Today’s On This Day feature reflects on some recent outings. That includes recounting where we were this time last year…
24 September 2016, Celtic 6-1 Kilmarnock. Celtic continued their imperious start to the 16/17 league campaign with a heavy victory over Killie. The Hoops trailed the match though as Dorus De Vries was beaten from 35 yards as Souleymane Coulibaly scored goal of the season in what was one of the best strikes (watch below) an opposition player has ever scored at Celtic Park. The goalscorers that day were all of Rodgers success stories in that season: Dembele double, Forrest, Griffiths, Sinclair and Rogic.
19 years ago today, Celtic came from behind to defeat Craig Brewster’s Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2-1. It was a quick-fire double from Craig Beattie who netted twice in the space of 10 minutes to grab the all important three points in the end for the Hoops.
One year ago today, Celtic win comfortably 3-0 at the Tony Macaroni against Livingston despite playing most of the game with 10 men. Joe Hart was dismissed on 28 minutes for kung-fu kicking Mo Sangare. It was Hart’s only ever career red. However, Celtic were resilient with Hatate, O’Riley and Maeda making it 16 points from a possible 18 at the start of the campaign. It was Rodgers first win against Martindale away from home at what was usually a tricky venue for the Celtic manager to negotiate during his first spell.
24 September 1994, Celtic beat the Hibees 2-0 at the national stadium. A sparse crowd of 28,000 turned out to watch the Hoops ease past Alex Miller’s Hibernian. Fine finishes from Phil O’Donnell and John Collins ensured it was a straightforward afternoon at Hampden Park.
4 years ago today, Mohammed Elyounoussi scored a last-minute winner in the Latvian capital to narrowly defeat Riga. UEFA enforced a rule that because of travel restrictions, qualifiers were only one leg during the COVID season. Celtic had been embarrassingly beaten by Ferencvaros the previous month in the 2nd qualifying round of the Champions League and thus dropped down to Europa League qualifying. The Norwegian’s last-gasp winner sent Celtic through to the Europa League play-off round.
10 years ago today, Celtic 3-0 Hearts. Ronny Deila had entered the Scottish League Cup with the aim of becoming the first Celtic manager to win the trophy since 2009. It was a comfortable outing for Deila’s side. Commons and Gudetti were on target to make sure of the win. Celtic did go onto win the trophy that season.
Conor Spence
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I think that was the end of the Doris De Vries experiment. Craig Gordon came in after having been dropped. Gordon adapted his game and became a great player for Celtic.
Do Celtic, or any club for that matter, have any say in fixtures that are switched for TV? I don’t know what TV contract says but I’d imagine the TV people would want to be able to dictate timing of games?