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Celtic vs Cliftonville

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throughout Europe and the world by winning the European Championships.

:00:17.:00:26.

John, you are a mortal. He became the pre-eminent footballer not only

:00:26.:00:36.
:00:36.:00:37.

of written and Europe but of the world. He is not only a memory or a

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legend, he is a contemporary inspiration for this club. Yes, for

:00:44.:00:49.

Celtic, another European campaign is about to begin. It seems like note

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time since Neil Lennon 's team were winning Scottish cup at Hampden,

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seven and a half weeks ago. Now Celtic will hope to take the

:00:58.:01:01.

first steps towards emulating or maybe even add doing their Champions

:01:02.:01:04.

League achievements of last season. The Belfast part-timers of

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Cliftonville are in weight. With me, two former Celtic striker 's

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hoop with Wales and Scotland these days are assistant managers. Before

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we hear from them, let's set the scene in Belfast with art

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commentators. -- are commentators. Here we are for the first football

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match of the season and Celtic's first much in what they hope will be

:01:34.:01:40.

just like the Champions League campaign, getting to the last 16.

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Different surroundings to the last match they had in the Champions

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League, which was in the Juventus Stadium in Turin. We are in Northern

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Ireland. Celtic can expect a competitive game. Cliftonville are

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well-known for being competitive. They are different to the rest of

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:02:12.:02:12.

the Irish league because they try to quite comfortably. They won the

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league cup. They have had a good season. Celtic art minus Wanyama who

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went to Southampton last week. Also without Mulgrew, Matthews, Ledley

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and another art injured, also van Dyck. They are missing a big number

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of the team who I think Lennon would have liked to play today. I do not

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think Scott Brown has played a lot of football recently. They lost four

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preseason games coming into it. A big responsibility on Kris Commons,

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James Forrest, Stokes, Samaras. They have to step up to the mark and get

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through Cliftonville. This team will fancy their chances. They have to

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get at them early on, get the ball and try to use their quality. Neill

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has said in the Beeld up -- build-up to the game, needs must. This is the

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start of it so he has to make sure he gets through. He has to try to

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hurdle and another two after it is to get back to where they were last

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season. John, your old team reached the last 16 of the Champions League

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last season. Neil Lennon thinks it is crazy they have to make such an

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early start to the competition this time around.

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Do you agree? You would think they would be rewarded for reaching the

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last 16. They have to come in because they are a Scottish team and

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they have to plate three qualifying matches to reach the group stages.

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That is where they are. They got to the last 16 of the Champions League

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last season and they have to go through the same amount of games.

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bill think they could not have got Celtic -- Cliftonville think they

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could not have got Celtic at a better time given that Celtic are

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far from peaking at this stage. think that they know what Celtic art

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capable of, regardless of what stage of the preseason it is. I wonder

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what the manager thinks about it. Neil Lennon with Chris Maguire

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clean. Just seven weeks after you lifted the Scottish cup. The

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Champions League campaign starts tonight. Is the squad ready? They

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are fantastic professionals and they looked in good condition. It is

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impossible for them to be up to speed. Such a short space of time.

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Ambrose has not had much of a pre-season at all. Is that a

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gamble? No, he looks OK. The rate may have done his body a world of

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good. He is in very good condition. Should be pre-season results be a

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concern? It is a concern to me but the whole preseason boss disjointed

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with four games in ten days. It was very staggered so we did not have a

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settled team. You do not like to lose games but this is a real

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competitive game tonight so I expect a performance. Nice to be home for a

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game? I will let you know afterwards! We know that the bench

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is not exactly the strongest, with several players out? Ann I think

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they have got enough. The starting line-up for me has enough to win.

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Although it is a Champions League game it is hugely important for the

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club but also another stage in the development and the preseason and

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this will be another step towards it, so as long as nothing

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catastrophic happens here tonight it will be a good step along the way.

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agree. I think they have so much more quality. The game will start at

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a frantic pace, I think. Lift and Phil will want to come out, fly out

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-- Cliftonville. Brown, the captain tonight, needs to take a bit more

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responsibility tonight in a potentially dangerous claim, in

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terms of quality. Slow the ball down and go and get the ball and be brave

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in tight areas, pass it, show their quality. Celtic are full of quality

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still. Anyone of the Cliftonville layers could not get into the Celtic

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team. Celtic have to show that in terms of their attitude. If their

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attitude is right, there is no wait Celtic should lose. Cliftonville of

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team in Ireland and it is the biggest match for them in their 134

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year history. They won the double and then the treble last season.

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That they are part-timers. We can now hear from their manager.

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excitement is building around the ground. Can you do the seemingly

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impossible? Remark we will give it a good go. -- we will do our best.

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will see what happens. Describe what it has been like since the draw was

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made? Hectic, madness. It has really been crazy. The clamour for tickets.

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Getting the ground ready. The preparations. It has been

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outstanding. We are just focusing on the football though and we are

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actually going to play a match. is the aim for the match? Do you do

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your best to try to keep the tie alive for the game at Parkhead?

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At the end of the day we are a part-time club but I have just asked

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the players to be brave. Be prepared to take it in turns and play

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football. The full-time team a couple of months ago work in the

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last 16 of the Champions League and that is what we are facing. Good

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luck. This was Cliftonville clinching their title last season.

