The Celtic Star recently announced that this site would be publishing INVINCIBLE, the much anticipated debut and published book from Celtic writer Matt Corr.
Today I can show you for the first time the complete cover artwork for INVINCIBLE and if you want to pre-order your copy just click on any of the book images to order.
Over the last few weeks we’ve brought you glimpses of this fine account of a historical season in Celtic’s history with Matt Corr’s take on the first European game of Brendan Rodgers reign on the rock of Gibraltar. Last week saw Matt describe the first game of that historic unbeaten season when a Scotty Sinclair inspired Celtic set out on the road to an unbeaten domestic season with a hard fought victory over Hearts at Tynecastle.
Today we bring Matt’s take on the acid test for any Celtic manager, their first Glasgow Derby. Moussa Dembele introduced himself as a Celtic striker of note with a hat-trick as Celtic hammered Rangers in the first league derby between the clubs. And there was the side show of Scott Brown and Joey Barton going head to head following an intensive build up in the media.
Anyone thinking Celtic and ‘the’ Rangers were back on a level playing field or that Scott Brown had a challenge as Scotland’s chief midfield enforcer, soon realised there was a large gap to bridge for the new Ibrox club and competing with Celtic’s captain was a bridge too far for Barton. After only eight appearances the new hope for ‘the’ Rangers headed back south. The beginning of the end for Barton came at Celtic Park that very day.
Here’s is how Matt Corr described that afternoon in his excellent debut book Invincible:
Mark Warburton brought his Rangers team across Glasgow for the first meeting of the sides since the ill-fated shoot-out at Hampden, five months earlier. Celtic had made just the one, enforced change, for the derby, Moussa Dembele replacing Leigh Griffiths. It would prove to be a very significant change.
Some things are just meant to be, I guess. The teams appeared in the tunnel to a deafening roar from 58,348 fans, on Saturday, 10 September 2016, Celts emerging to face a human tricolour in the north-east corner where the Ultras assemble, one of the most visually-effective displays I have ever seen in all my years of supporting the famous Hoops.
Once again Celtic started in dominant mood, forcing the play, however, we had passed the half-hour mark before the first goal arrived, Scott Sinclair’s curling corner met by a majestic header from Moussa Dembele, which bulleted past Wes Foderingham in the Rangers goal.
As the noise levels increased yet further, Dembele made it a derby double, running onto Nir Bitton’s through ball to check back inside Philippe Senderos, the former Arsenal defender left unceremoniously grounded as the Frenchman struck an exquisite right-footed finish around Foderingham and into the far corner for 2-0.
Seconds before half-time, the visitors pulled a goal back, literally out of the blue, Kenny Miller’s header across the six-yard box bundled in by Joe Garner, to slightly dampen the party atmosphere over the interval.
The Hoops fans needn’t have worried. On the hour-mark, Mikael Lustig prompted Dembele into life with a pass delivered in from the right flank. This time he deceived the back-peddling Rangers defence by threading a delightful pass through to Scott Sinclair, whose clinical one-touch finish clipped the post on its way to 3-1, his fourth successive League goal.
The unfortunate Senderos’ afternoon then went from bad to worse, the big Swiss defender stretching up to stop another attack with his hand with fifteen minutes remaining, referee Collum with no option but to show him a second yellow card.
There would be more pain to endure for Warburton’s promoted side. As the clock ticked on to 83 minutes, Lustig sent over a perfect cross, which took stand-in central defender, Joey Barton, out of the game completely. Dembele’s finish was sublime, one touch to control before firmly placing the ball into the far corner with his left-foot for the perfect hat-trick, his first treble in senior football.
The icing on the Celtic cake was provided right at the death, this time Kieran Tierney the provider, his cross from the left picking out Stuart Armstrong. The blond midfielder, a replacement for Rogic early in the second period, momentarily appeared to have missed his opportunity, drifting past defenders only to strike it back across the keeper and in for 5-1. It was party central in the east end of Glasgow.
This would be the first significant checkpoint in the 2016/17 title race. Celtic, having won at Tynecastle and Perth and then scored nine goals at home to the two anticipated ‘main challengers’, had a 100% record, already four points clear of the Ibrox side with that Partick Thistle game in hand.
It had been a perfect start to the domestic season, recent signings Moussa Dembele and Scott Sinclair contributing more than their fair share of goals, whilst Leigh Griffiths had continued where he had left off in May. And all achieved against a background of Champions League qualification and injuries to key players
It was a happy Brendan Rodgers who spoke to the press after the game, asked first, of course, about the performance of his exciting young French striker. ‘He was outstanding. He was up against Philippe Senderos, who’s an experienced player -but you see his physicality in the game, his heading ability, his running ability and a wonderful touch and finish.’
And his views on the game and the experience overall?
‘I was disappointed that we conceded a goal before half-time. You expect them to come out and try to force the game in the first ten minutes of the second half and there was too much area opening up, especially in the central areas -so we made the change. Tom’s had a lot of travel in the international break. We said to Stu that this was a game he could come into and look to press and work and he’s done that very well and got his goal. He contributed to a great team performance. ’It was important to win today and keep the momentum going. We have got to be relentless in our quest to win the title again and that was a good marker for us. The atmosphere today was truly special. When the noise is like that, it really is a team that has a 12th man. They had a real disappointment at Hampden only a few months back, so hopefully they have shown the improvements they have made. It is great for the supporters. It is always about bragging rights for the supporters and I think they will be proud of their team today.’
His opposite number Mark Warburton, surprisingly felt there was no significant gap between the sides.
‘It’s game five of a long season. We don’t see a major gulf. We just got beat 5-1.They have bragging rights and deserved to win.’
Man-of-the-moment Dembele could scarcely contain his delight, admitting that it was an experience he would remember ‘for my whole life.’ ‘It feels great. To score a hat-trick, my first in professional football, is something unbelievable. Everyone has welcomed me since I came to the club and the fans were unbelievable today.’
‘The atmosphere is something I have never seen. I don’t think I will see something like this in my career.’
Final word for now goes to the Celtic captain, Scott Brown. He had remained silent whilst Joey Barton, brought in from the English Championship side, Burnley, on a reputedly large salary, had bad-mouthed him in the media, claiming that Brown was ‘nowhere near the level of player I am’.
The controversial midfielder’s words had come back to haunt him, the veteran Celt dominating proceedings from the outset, leaving the field to a standing ovation on 74 minutes, the game and Joey already in the bag. Pressed by the headline-seeking media afterwards about the anticipated ‘battle with Barton’, Brown dismissed it out of hand. ‘It was easy. There was no battling whatsoever. It was pretty much men versus boys at the end of the day’.
Matt Corr’s wonderfully crafted debut book is available to pre-order right now. Anyone scratching their head when it comes to a gift for any Celtic daft friend or family member should think no more.
Invincible is the ideal present for any Celtic supporter as it documents a season in Celtic’s history that has never been achieved before and will be unlikely to ever be repeated.
Let Matt Corr help you retrace your steps through a wonderful Celtic journey. It’s a book you’ll read and return to time and time again. It’s also one you’ll share with future generations of Celtic supporters like your Fathers and Grandfathers did for you. Those books are always the best. Invincible won’t disappoint I can promise you that.
Niall J
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