CelTSSUFFeR Accies’ win over Hoops was written on the web

TALKING CELTIC

SOMETIMES you just know in advance that it is not going to be your day.

As a rattled Celtic rampaged forward with 20 minutes to play yesterday, trying desperately to get the goal to bring them level against Hamilton Academical, the Parkhead club’s website had a notice on its front page which said: “A match has just finished, do you want to know the score?”

It was as predictive as it was pessimistic.

While the game wasn’t yet officially over as a contest by that stage as the Hoops bombarded their opponents, this was a movie many of those within Celtic Park had seen before this season.

Let’s be clear, as good as Accies were in there 1-0 win, this wasn’t a game where Ronny Deila’s men were pegged back as they had been for much of thenightagainstDinamoZagreb in Thursday’s Europa League tie

he Hoops spurned more chances than you could shake a stick at over a poor 90 minutes that will linger like a bad smell around an empty Lennoxtown over the coming days as most of their players disappear on international duty.

John Guidetti skewed a shot wide from a good position, Kris Commons was denied, Jason Denayer twice went close, and Anthony Stokes conspired to miss two clear headers with the Hamilton goal gaping.

But that was only half the picture of a game that Celtic simply didn’t deserve to win.

Much of the home side’s play was sloppy at best. Often their passing was misplaced, their crossing wayward and their finishing beyond defensible.

That was perhaps reflected in the fact their goalkeeper Craig Gordon was sent up for a corner deep into stoppage time in a desperate attempt to get the ball beyond his counterpart Michael McGovern.

In fact, the big shot-stopper then stayed up front until referee Steven McLean finally put the Hoops out of their misery 30 seconds later.

It had been a similar story last month when Celtic were forced to come back from a goal down against Motherwell at home to snatch a draw that was barely merited.

The same profligacy in front of goal prevented them from garnering anything more than a point from that game.

Yesterday they couldn’t even grab one goal against a Hamilton side who recorded their first competitive win at Celtic Park in 76 years.

Given their performance in front of a half-empty stadium, it’s a victor.y which will be celebratedT vigorously by their supporters in the Lanarkshire town, arguably even more so than the last one back on September 14, 1938.

Against any other team than Accies, Deila’s men may well have got away with their eighth game without defeat.

But Hamilton, fresh from two derby victories over rivals Motherwell, looked inspired at times as they defended bravely and countered with purpose.

Yes, they may have ridden their luck on a few occasions, but this was a performance of conviction from Alex Neil’s shock troops. His eager players were first to every second ball and they were intuitive both in and out of possession.

Amazingly, the result leaves them sitting top of the SPFL Premiership table on 20 points.

Celtic languish six points back in sixth place with plenty to think about over the next 13 days before their road to redemption can begin on the A9 to Dingwall.

“It’s all about creating and taking chances,” said Deila. “It is about results. Yesterday was just a very tough day at work. I’m very disappointed, the players are as well.

“Now we have 13 days off. I would rather we had a game on Wednesday but now we have 13 days to prepare to bounce back against Ross County.”

THE CELTIC manager has tinkered with his team on a weekly basis since taking over from Neil Lennon in July.

But, for yesterday’s match, the Norwegian made just one change from the team which defeated Zagreb.

Swedish frontman Guidetti, who was ineligible for that Europa League group game, replaced pacy Bulgarian Aleksander Tonev.

Despite it being largely the same personnel, however, the efficiency of his team was unrecognisable.

After only 35 seconds Hamilton left-back Stephen Hendrie was allowed to drive to the goal-line and cut the ball back for Dougie Imrie.

But the midfielder who sank