4. NEUCHATEL XAMAX 5-1 CELTIC – 22 October 1991
The early-1990s were not an auspicious era for Celtic – but even this result manages to stand out as a true low point. Playing in the UEFA Cup, Celtic went to Switzerland in a match that most fans still expected to win. Instead, a collapse of unthinkable proportions took place.
Neuchatel – managed by Roy Hodgson – started well, taking the lead after only nine minutes. General malaise through the entire Celtic team meant that by half-time it was 3-0. Things got even worse on 55 minutes when Hossam Hassan got his hat-trick and Celtic were four behind.
Brian O’Neil’s goal four minutes later gave Celtic some hope, especially in the days of the ‘away goals’ rule. But rather than shutting up shop and fixing things in Glasgow, Hassan got his fourth and it ended 5-1. It proved too big a score to overcome in the second leg and, in many ways, was a shadow that hung over Liam Brady’s remaining two years at the club.
Continued on the next page…where things are just are terrifying…
5-1 defeat at Ibrox in 1988. We went there as champions and took the lead then Andrews decided to become Dracula. The match started there 9 in a row. Can’t get any worse than that.
4-0 at St Mirren in March 2010. Tony Mowbray’s last game. Watching him sitting on the bench, totally passive and unable to do anything about what was happening, you knew it was the end for him, and you got the feeling that he knew it too. A good man, but the job was just too big for him.
Losing to the new Ibrox club in the Scottish Cup semi final of 2016 was one of the most horrible days of my supporting life and I’ve been attending since 1973. However, 2 plus points came out of it. Like the ICT defeat in 2000, the board got their finger out and gave us Brendan for the first time. The other was it allowed the David Gray last minute winner in the cup final. I’ve never celebrated or laughed so much at a non Celtic/Roma/Italy goal in my life.