It rained, in Biblical proportions, as we arrived and as we left, and we were therefore soaked twice, but it was a great night. Celtic coped with a difficult fixture admirably, and sent out a clear warning that our opponents are going to need all the dodgy penalties that they can get, and that the Celtic revival is definitely underway.
The first half was superb with three excellently well taken goals, the first two not necessarily scored by players that one would associate with goal scoring, and every one of them a reward for some excellent football. Then sadly a soft goal was lost, the excellent Tom Rogic was taken off injured, and there was a spell in the middle of the second half when Hibs were the better team. We rode out that storm however and finished well on top with that prolonged business at the corner flag on the stand side of the ground showing just how much the team have learned in the field of match management skills.
Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic celebrates scoring his side’s 3rd goal during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Hibernian FC and Celtic FC at on October 27, 2021 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
There were many pleasing aspects of the play, however. Cameron Carter-Vickers was once again superb and he scored a goal last night! The other thing was that watching from behind the goal (as one is obliged to do at Easter Road) highlights just what a player Callum McGregor is, and the third was the way that Joe Hart reacted to the goals being scored. Joe was not born a Celt, but he is definitely one of us now. Indeed a feature of the team is just how well they worked together. The days of the “reluctant Celt” of last year have gone. From Ange Postecoglou outwards, the team radiates desire to win and to work for each other.
The view from just behind David Potter at Easter Road!
Once again, it would be hard to find someone who was a weakness. Odd mistakes were made, particularly when the team was under pressure, but they were recovered from, and at times the standard of play was exceptional. And history proves that when we win, the other teams crack under the pressure, even when we are not playing them directly. Try 1915 and 1968, for example. We are now very much back in the race, and all we have to do is keep winning.
There were one or two down sides, though. One was the awful rain, another was the dreadful traffic in Edinburgh. Hibs, admittedly cannot do much about them, but they can certainly do something about their goalkeeper’s awful reaction to a Celtic player lying injured with what might have been a serious head or facial knock. He should be ashamed of that!
Jota of Celtic challenges for the ball against Josh Doig of Hibernian FC during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Hibernian FC and Celtic FC at on October 27, 2021. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
And there really must be a better way of allowing Celtic supporters to leave Easter Road without having to go across that awful bottle-neck of a metal bridge! There is trouble looking for a place to happen there, and it says an awful lot about Celtic supporters’ patience that they did not try to surge forward and make life dangerous for everyone!
Celtic fans were brilliant throughout but sadly there were a few (I stress, only a few) who booed during the minute’s silence, and I would prefer not to hear the Harry Lauder song of “Roamin In The Gloamin” being perverted into a song which seems to imply some sort of religious superiority, and reduces Celtic fans to the level of other teams.
No objection to any criticism of the British Crown or the glorification of a small nation’s struggle for independence from a colonial super-power – in fact I joined in! – but religious sectarianism is the province of another part of Glasgow, and not Celtic FC which is “open to all”
Joe Hart and Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic celebrates after the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Hibernian FC and Celtic FC at on October 27, 2021. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
There were a couple of funny things as well, though. One was the sight of Hibs fans taking their departure before 30 minutes were on the clock! And the other was the “Covid police” being very careful and meticulous, even a bit officious, until a heavy shower of rain persuaded them to abandon ship!
But a good night. Livingston on Saturday. “Face The Ball, Celts” as Sunny Jim of long ago would have said. Do not let the recent weeks go to ruin!
David Potter
