Davie Provan’s masterly understatement – “By no stretch of the imagination has this been a good Scottish performance”

It wouldn’t really matter whether it was the 1st XI, the 2nd XI, or simply 11 guys picked up off the streets, there is the permanent rule that Scotland must play rubbish! Players who do well for their clubs suddenly become ordinary, or even rank awful, when playing for Scotland! There were fewer Celtic players to watch tonight, but at least Ryan Christie can take penalty kicks, and two ex-Celts Stuart Armstrong and David Marshall did well enough.

But oh, it was boring! Davie Provan, a great player in his day, made two comments near the end which were priceless “By no stretch of the imagination has this been a good Scottish performance” – a masterly understatement, Davie! And then as we were defending a free kick “No-one can afford to go to sleep now!” Oh, no, Davie? I have already told you that my armchair is very comfortable!

Dykes got a good goal. There is a glimmer of optimism about that chap, I think. Once again a lucky penalty. It was a free kick certainly but about a yard outside the box! However, you can’t look a gift horse in the mouth, Ryan did the needful again, and not only did Scotland win, but they are actually top of the section! Almost time to unfurl a few flags!

Once again, we wish Steve Clarke all the best. No-one can say that he didn’t give everyone a chance, and I think he is a good Manager. He did well at Kilmarnock, and it would be nice, would it not, to see Scotland in the finals of at least one tournament? I’m old enough to remember the last time, you know! Such a long time ago!

Nice to see Elyounoussi getting a goal for Norway . Let’s hope he can get some more for Celtic, starting at Dingwall on Saturday! And Odsonne Edouard started and scored as he usually does for the French Under 21s so it all adds up to a decent night for the Celts in action.

David Potter

About Author

I am Celtic author and historian and write for The Celtic Star. I live in Kirkcaldy and have followed Celtic all my life, having seen them first at Dundee in March 1958. I am a retired teacher and my other interests are cricket, drama and the poetry of Robert Burns. David Potter passed away on 29 July 2023 after a short illness. He was posthumously awarded a Special Recognition award by Celtic FC at the club's Player of the Year awards in May 2024. David's widow Rosemary accepted the award to huge applause from the Celtic Supporters in the Hydro.

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