In our Blog build up to this weekend’s major clash with Dundee United at Hampden, Block_102 takes a look back at Celtic’s tie with the Tannadice outfit in 2001, when Hampden was nice to us.
Back in early 2001, life was rosy for Celtic fans. The biggest problem seemed to be if Henrik Larsson went a game without scoring. Before the 2001 Semi v Dundee United, he had suffered a five game barren spell without a goal to his name. At the time, this was blown up as a major crisis  for the Swede. By the end of the game, he had broken Charlie Nicholas’s post-war goalscoring record. CRISIS.
A week before this match, Celtic clinched the league and were in party mode, but no hangover was on display as Celtic professionally seen off The Arabs to book a place with Hibs in the final that year.
Dundee United made the better start and could have taken the lead early on but Charlie ‘Pieman’ Miller’s 20 yard effort flew over the bar. Steven Thompson, far from the threatening frontman he was for St Mirren a couple of months ago at Hampden, was supposed to be United’s biggest goal threat but was efficiently marshaled by a Celtic back three of Vega, Valgaeren and Mjallby.
I love a good heider. There’s not a lot better than seeing the ball hit the net via the bonce of one of your own. Henrik loved a heidy. He could show up anyone in the air even if they had a good few inches on him. SPL cloggers and world class defenders felt the wrath of the great one when it came to aerial encounters. When Chris Sutton raced to the byline and whipped in a near post cross, it looked set to be easily dealt with by Jim Lauchlan until Larsson dived to meet the ball and divert it past Paul Gallacher with such ferocity that had the goalkeeper got any connection on it, he’d have been admitted to the Victoria Infirmary with a severe case of ‘gubbed hawns’. A magnificent finish and one that shall remain in The King’s top ten.
A sad PERSONAL tale at half time in this game was when I was caught on camera looking like Fred Durst out ‘Limp Bizkit’ – complete with the red NY cap on backwards. I believe I was also wearing a bogging looking black hoody with the ‘Significant Other’ album cover on it.  It really was a tragic sight. The SKY Cameras caught me and focused on me for a good 10 seconds. In terms of the doing I took at school for the remainder of the school year as a result of it – think Fernando Ricksen’s first 20 minutes at Celtic Park in August 2000.  Of all the times I’ve been caught on the TV cameras at the football, it’s either been me looking like an extra from a Jacamo advert or something David Attenborough should be narrating on.
A rather dull second half was sparked into life in the last ten minutes when Larsson converted a penalty after being fouled by Danny Griffin. The Swede then turned provider to set up current Dundee United manager, Jackie McNamara, for a well taken third. A Derek Lilley effort meant Dundee United headed back up the road with a consolation goal for their efforts. Could I be any more patronising ?
A solid if uninspiring win then on that day was what it was all about and hopefully this Sunday we’ll have a similar outcome.
Chances are, football is going to be hard to come by. The pitch will be horrible, yet again, at Hampden and playing 24 hours after Falkirk and Hibs dive about stud-first over the park isn’t going to help anyone, but we’re unbeaten against Dundee United this season and hopefully this continues at the weekend.
Nice one Block 102.