It was not the best performance of the season, but it was not the worst either. A draw is always a slight disappointment, especially if there are no goals, but yesterday we were up against a stuffy defence who were well organised, compact and a great credit to Gary Holt who has really done wonders on what can only be described as a limited budget.
It was not that we didn’t have our chances, the best one falling to Scott Sinclair late in the game when he seemed to kick the ball with the wrong foot, and on another day we might have had better luck with some of them.
We did seem to lack the cutting edge that we have had of late, however, but that will, hopefully, be only a temporary loss.
I wonder whether Brendan Rodgers did the right thing in criticising artificial pitches BEFORE the game. It may have planted a few seeds of unnecessary doubt in the minds of our players.
But in any case, we simply have to live with artificial pitches, beginning at Hamilton in a couple of weeks time when the real football starts again.
My own view is that I prefer grass, but there is a case for using them at the First and Second Division level. These clubs often lose far too much money in the winter through postponements, and I can understand the desire to have them. But at Premiership level let us stick to grass with undersoil heating to prevent postponements.
I felt that our taller players struggled on the artificial pitch yesterday. Both Rogic and Edouard, for example, have played better, and I did feel that they might have done better on grass. Our best player was, once again, Kieran Tierney, but our defence looked quite sound throughout and only occasionally did I fear the loss of a goal.
Mr Menga probably did deserve the long walk, and that might have made a difference in the second half, but as it happened, we had to settle for a draw – a disappointment but not a disaster nor a disgrace.
Our supporters were once again first class and did not disgrace the club during the minute’s silence. Well done, boys and girls, and well done to Celtic themselves who once again wore the green and white, the most famous strip in the world.
And now the International break. Pardon me if I yawn! And let’s hope none of our guys get injured!
David Potter
Also on The Celtic Star…
TG: ‘My goal in the European Cup Final? Which one?’ Menga: ‘My head-butt on Ryan Christie? Which one?’…See HERE.