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Stephen Kraken was saying a little earlier they like to pass the ball.

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Yes, they passed the ball and I was surprised they profit from the

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back. They move the ball really well. -- they passed it from the

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back. They know that the session will be key. If they keep

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surrendering the ball to Celtic, Celtic will punish them. More from

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Mark and John at half-time. We are about to get under way at the

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Solitude Stadium in Belfast. The second round qualifying game which

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hopefully for Celtic leads to the Champions League. Cliftonville

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against the Scottish champions and your commentary comes from Stephen

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the Northern Irish capital. The last 16 exit at the hands of the Italian

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champions, Juventus, came at the end of a journey, and the Celtic fans

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are believing once more that their team could make an impact on the

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biggest stage of all after a few years in Champions League ex-oil.

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They slayed the mighty Barcelona and the fact that they won the league

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title again was not enough to propel them into the glamorous group stage.

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We are at Solitude, the home of the Northern are champions,

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Cliftonville, who have not lost here since September. The atmosphere

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around Solitude has been to refit in the build-up to the game. Fans

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mingling outside. -- has been horrific. -- terrific. Attendance

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here will be around 5500. They have CHEERING

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A terrific night in Belfast. The hazy sunshine. Flares going off as

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well. The Cliftonville side almost went a treble last season. Devlin in

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coal used to be on the books at Manchester United. -- Devlin in

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goal. Transfers and injuries leaving Lennon short of several players.

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Ambrose has only trained twice. Stokes and Samaras or the men up

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front. The Celtic bench shows just how wafer thin the squad is right

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:12:49.:13:01.

now. Youngsters Irvine and waters we have been speaking about this

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possibly being the biggest game in Cliftonville's 134 year history. You

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do not want the game to get away from them too early. Both sides in

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their respective puddles. This could be the biggest game in

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Cliftonville's history, the Northern Irish part-time champions. Sweden

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took care of Celtic last season. Celtic ended a four year absence.

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The referee was in charge of a couple of Europa league matches last

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season. An extra hurdle for Celtic to get over this time around. After

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some poor pre-season results in their recent tour of Germany, they

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are widely expected to overcome Champions League football.

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Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

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Cliftonville when an opening free when he came back from the African

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cup of Nations. He won that with Nigeria. Celtic are a little bit

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clear-cut chance of the match with a header from Kris Commons. That

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caused lots of problems. It all came from James Forrest on the left-hand

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side. He wants to be one-on-one with the full-back. James Forrest on his

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weaker left that played in a lovely ball to the back post. Conor Devlin

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is beaten, but the crossbar saves him. Cliftonville off the hook

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thought it would, fast and furious. Both sides trying to pass the ball.

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Celtic are now trying to get on the artificial pitch out there. Celtic

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played on these pictures twice last season. With the attempt, that was

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James Forrest. Again, 333 macro. He is going to have fun against Ciaran

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Caldwell. Positive play by Celtic. It does look as though James Forrest

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has started down the left. I like the fact that Kris Commons is on the

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rights and James Forrest is on the left. It opens up the pitch. It is a

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at the bottom of your picture. It is a temporary stand that was in

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yesterday. If Celtic get the first goal, it will settle them down and

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Celtic neatest -- Celtic need to take the sting out of the game.

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only other Champions League tie for Cliftonville, it was their biggest

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ever aggregate defeat when Hassler back inside beat them 13-1. -- a

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Slovakian side beat them 13-1. we'll have warned his players not to

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Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

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give Celtic any encouragement, not third Bremen in Germany, but it

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didn't work out for him there. He was on the reserve team. He moved

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Particularly by Georgios Samaras, you can look a bit ungainly when

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running for it, but he does it to good effect. He is the talisman for

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Celtic in Europe. He scored five by Anthony Stokes. This is what he

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is good at, turning people. You just can't get enough power in the ball.

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Liam Boyce with as little trick there, he certainly is a talented

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the six yard line. That was slack play by Kelvin Wilson, the cutest

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expected to win that ball. He has to be more decisive, go and cleared the

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Tommy Breslin was worried about that, but so far they have not been.

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Jaimie McGovern was speaking to the press yesterday, he was talking

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about which he once from the opposition players, but Tommy

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Breslin did not want them thinking the ball than anyone else in the

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Georgios Samaras. I think he looks in the mood tonight. But having

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questions about his appetite in the past, but tonight he looks in the

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draws the free kick. It is just here, there has been a free kick,

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there was no need to go in there by was under pressure. This left-hand

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side has been very productive for Celtic. That was a terrific cross by

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Emilio Izaguirre. Cliftonville have to stop crosses coming into their

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box, they have to close people dying or they will be punished. A horrible

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pre-season for Celtic, four matches played, and they lost them all. They

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were defeated by a couple of German second division sides, as well. Not

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We were talking about Liam Boyce, and he has a great partnership. Neil

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Lennon will be delighted with the start so far. He played here as a

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young man, Neil Lennon. Tommy Breslin was in the team that Neil

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Lennon -- the Neil Lennon played for that day. He went over to Manchester

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city after that. Tommy Breslin played very similarly to Neil

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Lennon, he was good on the ball and a great competitor. Neil Lennon

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getting back to his best last season, after that ankle brickie had

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the previous season. The game has not been as one-sided as some people

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thought it might be. Cliftonville Champions League last season. He was

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called into the in dash into the England international squad, but he

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is still waiting for that elusive last season, then he went to right

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back. He has slotted into that role really well. Sometimes when to go to

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full-back, they lose some of the quality, but that has not happens.

