SANDMAN’S DEFINITIVE RATINGS: CELTIC v CARROT AND TATTIE…
Peter Lawwell, Michael Nicholson and Christopher McKay watch on as Celtic draw 0-0 with Kairat at Celtic Park in the UEFA Champions League play-off match, worth over £40m to the winners.
“It is hardly possible to build anything if frustration, bitterness and a mood of helplessness prevail.” – Lech Walesa
Alistair Johnston of Celtic lies injured during the UEFA Champions League Play-offs Round First Leg match between Celtic and Kairat Almaty at Celtic Park on August 20, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
THE FRIENDLY GHOST – 6/10 – Surprisingly unfettered given the number of times they encroached into our box/appeared threatening. Kasper kept his head, kept the urgency demands blaring from the deep; sadly unheeded.
Alistair Johnston of Celtic challenges for the ball with Dastan Satpayev of Kairat Almaty during the UEFA Champions League Play-offs Round First Leg match between Celtic and Kairat Almaty at Celtic Park on August 20, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
WAYNE GRETZKY – N/A – Oh, no. An early signal it may be one of those nights as The Moose goes lame on the half hour mark. By the time he’s been re-shod and the hoof heals properly, it’ll be Christmas.
KATIE – 5.5/10 – To be honest, I expected more. KT one of the few who had the Champions League vibe going early but also caught FBV (Final Baw Virus) and a host of great positions were squandered before fatigue curtailed his gig.
Liam Scales of Celtic challenges for the ball with Ricardinho of Kairat Almaty during the UEFA Champions League Play-offs Round First Leg match between Celtic and Kairat Almaty at Celtic Park on August 20, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
OF JUSTICE – 7/10 MOTM – Well, here we are again. The most-maligned does come up trumps to steady the ship and provide a foundation at the back most welcome. As many old heads around him fluttered in the pressure, The Ginger Baresi went through the motions like it was another SPL jobber contest. Calmest head on the park, sharpest wits too.
Cameron Carter Vickers of Celtic gestures to the assistant referee during the UEFA Champions League Play-offs Round First Leg match between Celtic and Kairat Almaty at Celtic Park on August 20, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
GET CARTER – 5.5/10 – Obviously, laughing too much at the Brugge performance yesterday incited near-fatal muscle memory and CCV almost dropped a clanger as loud as his Brugge OG with a moment of complete abstraction. So close to being punished by an audacious, unlucky, 40-yard pitch Tiger Woods would have applauded. Phew. That incident was a suitable metaphor to describe the collective Celtic mindset. Around it CCV was habitually combative but never seemed too comfortable with their sprightly forward play.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it’s not the players failing to get up to tempo (barring Idah), it’s Brendan not allowing them to take any risk whatsoever. It’s like watching Craig Levein’s Scotland all over again. 0-0 is a good result the mantra. I’m over it. He should never have been taken back but the board knew he was a pushover and so they did.