It’s relief beyond belief for Hoops
James Forrest’s joy is plain to see after he had hit the extratime winner that got Celtic past Dunfermline in the Betfred Cup. Tom Beadling (inset) had earlier equalised for the Pars.
Celtic suffered an unwanted first in their recent monopoly of the Scottish game yesterday when booking their place in the League Cup’s last eight.
In the three years of racking up the treble Treble, the Hoops had won an astonishing 27 straight victories in domestic ties.
Here in the 28th, before a disgruntled and, increasingly, disenchanted support, they failed to get it done in 90 minutes as they had on each and every previous occasion.
And Hoops fans, still hurting from the Champions League exit to Cluj four days earlier, made their feelings crystal clear.
As referee John Beaton blew up for extra time there was a chorus of boos, many from among the flood of fans streaming for the exits.
Australian midfielder Tom Beadling was the Dunfermline hero, side-footing home from six yards following great work down the byline from substitute Andy Ryan to take the tie into extra time.
It equalised a wonder goal from Mikey Johnston, the winger having lit up the match shortly before the hour with a curled effort from outside the box which went across and above Pars keeper Ryan Scully before ending up in the top right-hand corner.
Goals apart, this was a flat affair. At least from Celtic’s perspective.
Context is everything, and here the hangover from the European disappointment was impossible to miss.
Quite literally, in fact, with a giant banner from the safe standing area celtic:
3-4-1-2 Gordon 6; Elhamed 7, Jullien 6, Ajer 6 (Ntcham 76 5); Johnston 8 (Morgan 115 5), Mcgregor 6, Bitton 6, Bolingoli 5 (Hayes 91 6); Christie 6; Edouard 6, Griffiths 5 (Forrest 56 6). Unused – Hazard, Bayo, Shved, Ntcham. dunfermline:
4-1-4-1 Scully 6; Comrie 7, Ashcroft 6, Morrison 6, Martin 8; Paton 6; Dow 6 (Todd 111 5), Turner 5 (Coley 65 5), Beadling 6, Edwards 5 (Ryan 75 6); Nisbet 6 (Mcgill 85 5). Unused – Gill, Devine, Mccann.
of the ground occupied by the Green Brigade making reference to Celtic “downsizing again” and accusing the board of gambling on 10-in-a-row.
The 10-in-a-row they were talking about was, of course, the bid for an unprecedented run of league titles.
This, though, was part of the attempt to secure a tenth successive domestic trophy and it was decidedly unimpressive.
With Scott Bain out with a dislocated thumb, Celtic gave Craig Gordon his first domestic start of 2019.
Seven million pound summer signing Christopher Jullien also made the line-up and he was to give Gordon an early scare when misjudging a long ball to let Pars striker Kyle Nisbet in on goal.
From a tight angle, the striker stabbed the ball past the Hoops stand-in keeper, who was left to heave a sigh of relief on seeing the effort roll wide.
Though sluggish throughout, the holders did have their moments of attacking intent.
Nir Bitton forced a diving, two-handed stop from Ryan Scully, while Ryan Christie flashed another effort over the bar.
Jullien, too, got in on the act, heading over at the back post from a lovely floated cross delivered by Nir Bitton.
Bitton it was who very nearly avoided the need of an additional half hour when heading Ryan Christie’s corner on to the crossbar.
That would have been hard on the visitors from the Championship, who were excellent and deserved some palpable recognition for their efforts.
“We have given Celtic a fright in the competition,” said manager Stevie Crawford after the game.
“Our game plan was to try and restrict them to the wider areas and deal with the crosses and we executed that very well.
“I am just really disappointed for the boys we are out of the competition because I would have loved it, even if we could have taken them to penalties.”
James Forrest was the man who put them out, hitting a low, deflected shot through a raft of bodies into the corner of the net.
Dunfermline tried to get back into it in the dying seconds but their race was run and it is the holders who will be in today’s quarter final draw at Bayview.
“It might have been quite frustrating for the spectators at the time, but we prevailed and I am delighted about that,” said Celtic manager Neil Lennon.