Celtic’s Main Man – A year since Murrayfield and the emergence of Ryan Christie

THIS TIME last year, in rather controversial circumstances Celtic had been forced to play a Betfred Cup semi final at Murrayfield stadium and they emerged with a huge 3-0 win over Hearts at the ‘neutral’ venue.

From the embers of that decision came the rise of Celtic’s Treble Treble season and the emergence of the player who can now lay claim to being the most important player on form in a Celtic shirt. Ryan Christie.

The build up was all about Celtic missing important players. Scott Brown, Dedryck Boyata and Jozo Simunovic were all missing in action as was Leigh Griffiths.

There was a real hope from the rest of Scottish football that The Celts would be slipping up. Instead seven minutes in Hearts lost their own talisman in Steven Naismith to injury.

They then could and should have lost the use of Steven Mclean. Who appeared attracted to entirely the wrong kind of balls when having already been booked decided to play ‘twist’ to Kouassi Eboue’s ‘shout’ at a corner kick.

In a dreadful first half bereft of quality, the tail end got as close to interesting as we were going to get when McLean had a ‘goal’ disallowed for offside and Celtic replied with a Sinclair shot that Zlamal turned past.

The game however sprung into life in a second half few were expecting based on the turgid fare served up first half.

Just eight minutes in The Celts scored in somewhat controversial circumstances. Ryan Christie strode past Hearts Bozanic and although contact was minimal, Willie Collum gave the penalty kick. Scott Sinclair (remember him) stepped up with a staggered run up and popped the ball into the net with Zlamal heading in the opposite direction.

With this Tom Rogic popped his head over the parapet and began to pull the strings, prodding, probing and carrying the ball into enemy territory with increasing belief. The second goal followed quickly.

Zlamal messed up hugely as Ryan Christie started to influence. Ryan’s effort was no great shakes in fact it was rather tame goal attempt. His shot from the edge of the box slipped under Zamal. The keeper clawed at a ball that already looked over the line but we weren’t getting that from Collum on the back of a penalty but James Forrest stride on like Christmas had come before Halloween and thumped it past Zlamal.

Zlamal had no such chance to get his hands on Celtic’s third goal. Odsonne Edouard flicked and Christie pounced and from the edge of the area thumped a rising shot simply destined for the top of the net and to kick start a Celtic career, that one year on has seen him rise to the most significant performer in the Celtic first team.

It also ended this Cup semi final for a Hearts side who at that stage it should be remembered were the Premiership league leaders. What a difference a year makes.

Edouard could have grabbed a fourth then both Tierney and Forrest had chances before Scott Sinclair had not one but two shots cleared off the line.

It’s fair to assume Craig Levein smelled blood, but in a sliding doors moment Celtic strode on to the Treble as Hearts plummeted from the summit of the table to drop like a stone. Once again Celtic drew on banks of experience to flummox an opponent who fancied their chances and the governing bodies who genuinely believed they’d created the opportunity and upset by forcing Celtic to play at Murrayfield. No luck all round. Once again Celtic stepped up when it really mattered.

From a big game came big players and yet another huge performance. It’s what Celtic just keep doing.

The respect had to lie with Brendan Rodgers replacing of an injured Kouassi with an offensive option in Scott Sinclair and of course the major turning point in the game and Celtic’s season, the introduction of Ryan Christie.

Hearts couldn’t cope and not many have in the year since. Celtic laid down a warning at Murrayfield and the six trophies already bagged soon became nine.

61,161 at Murrayfield witnessed a Celtic side consisting of- Bain, Lustig, Tierney, Benkovic, Ajer, Kouassi, McGregor, Ntcham, Rogic, Forrest and Edouard. Sinclair, Christie and Hendry were the subs involved.

The Celtic Star reported on the match at the time.