Game over! More Than 90 Minutes editor Andrew Milne on Beautiful Sunday

Andrew Milne from More than 90 Minutes joins The Celtic Star and in his first column the popular Celtic fanzine editor writes about Beautiful Sunday, what else? More Than 90 Minutes will be launching its own section on The Celtic Star very shortly, strengthening the bond between the city and the Irish supporters of our grand old team.  His Celtic AM events, on the morning before Celtic home matches are a joy to attend and The Celtic Star Podcast Bhoys are regulars there. You should try to get along to one before a match-day.

I arrived in Glasgow on Saturday just over 24 hours before kick off to Celtic’s away game at Ibrox and I was surprised how confident our opponents fans were. The media were talking them up and telling us it was a make or break game for them.

Most of the Celtic fans I spoke to were confident on Saturday and were not buying into the laptop loyal b/s.

Match day arrived and the clamour for tickets continued. The hotel bar was doing a thriving business with mostly Celtic fans and only a few Sevconian’s splattered around. You would have wondered who the home team were.

My mate had a arranged a lift to Ibrox but with the usual traffic congestion we jumped out early and walked through a crowd of blue in what resembled a scene from a cheap zombie flick.

The roundabout was the meeting point for most of us to collect and distribute tickets while others were waiting patiently to hopefully pick up a last minute ticket.

We made our way in through the dilapidated turnstiles and took or place close to the front of the stand which was already filling up nicely with confident Celtic fans in what normally houses the Onion Ultras (don’t know of any other Ultra group who gives up there area for their biggest rivals).

Before kick off we were treated to a flag waving almost military style display of flag bearers around the centre circle and then we had their “What the f*ck is that” Tifo from the home fans about 5 minutes premature before the players came out for kick off. Our Ultras display was smaller, more to the point and got the message across in a witty way.

The home fans got to celebrate a false dawn when Boyata gifted them an early sisters day present. Order was soon restored when Tom Rogic scored a cracker, cue wild celebrations among the faithful but once again poor defended gifted them another goal to give their fans something to sing about. With half time approaching Scott Brown delivered a perfect pass to Moussa before being mowed down from behind. Moussa took his chance 2-2 half time cue more celebrations among the Celtic fans and silence elsewhere while Broony did the Broony in front of their penniless directors and foaming at the mouth fans.

A number of Celtic players and security staff were in the front row above us and seemed to be enjoying the half time attention with Leigh Griffith’s scarf once again the star of the show.

Second half and our confidence was dented when big Jozo was sent off,  the linesman was animated as he shouted to their 12th man Willie “RED RED RED “ and Willie couldn’t get his card out quick enough. I met Sky commentator Andy Walker after the game in Glasgow airport he told me it was no sending off.

Brendan rearranged the team quickly with Young Hendry coming on and settling in well and then Odsonne Ed. coming on to grab the headlines after a pitch perfect pass from Dembele and the kid puts on the style and shows us what he’s all about. GOAL and wild celebrations. Happy Days! Their ship was sinking and the zombies were deserting and sneaking out the exits. When the final whistle sounded the celebrations began.

9 points clear with a game in hand.  GAME OVER!