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He scored the goal that secured the title from the penalty spot against

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Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

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kick. That is where I think Commons first touch right there but another

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Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

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Belfast sunshine to see what Celtic frustrated Celtic and their players

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will get. I just think over the two legs, there is no doubt Celtic will

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Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

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had the best chance of the game so corner. A couple of diagonal balls

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in behind the Cliftonville fullbacks last season, well over half the

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final, that has two B the -- that has to be the inspiration for Stokes

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referee is going to his pocket. He is not happy by the -- with the

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challenge by McGovern. I think it was more reaction. He was waving his

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arms. I do not think the referee took too kindly to that. You see his

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reaction. He was waving at the referee. His second season here,

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expected the ball to go into the box, a little training ground move,

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Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

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that unfortunately it did not. -- was closed recently. They have had

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Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

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new seats put in their provided by a their! Celtic in front! And away

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goal after 22 minutes. That will be a huge disappointment for

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Cliftonville. They have been playing well in the game. It is absolutely

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criminal. Devlin came for the cross, did not get anywhere near it.

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They have been threatening, they nerves of Celtic, Neil Lennon and

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the supporters. The score at scored three times last season -- Mikael

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Lustig scored three times last keep their head. They have to be

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careful. They cannot let the game go situation for Conor Devlin as that

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Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

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trying to do, just hang that on the six yard line. Neil Lennon will be

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delighted. He will be a lot more relaxed. He was quite annoyed

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yesterday that Celtic had to play this game, to play at this stage of

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Boyce. In the last few minutes he through three qualifiers to get into

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the group stages of the Champions The third is to come, and then the

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Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

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His opponent did well just to snuff it out. Neil Lennon in the past has

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Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

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tried to snap the players out of Samaras! Celtic have insurance at

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last. That was at top quality finish. Joe Gormley give it up

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weekly and Celtic capitalised. Kris Commons does well, it goes back to

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Georgios Samaras, you think he is missed this opportunity, but it is a

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fantastic finish. That is a well deserved 2-goal lead by Celtic.

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Possibly they have clinched the tie already, two away goals against

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their part-time opponents. The second leg will be in Glasgow next

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Tuesday night. Celtic would love to Cliftonville supporters. We said

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that if they were in the moods, Celtic would win the game. They are

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Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

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in was like you're playing old summer, in the rugby league.

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always thought it helps to have competitive games pre-season.

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Competitive football really helps at this stage of the season. That was a

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majestic touch, ball coming over his shoulder. He is showing the quality

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that Celtic was understrength, and they are, but it is still a strong

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disappointed. The two goals they have lost a plain bad goals. They

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could be out of the tie already. The next goal could be crucial. There

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was no flag there against Ciaran Caldwell, but he fluffed his big

:48:54.:49:01.

chance. He has been quiet, doing most of his work defensively. It was

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a good switch of play. He takes a back inside, but couldn't settle

:49:06.:49:16.
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himself dying to get the shot on comes from Dublin. A controversial

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figure Cliftonville. He was fined and put on the transfer list for a

:49:26.:49:36.
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breach of club discipline a few their principles. They have to keep

:49:40.:49:47.

passing the ball, try to get forward more quickly. They have to give Ryan

:49:47.:49:57.
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Catney and Joe Gormley the chance to card. That yellow card is 458 macro.

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That is great feat. It is certainly a booking, he followed through.

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Anthony Stokes was expecting the one Cliftonville and they have been

:51:02.:51:10.

queueing overnight for them in Belfast. It is not everyday you

:51:10.:51:20.
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would see fixture... Here. Bad effort by Anthony Stokes. The

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referee did not like that by Georgios Samaras. He is normally the

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one getting pushed about. He certainly looks in the mood for the

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game. Physically he is up for the challenge. The players from

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Cliftonville are certainly leaving a he is in the mood. He is using his

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speed, his trickery. So far he has They are ganging up on the Greek

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Georgios Samaras with the second, time in the match, Kris Commons hit

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the goal frame. Beram Kayal with an effort. This could be a long, long

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night for the Northern Irish champions. Kris Commons picks up a

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great ball. 16 macro let's turn and get the shot away. I thought it was

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drifting into the top corner. Celtic the way. He is a former Scottish

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international. Kris Commons stop playing internationals at the end of

:53:57.:54:07.
:54:07.:54:09.

last season. Georgios Samaras is playing in the left. The front fork

:54:09.:54:19.
:54:19.:54:23.

and interchange positions, but it doesn't affect their play. A lot of

:54:23.:54:33.
:54:33.:54:34.

talk in the build-up was about the attitude of Celtic. They have not

:54:34.:54:44.
:54:44.:54:46.

had that they have not had any Lennon will have said to them, if

:54:46.:54:51.

you want to get back to the big stadiums you have to come to places

:54:51.:54:55.

like this, show the right attitude and go and win the game and get back

:54:55.:55:00.

into the Champions League. It seems that his players have listen to what

:55:00.:55:10.
:55:10.:55:25.

easy Cliftonville get opened up when they lose the ball. They are able to

:55:25.:55:30.

slide the ball through. As much as it is nice football they are

:55:30.:55:34.

playing, they have not been productive. The two strikers have

:55:34.:55:44.
:55:44.:55:44.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

:55:44.:56:34.

not had an of service. -- had enough Cliftonville away. I think Tommy

:56:34.:56:38.

