Celtic have cut the deficit at the top of the table to three points after a fine afternoons work against struggling Gretna. Celtic were comfortable throughout the match and fully deserved the result that keeps them in contention for this seasons Championship.
Gordon Strachan again tinkered with his midfield, bringing in Barry Robson for Massimo Donati in an "experiment" to see how two attack minded central midfielders would fair against the bottom of the league club. This exercise worked well in the opening period of the match with Celtic having over 70% of the play without seeing the whites of the Gretna Keepers eyes. Limited to a couple of long range efforts from McGeady and Robson the sides looked to be heading for half time goalless until the 42nd minute.
Man of the Match Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink expertly cushioned a long Boruc kickout into the path of Top Scorer Scott McDonald and the diminutive Antipodean Striker did what he does best.
Into the second half and Celtic looked a little jaded and nervy in possession and many a good position was wasted with poor passing or a lack of options for the ball carrier. Celtic got a real fright when the defence went to sleep allowing the unfortunately named Deverdics to find himself unmarked a metre from goal. Luckily for Celtic he "fluffed his lines" and Celtics goal remained intact.
The second goal when it came was a thing of beauty. Great wing play from the Player of the Year elect Aiden McGeady saw him escape the shackles of his two markers and throw in an excellently weighted cross for JVH and the game was over as a contest as the Big Dutchman finished in style.
It wouldn't be a Sunday game on Setanta without the cameras concentrating on a Celtic players reaction to getting substituted during a game. Yes Scott McDonald was unhappy at getting subbed (Which player isn't?), but quite how it is necessary to interupt footage of the match to show Skippy sitting with his face tripping him on the bench is beyond me. One wonders if their will be a camera permanently trained on Kris Boyd's sour puss as he gets skelfs on his arse on the Rangers bench next Saturday?
Top goal scorer or not, I feel that Georgios Samaras gives Celtic more options than Skippy and I feel that the latter could do with a rest. Maybe his trip to China this week will see him getting a well earned break next weekend. Samaras' quality in coming deep and running at defences could be key to us getting a result at the Death Star next Saturday.
The Big Greek Striker took his goal well after some more excellent work by McGeady, and I am not alone in calling for the strikers signature on a permanent deal.
Yours in Celtic
Clydebuilt