Oh dear oh dear, what the hell was that? I really didn?t think Celtic were capable of playing that badly any more but with Maloney kicked out of the game last week and Nakamura also missing due to a virus there was just no creativity in the side at all. The Sutton-Hartson partnership is clearly well past its sell-by date and even the introduction of a livelier-looking Zurawski failed to increase the likelihood of a goal.
An under-strength Dunfermline packed their defence from the start and once they went in front lost all interest in attacking apart from the odd break, but with an injury crisis which left them a substitute short of the full complement you could hardly blame them for that. We had to suffer another of the new breed of referee in Craig MacKay and although he was totally poor (just three minutes added time in the second half when there had been three substitutions, play-acting, several injuries requiring the trainer and five warnings ? but no booking – for the Dunfermline ?keeper for time-wasting?) he could hardly take the blame either as Celtic created very few clear-cut chances. There was a claim for a penalty eventually waved away after he had had a good think about it, but a goal-kick rather than a corner or a booking for a dive by McManus seemed a strange decision. We would probably have missed it anyway.
This was very much an old-school Celtic side (apart from the defence) but without Martin O?Neill?s motivational abilities it was unable to rouse itself from its slumbers. At least under MO?N this team would have come out for the second half fired up and getting stuck in to the opponents even if it wasn?t playing well, but little changed here from one period to the next and given Dunfermline?s lack of attacking ambitions the back four should have been dismantled long before it was with the appearance of Pearson for Camara with less than fifteen minutes to go.
I couldn?t help wondering where the thousands of fans who managed to get to Celtic Park for last week?s game went today. The official attendance was over 58,000 but was in reality a lot less than that which means plenty of season-ticket holders just couldn?t be arsed. The atmosphere was as flat as a steamrollered pancake and that couldn?t have helped the players so where the hell were you? If Celtic have a chance to win the league at home I bet you will be there for that, but we need you to turn up week in week out to help in that aim, not just the big games. If you only want to turn up a few times a season don?t buy a season ticket, or at least make sure someone else is using it if you have something more important to do, like Christmas shopping.
This can hopefully be put down to a blip, and we at least remained top of the league but a deeply depressing day all round reminding us of those dreadful late July days at the beginning of Strachan?s reign.
Player Ratings
Boruc
7. One terrific save and a couple of missed crosses. Did his best to urge his team-mates on late in the game by pushing up the pitch.
Telfer
6. Unspectacular as usual.
Balde
6. Looked to be at fault for the goal.
McManus
5. Uncharacteristically shaky game from the young defender.
Camara
4. A worrying return to his early season form, being caught out with a pass behind him a couple of times.
Thompson
4. Surely reaching the end of his time at Celtic as this was another poor performance.
McGeady
5. We know he blows hot and cold. Today was cold. Missed his buddy Maloney.
Lennon
7. Did his usual and did it well but needs more creativity around him.
Petrov
7. Much improved in the second half but not firing on all cylinders.
Hartson
4. One of his statue-like performances.
Sutton
4. Never involved in the game, can’t really play up front with Hartson any more.
Zurawski
6. At least looked livelier when he came on for Thompson but didn’t really have an impact.
Pearson
5. Never had a chance to influence the game, should have been on earlier.
Manager Rating
Strachan should have changed from a back four much earlier.
Opponent Rating
Leishman set out his defensive stall and it worked for him.