Ange Postecoglou was right in his post-match comments to the BBC, following last night’s brilliant win over Hearts at Tynecastle, when he said “Ultimately this game of football was decided by our performance, not by a referee.”
And he was also right to point out Celtic showed “resilience and grit” to emerge with thee points from a game that ultimately became the scrappy encounter we’d expected, but also one we’d controlled and dominated in a first half in particular where Celtic, in front of a partisan crowd, a pumped-up opposition and under a weight of expectation initially blew Hearts away.
Ange seemed a little perplexed at how the immediate reaction at the final whistle was to discuss the refereeing, although it was undoubtedly an opportunity he couldn’t refuse to take a sly dig at Robbie Neilson after the Hearts manager had claimed the referee won the game for Celtic, when the sides might at Celtic Park last month.
Yet the manager is quite right, the decisions on the night may have played a part in the scoreline however Celtic’s ability to go to a venue like Tynecastle quieten the near capacity crowd, dampen a fired-up opposition and impose our football philosophy ultimately delivered the result.
In some quarters there was some disappointment at how the second half threatened to undermine Celtic’s early dominance, but in truth the second half was very much what you’d expect from a visit to Tynecastle, it was the opening period that was the outlier, and it was there the game was won.
Reo Hatate’s stunning goal came at just the right time, the Tynecastle cauldron was down to a simmer and Hearts players were chasing shadows and coughing up possession, but we needed to score to turn the dominance into something tangible and what a way to do it, and the second goal, with that wonderful improvised striker’s goal from Giorgos Giakoumakis was the one from which Celtic had the reserves to cope with the second half.
The second half was the battle you’d expect at Tynecastle, as Hearts fought to retain their pride after a first half chastening, yet the fact they got back into it all was more likely down to the mental and physical fatigue our attacking players felt, as we saw how a squad decimated by injuries and international call-ups, and reliant on new signings not quite up to peak physical condition, understandably dropped off.
The goal for Liam Boyce may well have been offside but it was marginal, as was Giorgos Giakoumakis first half effort, but the concession of the penalty came from tired minds and questionable decision making as a result, but when Boyce missed Celtic regrouped, and the resilience and grit the manager talked of post-match kicked in and Celtic ultimately saw out the match dead on their feet but entirely professionally.
This was a victory for Celtic in times of adversity, it was benchmark of progress on a ground where we lost in the corresponding fixture at the start of the season, and it was a deflating blow for our rivals across the city.
This was a win, that should Celtic emerge from this title scrap with the League won, we’ll all look back on as a key result in the outcome, and we did it with both sides of a football team you need, the wonderful inventive, dominating performance of the first half and the resilience and grit the manager was keen to praise in the second half. It was the perfect balance found in what could ultimately be a season defining victory.
Niall J
