The Celtic B team lived up to the achievements of the youth side and the senior team tonight when they beat the Ibrox outfit to win the Glasgow Cup. A sublime first half display from Adam Brooks where he scored two and created another for Rocco Vata, set us on our way, going in 3-1 at the break after conceding a late penalty.
The second half, however, was a horror show for Celtic as our late concession almost came back to haunt us in a big, big way due to a nervy, uninspiring performance from Bosun Lawal in particular who had looked nervous in the first half but in the second almost self-destructed with frequent careless passes and dallying on the ball allowing Ibrox its opportunity.
The first performance from Celtic B going forward was outrageously good to watch, reminding us all of the way Ange has the first team set up at the moment. Aside from the front men, Summers was excellent in the middle of the pitch, in an echo of the classy display of youth captain Kyle Ure, who played there in the Youth Cup Final victory.
But the second half display saw Celtic in some disarray as though the concession of the spot kick had frayed the nerves somewhat. Conceding the early second half goal – due to Lawal’s extreme carelessness – definitely made them feel under pressure and fed into an insecurity which seemed to paralyse them somewhat.
I thought it was a matter of time before it came, and right towards the end it duly did after Lovelace had smacked the ball against the crossbar and the defence had failed to clear their lines. We had given up a 3-0 lead to send the game to penalties.
There were signs of nervousness in our penalty takers too with two of them missing outright – one of whom was Summers, who certainly would not have deserved to be on the losing side – and a couple having their shots saved by the Ibrox keeper.
A few times in the shoot-out we flogged chances to win.
That does speak to how jittery some of the players were. In the end it was our big keeper, the Irishman Josh Clarke making some excellent saves to deny Ibrox players who probably thought it was in their hands.
We deserved it, in no small part because of a first half performance which was absolutely brilliant from our midfield and front players.
But boy did we come close to throwing it away.
If the big lad Lawal has had a worse game in his career he will be glad it’s out of his system, but he didn’t help his prospects of breaking into the first team especially with Ange watching from the wings.
Development moves up a notch when tasting silverware, Its the Celtic Way.
Correct boab.
The Pen, Lovelace. Anyway, we went in with a 2 goal advantage at the 45 min period. The Bosun Lawell mistake put us on edge. And as much as the nerves were apparent, I thought we began to play our way again, though tentatively. Sometimes the chap between the sticks makes the difference, and so it was tonight.
A lot to like in the game, a lot to improve on.
All in all we are the Glasgow ? cup holders .
Lawal is no first team player, never will be , gives up far to often when a man gets round him, his positional play is rotten, lacks heart.
Sorry, but he has no future at CP , loan out until he gets his head sorted.
Lawal should be shipped out right away after that performance, if the ball had currants in it, he would have ate it. Our keepers penalty saves were straightforward as the huns hadn’t a clue how to take them. more misses on their part than saves from us. Great to win the Cup though on their own home ground and it all adds to their agony. It was also great to see Ange and co. at the game, that is encouraging for the young players,
Nice to win but was a shocking standard, Looked like parks players with their awful decisions and distribution.