If You’ve Got It – Taunt It

Hi all, missed me? I have aswell! I’ve battled through illness to return this week and give you my view of last Sunday’s events. Celtic 2-2 Rangers Eh? Great training session for Celtic may I add.

So lets get right set about it!

I arrive in the boozer in the middle of the worst hangover of my legal life (I’ve been 18 5 weeks!) And my mood wasn’t helped when 5 minutes before the game Sky kept showing me Diouf, then the Rangers support, then Diouf, then the Rangers Sup…. you get the picture. (sadly!)  My sister took all of her pals with us so I looked like ‘one of the gals’ but then my mood was lifted with the sight of my mate who I knew would join in if I tried to start any songs during the game, always a good quality in a Celtic supporting friend!

Celtic started so poorly and should have been 2-0 down as Davis smashed the bar shortly after Jamie Ness’ hit and hope strike. However Celtic then settled and were deservedly level after 15 minutes when a pin-point Joe Ledley cut back found Gary Hooper he allowed the on-rushing Kris Commons to place the ball past McGregor infront of the currants and send the adoring Celtic fans loopy.

Celtic then dominated, a Steven Naismith dive was shortly followed with an absolutely horrendous challenge on Mark Wilson, which was 100x worse than Joe Ledley’s tackle at Tynecastle, which was rewarded with a Red Card. Ofcourse Naismith was booked and even that was harsh, if you believe Naismith’s body language. The diver was at it again, more subtly this time however as he clevery and sneakily waiting for Fraser Forster’s beard to come close to him and he was down, Penalty Rangers. Naismith and Jelavic protested red card. The Ref obviously obliged. 2-1 Rangers. Commons off, Zaluksa On, Celtic out the cup?

Not an effin chance.

“We are the better team, and if we have to show it with 10 men that we are the better team then that is what we’re going to do” Brucehillbhoy Dumbarton Harp CSC 13:05 Sunday 6th February 2011

And I wasn’t eating my words an hour later.

Celtic came out and pinned Rangers back, Rangers looked like the team with the man down as Celtic passed their way into the Rangers area, there was ONE pass which was on the whole time, the diagonal from left to right for Wilson, if only Celtic had got that one right, twice they tried and just missed out. If that pass was made once, Celtic were in. It looked like Celtic were going to pass and pass and pass until finally they got the better of Rangers (even if it took us to next February!). Kayal off, Samaras on, 4-3-2 and Celtic went gung-ho. And with 25 minutes left, Deliverance came.

Mulgrew, Brown, Wilson, Brown, Ledley, Izaguire cross, Samaras just missed the header, fell to Wilson, back to Scott Brown…

I can’t quite remember the next bit, I was on a chair with 4 men in a huddle screaming, I think we might just have scored.

And then as I turned to see the big screen, Scott Brown was stood out-stretched in a ‘look at me’ pose aimed right at everyones favourite, Diouf! It was 3-2 Celtic, a goal for Scott Brown and an extra point for the Celebration. Celtic, and Scott Brown in particular, had silenced Ibrox, had silenced Diouf, had silenced Rangers. Bar Jelavic’s inability to play a 5 yard pass, Celtic never looked in danger after the goal. Infact Celtic had 2 great chances to win it. First great link up from Samaras and Hooper led to a Rangers defender’s toe just denying Samaras a tap in, then McGregor made a save even he can’t believe he saved, the ball hit his head and over the bar. Celtic were that close.

Naismith, to everyones surprise, was sent off for…wait to you hear this…DIVING, or simulation if its a Rangers player, Cheating if you’re Aiden McGeady, Shunsuke Nakamura or Stillian Petrov. 10 v 10 and the last 10 minutes played themselves out. Celtic are still in the draw and the ‘Bring on the Rangers’ songs are sung, regarding the replay and the forthcoming league match next weekend.

But back to Scott Brown, who was absoutely outstanding, that was a captain’s performance. Scott Brown is CELTIC’s captain, not Rangers’ captain, so get over it,  just because the bhoy didn’t grow up wearing green and white hoops listening to Shebeen whilst performing the rifles pose at every photo opportunity, does NOT mean that he has anything other than Celtic’s best interests at heart. Scott Brown loves it at Celtic, he didn’t just do his celebration at Diouf for any personal gain, he done it because he knows as everyone else does, that the balance of power in Glasgow shifted, Celtic are now the best team in Glasgow, we all knew it, and Brown’s goal and performance gave us confirmation. Scott Brown’s celebration also made one other remarkable statement. Celtic will not be held done any longer, you throw whatever you have at us, we will come out fighting.

With all that said, lets look forward to Tannadice now and another good game, remember last time? Celtic to score 5 times and yes, you guessed it, Joe Ledley for the first goal!

Ledley to score first and Celtic 5-0. 190/1 at Bet 365. Click on the banner for free money.