Breslin will have to mix things up at half-time. He has to try and do

:56:38.:56:43.

something a little bit different. You just think if Celtic get a third

:56:43.:56:53.
:56:53.:57:22.

goal, the whole tie is completely reasonably well, in coping with

:57:22.:57:32.
:57:32.:57:40.

Celtic would shine through. At the start of the game it was always

:57:40.:57:45.

going to be intense Cliftonville going to try to force themselves on

:57:45.:57:50.

Celtic. Once it slowed down and the flair players for Celtic came on the

:57:50.:58:00.
:58:00.:58:10.

ball, it was always going to be a from Celtic sometimes. Maybe it is

:58:10.:58:17.

because of this pre-season, but they are just leaving little chance at

:58:17.:58:21.

times. Neil Lennon will be sent to them, don't give away back into the

:58:21.:58:31.
:58:31.:58:31.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

:58:31.:59:24.

game. -- don't give them away back Ukrainian referee. Celtic very

:59:24.:59:32.

comfortable now. Goals from Lustig and Samaras. They are two up.

:59:32.:59:40.

Georgios Samaras may not look it but he must be very happy for the way

:59:40.:59:45.

his team have performed in that first half.

:59:45.:59:53.

All going according to plan so far for Celtic. 2-0 up. How impressed

:59:53.:59:58.

are you with the way Celtic have gone about this? Very impressed.

:59:58.:00:04.

Straight from kick-off they have looked up for it. As if Neal has

:00:04.:00:09.

gone in there and said, forget about are four pre-season defeats, it is

:00:09.:00:14.

all about tonight. This is where it starts tonight. The back four have

:00:14.:00:21.

looked solid. Ambrose should be coming onto the ball once or twice.

:00:21.:00:28.

The midfield, Brown and Kayal, have controlled it. They have had little

:00:28.:00:32.

spells, Cliftonville, but when you look at it... Samaras scored an

:00:32.:00:40.

unbelievable goal. I spoke about the attitude, and they matched them very

:00:40.:00:47.

early on, physically and then the quality that Celtic have. Commons's

:00:47.:00:52.

delivery, which we are going to see soon, and Samaras's goal is

:00:52.:01:00.

fantastic. There has been a belief about Celtic, as you would expect

:01:00.:01:07.

with a team that reached the last 16 last season. I think there was a

:01:07.:01:10.

quiet confidence in Neil Lennon when he was interviewed for the match. He

:01:10.:01:20.

knows his players. They started brilliantly. Samaras was a catalyst.

:01:20.:01:26.

His distribution to Forrest on the left-hand side was excellent. He has

:01:26.:01:31.

been their star player in the first half. They wanted that opening

:01:31.:01:36.

goal. It came along at 25 minutes and it was Mikael Lustig who got the

:01:36.:01:44.

goal from the corner kick following this from Forrest. Forrest has been

:01:44.:01:50.

great. It is listed with the touch which wins the corner. This is what

:01:50.:01:58.

Celtic have that Cliftonville do not have, real quality. Must dig loses

:01:58.:02:06.

his man. -- lusting loses his man. His man doesn't even bother marking

:02:06.:02:15.

him. -- Lustig. That is a fantastic ball. Commons with his less foot, we

:02:15.:02:23.

see later on he is equally good with his right foot. Celtic assessment

:02:23.:02:28.

front three have all been great. Difficult to single one out but

:02:28.:02:38.
:02:38.:02:42.

Forrest a threat down both sides to and we expected him to go back on it

:02:42.:02:47.

but he went on his left foot. He hits the crossbar. Then he goes over

:02:47.:02:53.

onto the right foot and does it on the other side. It is putting people

:02:53.:02:59.

into a good area than worrying about how the ball looks. He just puts it

:02:59.:03:04.

in the area and invites strikers to go and get on the end of it. I

:03:04.:03:09.

thought that was fantastic from Samaras. This one went over the bar.

:03:09.:03:14.

He might have done a bit better in hitting the target. But first he

:03:14.:03:22.

went down the side on his right foot, then he went on his left.

:03:22.:03:28.

sums up how positive Celtic have been from the start but Forrest is a

:03:28.:03:33.

very positive anyway. He gets the ball and he has one thing on his

:03:33.:03:39.

mind, can I beat the full-back Matt can I pick my striker out? For me, a

:03:39.:03:49.
:03:49.:03:49.

good winter should be satisfied if he makes his striker a goal. -- wind

:03:49.:03:58.

