Forrest fire and pyrotechnics on display at Hampden
Postecoglou given decision to make for Bayer and other talking points from the semi-final
CELTIC honoured a star of yesteryear at Hampden on Saturday – the tributes to the late Bertie Auld before and during the Premier Sports Cup semi-final with St Johnstone were heartfelt, touching and fitting.
Yet, Ange Postecoglou’s players also gave their supporters cause to be excited about what the future holds with a hardfought 1-0 win, clinched thanks to a second-half strike from substitute James Forrest.
It was far from their best performance. They struggled to break down opponents who defended resolutely. But reaching their first final under the Greek-Australian manager is a major milestone on the journey they are on.
So what did we learn from events in Mount Florida? Can Celtic lift the first trophy of the 2021/22 season next month? Here are five talking points to arise from the encounter.
Wing dilemma
Liel Abada has made quite an impression since signing for Celtic from Maccabi Petah Tikva in his native Israel in a
£3.4 million transfer in July.
He has endeared himself to supporters with his enthusiasm, directness and ability and has scored seven goals, including against Midtjylland, Jablonec and Ferencvaros in Europe.
At times, it has been hard to believe Abada is so young, but at others, the 20-year-old has struggled to make an impact. Saturday was one of those occasions.
He was unable to impose himself on proceedings in a difficult match against physical and defensive opponents and could have no complaints about being replaced.
Forrest made an immediate difference when he came on in the second half. He did well to pounce on a loose ball in the opposition box and volley home what proved to be the winner. But his all-round contribution in his time on the park was also impressive. He looks fit, sharp and hungry after his lengthy injury lay-off.
Postecoglou, like every manager, wants to have options in every position and he certainly has that on the right wing. He has a big decision to make over who to start against Bayer Leverkusen in Germany on Thursday.
He would do well to persevere with the older man in a demanding and important Europa League fixture given his experience and showing at the weekend.
Hart attack
St Johnstone dealt with the pressure that Celtic put them under well and limited the clear-cut chances their rivals created. Keeper Zander Clark
was hardly tested before the goal. But it is fair to say that going forward they offered next to nothing. A couple of speculative long-range efforts was the sum total of their attacking endeavours.
Still, Joe Hart almost gifted the defending champions a goal by dallying too long on the ball early in the first half. Michael O’Halloran raced in and nearly dispossessed him. The former England internationalist was fortunate his team didn’t pay the price for his carelessness.
Hart has provided muchneeded stability at the back since joining in the summer. Goalkeeper was a problem position before he came in.
But with the ball at his feet he has often been shaky. His manager wants his team to build play from the back. On occasion, though, clearing the danger is the wisest course of action.
VAR required
No reasonable onlooker inside Hampden on Saturday could begrudge Celtic their victory. St Johnstone spent the majority of the match camped in their own half. They failed to trouble their rivals on the counter. That said, the goal that decided the encounter was controversial.
Jota appeared to handle Clark’s miscued clearance kick before breaking forward and squaring into the six-yard box. But neither referee Nick Walsh nor his assistants spotted it.
Derek McInnes and his fellow Premier Sports pundits John Hartson and Ally McCoist marvelled at Forrest’s finish at the time. But after reviewing replays they revised their opinion. “It is clearly a hand ball,” said McInnes. “Until we have VAR up here, goals like that will stand.”
The SFA and SPFL held talks with representatives of the cinch Premiership last month and are pushing ahead with plans to introduce the technology in this country in the top flight and latter rounds of the cup competitions. It can’t be brought in soon enough.
Gallant defence
St Johnstone’s astonishing run in domestic cup competitions may have come to an end with this narrow loss, but the Perth club, victors of both the League Cup and Scottish Cup last term, can be proud of how they performed against Celtic.
They lost both Jason Kerr and Ali McCann, two of the heroes of their double-winning campaign, during the summer and have struggled to scale the heights of their annus mirabilis since. But if they can replicate this showing, they will challenge for a top-six spot.
Ultra idiocy
You would think that in a week when one of their banners earned Celtic a £12,600 fine from UEFA, the Green Brigade would have been on their best behaviour on Saturday.
Particularly on a day when so much of the focus was on remembering the life and career of one of the Glasgow giants’ favourite sons.
The ultras group, though, are clearly incapable of conducting themselves sensibly for 90 minutes.
The gigantic picture of Auld which they unfurled in the 67th minute was impressive and striking. So why on earth did some of their number feel the need to set off flares next to and underneath it and even launch fireworks through it?
It was irresponsible, dangerous and moronic. Similar stupidity resulted in the standing section of Parkhead being closed for two games in 2017. They can have no complaints if the same sort of punishment, or worse, is forthcoming.