over,” Brendan Rodgers said after today’s 1-0 defeat.
On the game in Athens, Rodgers said: “This is a great challenge for us and it’s the challenge that we want. My feeling is disappointment in the result – we had enough there to win the game. The window is open for the next few weeks and we hope to strengthen,” Brendan stated.
Boyata’s agent comments hadn’t reached the manager yet but as things stand he wants the Belgian to stay. Maybe that will change when he gets a chance to read the comments.
A disappointing day.
The Celtic Star Man of the Match – Scotty Sinclair.