-- winger. John has raved about Kris Commons already. There was a short

:03:58.:04:04.

curling shot which look like -- looked like it was net-bound as

:04:04.:04:12.

well. He almost got through and the ball just checked behind him a

:04:12.:04:18.

little bit. But at other times he will get on the end of crosses. That

:04:18.:04:24.

is really so unlucky. I thought that was a goal. As soon as it left his

:04:24.:04:33.

foot. He was very unfortunate. But we know he will go for it. I am not

:04:33.:04:40.

sure what his stronger side is. He is so strong on his left. It is

:04:40.:04:45.

arguable which side he is strongest on. There was no stopping the shot

:04:45.:04:49.

from Georgios Samaras 131 minutes and his first half performance has

:04:49.:04:57.

been top. Yes. Cliftonville will not come up against players in their

:04:57.:05:07.

league that will do that. He turned onto his left foot and finished it.

:05:07.:05:12.

He carved out the goal after it ended up going behind him. He was

:05:12.:05:19.

great. He didn't look up. He just drilled it into the net. The

:05:19.:05:25.

goalkeeper had no chance whatsoever. You cannot be too critical of

:05:25.:05:28.

Cliftonville in that circumstance, because that is a good player.

:05:28.:05:35.

was a European talismanic for Celtic last season. He could be a game.

:05:35.:05:41.

Yes, he gives it his midfield and defence a breather because he can

:05:41.:05:46.

run at people. He is deceiving the quick with that gangly stride he

:05:46.:05:52.

has. When you get the centre forward facing his own goal away from your

:05:52.:05:58.

goal, you think you have done the job but the swivel, and to get the

:05:58.:06:02.

power from that left foot to get it into the net is fantastic. Is it

:06:02.:06:07.

fair to say the only defensive problems Celtic have had have been

:06:07.:06:14.

of their own making? Yes. It is still pre-season. One of the things

:06:14.:06:20.

Neil Lennon is doing is working towards a defensive chain. To make

:06:20.:06:23.

them defend in a much more solid shape. That is something that will

:06:23.:06:30.

come. Tonight they have been a little bit staggered at times,

:06:30.:06:37.

sometimes indecisive, sometimes having to scrabble. That looked for

:06:37.:06:41.

all the world like a free kick. The referee did not give it. A little

:06:41.:06:50.

scrappy at times but that is what pre-season back Falls lookalike for

:06:50.:06:59.

a time. -- Falls. What is Neil Lennon saying at this moment about

:06:59.:07:05.

what he wants from the second half? Keep the ball. There is nothing

:07:05.:07:10.

worse than chasing a ball. From a Cliftonville point of view. If they

:07:10.:07:16.

can get a couple more goals... He might make one or two changes, just

:07:16.:07:20.

save a little bit of legs because they are still in pre-season. I

:07:20.:07:24.

think he will be absolutely delighted with the first half. They

:07:24.:07:28.

were professional in attitude and that is what this book about -- he

:07:28.:07:34.

spoke about before the game. Sometimes you can go onto the pitch

:07:34.:07:38.

waiting for other players to do it against lesser opposition but

:07:38.:07:43.

tonight the attitude has been spot on. We will come back to this game

:07:43.:07:48.

in a minute but let's talk about Gary Hooper, who seems to be going,

:07:48.:07:55.

gone as far as the Celtic fans are concerned. His contract is up in a

:07:55.:08:00.

year. Would you have expected Celtic, even knowing there is only

:08:00.:08:05.

12 months on his deal, to have got more money than they have for him?

:08:05.:08:07.

Could he score good goals in the English Premier League, for

:08:07.:08:17.
:08:17.:08:20.

instance? I think they can. Crystal Palace, Cardiff, Hull, those are

:08:20.:08:27.

teams who have been interested. They are interested in him at the money

:08:27.:08:37.
:08:37.:08:38.

that Celtic are demanding. There are other players playing in the Premier

:08:38.:08:43.

League... I watch a lot of Premier League games. We watch Premier

:08:43.:08:50.

League players and we see players that are not as good as Gary Hooper.

:08:50.:08:54.

Would you be surprised if Celtic did not get a much bigger offer in the

:08:54.:09:00.

next few days, but he would go for less than 5 million? No, because he

:09:00.:09:07.

has 12 months left on his contract. He is letting his contract run down

:09:07.:09:12.

because he wants to leave the club. I think he wants a taste of the

:09:12.:09:15.

Premier League, which is arguably one of the strongest leagues in the

:09:15.:09:19.

world. I would not be surprised if one of the middle range clubs of the

:09:19.:09:24.

Premier League, West Bromwich Albion, Swansea, Everton, I would

:09:24.:09:31.

not be surprised if one of those clubs came in. That would hike the

:09:31.:09:37.

price up, wouldn't it? I think the reason it is 5 million is he only

:09:37.:09:41.

has a year on his contract. Is that if there is competition it will

:09:41.:09:51.
:09:51.:09:54.

price the clubs up? I am surprised that one of the... Maybe not the top

:09:54.:09:58.

three all four because they may feel he has a bit more to prove in the

:09:58.:10:01.

Premier League because he has not played at that level. Late in the

:10:01.:10:08.

