Beyond The Score

Look back to a year ago, Celtic with all respects were in a mess.

Having just concluded a car-crash of a season, finishing twenty-five points behind bitter rivals, the mood was glim. A sparkling light kept spirits just above ground level though, the nearing appointment of Eddie Howe seemed inevitable as every outlet on planet earth concluded that the East End of Glasgow would be his home come August.

Yet, after the three month shenanigan of a wait, the deal fell through. The unthinkable occurred. What at the time seemed a PR disaster turned out to be a terrific blessing in disguise however. In walked Ange Postecoglou from the other end of the world, all by himself. Ready.

The task of making this team competitive was deemed impossible by some, never mind a domestic double! Clyde One pundit and Daily Record writer Hugh Keevins proclaimed Celtic would be beaten in the league by Aberdeen (who would go on to have a struggling season which just escaped relegation.) A Mic’d up session released by Celtic’s media team showed that Ange had passion and know-how during training, at this stage however that was the minimum requirements.

Struggling to a loss at the season opener in Tynecastle, a Champions League early exit plus finding themselves 6th after seven games, it was understandable Celtic fans were losing faith. Aussie outlets who had been singing Ange’s praises since the second he stepped foot in Glasgow warned that the bedding in period would be tough. Their prediction was on the ball. Although, what they also warned was that things would improve and to “trust the process”. Fast forward a couple of months Celtic had closed the gap at the summit and had a domestic cup to show for it. For the second time, the Aussie’s media had proven correct.

On New Years day Celtic made a triple signing of Japanese players who added the needed depth and quality that was sought after. Mat O’Reilly made for a fitting addition in a tidy window. From that point on Celtic didn’t look back. Win after win after win, they were relentless, as Ange once said “We never stop.” A terrific Rangers side which has merited that statement with their Europeans heroics, yet domestically Celtic were just a different animal they couldn’t handle. With a double in the bag in a season of change and uncertainty its scary to think with a smooth entry to the Champions league and a proper pre-season where this team could go. Yet the Aussie media claims you only really see the best of Ange-ball in the second season, will they score a hattrick of predictions?

There was so many key points, to narrow it down to five is a headache of a task, but here goes:

A win away hadn’t been something Celtic could boast about since February plus sitting sixth in the league standings made for a more than rocky start. To add to that a midweek four-nil battering from German giants Bayern Levrkusen left confidence drained from this set of players. Positives were few and far between although a return to league action for Callum Mcgregor and Kyogo Furuhashi played a monumental role in lifting spirits. Although, Postecoglou’s side were up against an Aberdeen team who had also been struggling for confidence and found themselves struggling at the foot of the table. In the early stages Celtic had control and after Jota coming close by hitting the woodwork Kyogo Furuhashi continued his heroics and chested home from a spectacular Turnbull cross. Yet for all Celtics control a header from Lewis Ferguson got the dons back level. Pressure was mounting on Celtic as more dropped points would have saw them go eight point behind their rivals in as many games, when pushed came to shove though Jota popped up and gave Celtic a monumental victory. 

Injury stricken Celtic travelled to Dingwall breathing down the necks of Rangers knowing only three points would do. Liam Scales was handed his first Celtic start while a front three of Josep Jaranovic, Liel Abada and Adam Montgomery played what was their first and most likely last time as a front-line trio. Celtic dominated the early exchanges and opened the scoring with Liel Abada. That was a goal where the inverted fullbacks of Celtic really showed its purpose as Liam Scales the assister dragged the Ross County defence out of position before his low cross. Yet, for all their dominance Ross County found a way back in as they equalised just before the hour. Celtic huffed and puffed, it was starting to look like “one of those days”. Being denied an obvious penalty to those with eyes, plus Carl Starfelt being dismissed left Celtic in a position of extreme difficulty. The unlikely hero of Anthony Ralston leaped tall in the 97th minute to head home a major winner, limbs proceeded.

The East-end side were just a matter of days away from a monument

al derby at Parkhead but all focus had to be on defeating the Tanadice side first hand. Ross County had dealt Celtic a helping hand as they bagged a late equaliser in Dingwall to salvage a point against Van Bronchurst’s Rangers. Despite this lift though Celtic never truly got out the gates. Dominating in possession they were comfortable however rarely did they make that possession count. Chances came and gone but little look of a goal being scored there was. A sucker punch was then dealt to the bhoys as Nir Bitton was given a red card with just ten minutes to go. Would that mentality and dig that occurred at Dingwall find the surface again in Glasgow and repeat ? (You have probably worked out the answer). A brilliant piece of build up which saw Jota cross to Abada would end with the Israeli battering it into the roof of the net to send Parkhead into overdrive.

Just a couple of nights after that victory against Dundee United Celtic welcomed Rangers to Parkhead with a chance of grabbing top spot for the first time of the season. With a full 60,000 Celtic fans cheering on the home side it was always going to be a difficult night for the visitors. That proved itself evidently . Ange’s side dominated from early on not letting Rangers breathe. Just five minutes in Reo Hatate announced himself onto the scene scoring from a corner. The chances didn’t let off though As Giakoumakis created opportunity after opportunity, a second looked imminent. Reo Hatate once again found himself on cloud nine in Paradise as he fired Celtic two goals in front. Yet while celebrations where still in full swing Liel Abada just couldn’t help himself bagging a third for the hoops before the break. Celtic more or less saw out the second half as the stats proved a sever drop in intensity. Make no mistake though, this was a night of statement.

Celtic travelled to Ibrox knowing a victory would put breathing space between themselves and Rangers by opening up a six point gap at the summit. Those who though it would be a easy task though were foolish. That proved as well to be the case as Aaron Ramsey opened the scoring just a couple of minutes in and Ibrox was rocking. Celtic may have been forgiven certainly not by Ange but by others as in this type of occasion Govan was one of the most hostile atmospheres in world football, had they caved in and resulted to the easy safe route of risk-free football. Only a couple of minutes later though Tom Rogic showed that he still possesses the coolness of a cucumber as he popped up at the right time in the right place to equalise. For the rest of the half Celtic looked the more likely to score and that goal did come shortly before the break. Cameron-Carter Vickers saw the ball drop to him from a Jota free kick and took advantage by putting Celtic in front. Shock horror, but a degree of pragmatism crept into Celtic’s second half performance as Ange Ball went out the window and it was defending for dear lives. The resilient unit of Celtic stood strong packed in their own 18-yard box defending cross after cross. By the end of the ninety, Celtic had only had 39% of possession which was unheard off for this team. Although, no worries as one hand was now firmly on the trophy.

By Liam McBride

(Images on Wikimedia, Flickr and Geograph)