SPL, scored acts of goals, scored Champions League goals... -- load of

:10:08.:10:15.

goals. Having you here, Mark, we have a chance to talk Scotland

:10:15.:10:18.

briefly and the difference that that goal in Croatia... We were trying to

:10:18.:10:24.

work out how long ago it was, five and a half weeks? What difference

:10:24.:10:28.

does this make to the national mood? It is incredible, really and

:10:28.:10:35.

going into the game we lost some players and looking at the squad,

:10:35.:10:40.

people had an opportunity for those reasons and everyone on the night

:10:40.:10:46.

contributed. It really was a fabulous performance. But wait a

:10:46.:10:53.

minute. We are going to have to work on the celebration! Yes, I was

:10:53.:10:58.

criticised for my celebration when we scored before because apparently

:10:58.:11:05.

I did nothing. We have things going on, organisational things. I have

:11:05.:11:09.

work to do. Yes, of course you want to celebrate but you also don't want

:11:09.:11:13.

to get carried away. But it was a fantastic performance and out of

:11:13.:11:17.

that we can take things into the next stage, the preparation for the

:11:17.:11:24.

England game. Not just the result. The result was brilliant but the

:11:24.:11:29.

performance, for me, was the important thing. If we had drawn 1-1

:11:29.:11:33.

in the end we would have been disappointed but we still would have

:11:33.:11:36.

taken something away from the performance. There is that match

:11:36.:11:43.

coming up, and the group games coming up for Scotland. I do not

:11:43.:11:49.

know why I am speaking to you about this because you have done it...

:11:49.:11:55.

Home game against Belgium to come. Away to Macedonia. And then Croatia

:11:55.:12:00.

at home. All following that Finland international. Do you see things now

:12:00.:12:05.

on the up? There will be a better spirit because they have some

:12:05.:12:09.

terrific players. I do not think they have got the quality they have

:12:09.:12:14.

had in recent years, years gone by. I do not want to name great

:12:14.:12:21.

players... But Mark will tell you the spirit on the camp is very

:12:21.:12:31.

important. For Scotland to go out to Croatia and when 1-0 will have given

:12:31.:12:39.

them great hope. That was a wonderful result. I think one of the

:12:39.:12:43.

most important things is that Gordon is new to the job and when you go in

:12:43.:12:47.

as a manager in any club game, never mind international, you want to give

:12:47.:12:53.

the players a message to believe in. Horton was clear about how he wanted

:12:53.:12:57.

to approach the Croatia game and the players did what he asked them to do

:12:57.:13:04.

will stop -- Gordon. Then they will come back next time listening to

:13:04.:13:08.

what he has two say, believing he has something positive to say to

:13:08.:13:13.

help them win football matches. That will help the confidence grow. You

:13:13.:13:18.

get that enthusiasm, that the governors, and the belief in the

:13:18.:13:24.

manager. That has made a spill a whole lot better. For Celtic it is

:13:24.:13:30.

so far all going according to plan after Mikael Lustig's 25 minute

:13:30.:13:34.

header, followed six minutes later by the left foot last from Georgios

:13:35.:13:39.

Samaras, to get Celtic two goals in front against Cliftonville in

:13:39.:13:49.
:13:49.:14:00.

Belfast. Back there now, to Stephen Celtic's first-ever match against

:14:00.:14:10.
:14:10.:14:14.

Northern Irish opponents. They have played teams from the Republic. The

:14:14.:14:23.

route to Lisbon, where the final will be played, were Celtic last

:14:23.:14:33.
:14:33.:14:56.

last season in the Champions what Neil Lennon will be sent to his

:14:56.:15:02.

players, but what will Tommy Breslin have to say? The next goal will be

:15:02.:15:06.

crucial. If it goes the way of Celtic, it will be a long night

:15:06.:15:11.

tonight and at Parkhead next week. He will just be encouraging his

:15:11.:15:21.
:15:21.:15:27.

time the Celtic players are running. A towards Cliftonville,

:15:27.:15:33.

they tend to have the better of them. It looks like Georgios Samaras

:15:33.:15:37.

has started off the same way he was playing in the first half. And will

:15:37.:15:47.
:15:47.:16:21.

be demanding that he -- that his clever interplay with Ciaran

:16:21.:16:31.
:16:31.:16:41.

Thistle, once upon a time. Cliftonville have done OK, but it is

:16:41.:16:46.

just that final pass, that final cross that has let them down. This

:16:46.:16:52.

is another opportunity and the big boys are going up. Can George

:16:52.:17:02.
:17:02.:17:41.

were talking up their chances before the game, thinking they had an

:17:41.:17:46.

opportunity. I would imagine at half-time a few of them would have

:17:46.:17:56.
:17:56.:17:57.

been looking at each other after realising how did these players are.

:17:57.:18:04.

That was Celtic's own fault. That was just a little bit of indecision

:18:04.:18:13.

between Mikael Lustig and Fraser Forster. Stephen Garrett will

:18:13.:18:16.

certainly see that as a missed opportunity to get his side back in

:18:16.:18:21.

the game. Georgios Samaras was scathing about is surfaces

:18:21.:18:31.
:18:31.:18:46.

yesterday. -- about artificial want to play on grass. It can be a

:18:46.:18:56.
:18:56.:19:27.

bit of an inconvenience to have to Cliftonville, moving it from left to

:19:27.:19:35.

right. They need to maintain the ball better in the final third.

:19:35.:19:45.
:19:45.:20:04.

Don't give it to them cheaply, don't little bit more careful when they

:20:04.:20:14.
:20:14.:20:46.

second half started the way the first acted, with Cliftonville

:20:46.:20:51.

trying to take the game to Celtic. You would expect in ten minutes,

:20:51.:20:56.

when it settles down again, Celtic will go back to moving the ball,

:20:56.:21:06.
:21:06.:21:17.

making Cliftonville go from side to Beram Kayal. It has been a very

:21:17.:21:27.
:21:27.:21:45.

competitive midfield battle. The concern Neil Lennon in the second

:21:45.:21:54.

half. Scott Brown has given it away, Beram Kayal has given that

:21:54.:22:01.

away a bit sloppily. Neil Lennon will want them to up their speed.

:22:01.:22:05.

Cliftonville and start their league season until the 10th of August, to

:22:05.:22:15.
:22:15.:22:19.

again this season. Linfield have added a lot of good players, so it

:22:19.:22:25.

should be closer, and on the evidence we see tonight Cliftonville

:22:25.:22:35.
:22:35.:22:45.

Cliftonville. George McMullan start that move on the far side. It has

:22:45.:22:50.

resulted in the set piece opportunity. One touch football,

:22:50.:22:55.

passing and moving. That is what you try to preach all the time, pass and

:22:55.:23:05.
:23:05.:23:39.

was riding around there, that the sewer. Just got on the back of the

:23:39.:23:49.
:23:49.:23:51.

knee. I think the knee of Liam Boyce just goes into Mikael Lustig. I

:23:51.:24:01.
:24:01.:24:39.

think you will be OK. -- he will be Anthony Stokes is drifting out to

:24:39.:24:48.

the left-hand side. Good play by Liam Boyce! Drops it in for Joe

:24:48.:24:54.

Gormley! It looks like -- at the click it was going to fall to Joe

:24:54.:25:02.

Gormley! That is better play, better ball in the final third. Joe Gormley

:25:02.:25:07.

just does not get the amount of time that he expects in Irish league

:25:07.:25:12.

football. We know that Liam Boyce has that quality, that little bit of

:25:12.:25:22.
:25:22.:25:22.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

:25:22.:26:05.

straight at the goalkeeper. That was good patient play. Moving its side

:26:05.:26:15.
:26:15.:26:16.

to side. Any crosses coming into the box, too often the Celtic players

:26:16.:26:26.
:26:26.:26:43.

the game. They are wrestling the game back from Cliftonville. They

:26:43.:26:53.
:26:53.:27:00.

are just slowing the temple, taking only lost once at home in all

:27:00.:27:10.
:27:10.:27:36.

free season. Anthony Stokes with another opportunity. We had

:27:36.:27:42.

mentioned about Gary Hooper leaving. This is a huge opportunity for him

:27:42.:27:52.
:27:52.:27:53.

at Celtic. Neil Lennon will be so much happier now that Celtic have

:27:53.:28:03.
:28:03.:28:33.

times for Celtic last season. He did score the winner in the cup

:28:33.:28:43.
:28:43.:28:51.

Cliftonville have it in them to go and get the goal? Can they muster up

:28:51.:28:56.

the quality, the energy? Their fitness will be a factor night. They

:28:56.:29:06.
:29:06.:29:36.

have been chasing the ball for long temporary stand that we have here at

:29:36.:29:46.
:29:46.:30:13.

at a Bruce Springsteen concert yet Smyth came up from the back for

:30:13.:30:18.

that. That is the best chance they have had, Mark Smyth coming at the

:30:18.:30:28.
:30:28.:30:28.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

:30:28.:31:09.

back post. A good block and the 61 minutes we have had so far.

:31:09.:31:16.

All the hard work in pre-season starts to pay off. Izaguirre was

:31:16.:31:24.

caught by Barry Johnston here. Smyth does well. But good defending.

:31:24.:31:34.
:31:34.:31:34.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

:31:34.:32:25.

A great touch. He should really have Cliftonville have won three European

:32:25.:32:35.
:32:35.:32:35.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

:32:35.:34:29.

done everything score today. -- to make sure it was a timely tackle.

:34:29.:34:39.
:34:39.:34:44.

At times he has shown little flashes of quality. 22-year-old Liam Boyce.

:34:44.:34:47.

A couple of Scottish clubs have contacted me with regards his

:34:47.:34:57.
:34:57.:34:57.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

:34:57.:36:20.

work a little harder on certain Wilson's challenge on Gormley. Taken

:36:20.:36:30.
:36:30.:36:30.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

:36:30.:37:21.

bar. The scoreline could have been a lot more for Celtic. James Forrest

:37:21.:37:31.
:37:31.:37:37.

drew to men. Stokes just goes coming off for Cliftonville,

:37:37.:37:45.

replaced by Diarmuid O'Carroll. A man from the south of the border.

:37:45.:37:51.

Just four goals last season. He started at Celtic, left back in

:37:51.:37:57.

2008. There is another change coming in a moment for Cliftonville, as

:37:57.:38:07.
:38:07.:38:15.

Initially he won the first header, flicked it on to voice... Can he get

:38:15.:38:25.
:38:25.:38:25.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

:38:25.:39:05.

a shot on target? -- and Carol was dream tie for Cliftonville, but on

:39:05.:39:10.

the pitch they always knew it was a big ask, and that has been the case

:39:10.:39:20.
:39:20.:39:20.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

:39:20.:41:14.

had a problem with an impact to the back of his knee earlier on. The

:41:14.:41:18.

last thing Neil Lennon needs is another injury problem. Albeit at a

:41:18.:41:24.

very good physician in this tie. Cliftonville are having their second

:41:24.:41:32.

change. Watch the challenge here between Garrett and Lustig.

:41:32.:41:38.

thought he took a straight elbow or straight arm. There was a bit of

:41:38.:41:47.

trickery. Here is that bit from Boyce. That final little pass, that

:41:47.:41:54.

little bit of quality, that is what can get the goal. That is Donna

:41:54.:42:04.
:42:04.:42:34.

Lee, a 21-year-old call centre we here. -- he is going to come off,

:42:34.:42:44.
:42:44.:43:03.

OK. Sometimes football players, just like a little girl, just like to be

:43:03.:43:13.
:43:13.:43:30.

you can't continually give the ball away, because if they do them get

:43:30.:43:40.

back for long time. Georgios Samaras is going to come off. Anthony Stokes

:43:40.:43:50.
:43:50.:44:12.

still has his chance to get his by Celtic. They have just been able

:44:12.:44:15.

to carve Cliftonville open with their patients, quality and the

:44:15.:44:25.
:44:25.:44:51.

of Anthony Stokes there! He is lightly around the box, isn't he? He

:44:51.:44:58.

is always trying to create a bit of space for himself. Conor Devlin

:44:58.:45:07.

shuffling across his goal. Georgios Samaras, he got the second

:45:07.:45:17.
:45:17.:45:17.

for Celtic in the first half, a wonderful goal, Tony Watt, who got

:45:17.:45:21.

the second goal for Celtic against Barcelona last November, he comes

:45:21.:45:30.

on. One Scottish newspaper yesterday was suggesting he was going to do

:45:30.:45:39.

out on loan. Neil Lennon was keen to point out yesterday that that has

:45:39.:45:44.

not been said by him. Tony Watt will not be going on loan as things

:45:44.:45:54.

stand, anyway. He needs as many of his strikers that he can get at the

:45:54.:46:01.

moment, with Gary Hooper expected to leave by the end of the week. Queens

:46:01.:46:11.
:46:11.:46:20.

through this game. His decision-making has been good. His

:46:20.:46:28.

reading of the game, his interceptions, he has that simple. I

:46:28.:46:34.

think he is a centre half, I do night. The partnership with him and

:46:34.:46:39.

Kelvin Wilson, that can certainly improve Celtic. Efe Ambrose arrived

:46:39.:46:44.

that Celtic, he did play some matters in midfield. There was some

:46:44.:46:54.
:46:54.:47:00.

talk that he might go there. certain games, he may. If they do

:47:00.:47:04.

progress in Europe, he could play as a midfield player because it gives

:47:04.:47:09.

them a sense of stability. I to night, he has said, he would like to

:47:09.:47:19.
:47:19.:47:24.

play centre half. Final change for Cliftonville. Stephen Garrett coming

:47:24.:47:34.
:47:34.:47:46.

off, and Chris Curran coming on. with Conor Devlin in a previous

:47:46.:47:56.

life. On the substitution with Georgios Samaras, I think that is a

:47:56.:48:02.

well-deserved break. It was terrific to night. He was the catalyst for

:48:02.:48:08.

their first-half performance. I think it will be a big season for

:48:08.:48:18.
:48:18.:48:20.

Tony Watt. Tony Watt got six goals last season, but he only scored once

:48:20.:48:27.

after that game with Barcelona in November. They will never be able to

:48:27.:48:37.
:48:37.:48:38.

take that moment away from him, that fine strike, beating Victor Valdes.

:48:38.:48:43.

He will want to achieve a lot more in his career. He was only 19.

:48:44.:48:48.

has to go under in his career now. He has had his moment of glory, but

:48:48.:48:53.

there is more there for him if he wanted. Gary Hooper going, there

:48:53.:49:03.
:49:03.:49:05.

will be more opportunities for him He will be disappointed. It opened

:49:05.:49:15.
:49:15.:49:36.

up for him again. He just gets away Commons. Kris Commons will be

:49:36.:49:40.

unhappy he didn't score tonight can hit the woodwork twice. The

:49:40.:49:46.

Australian Tomas Rogic scored a couple of times for Celtic. Talks

:49:46.:49:56.
:49:56.:50:35.

very highly of him. , Neil Lennon delighted with the third goal. If he

:50:35.:50:38.

could get that in the next nine minutes, he will be delighted with

:50:38.:50:45.

their work your Belfast. Dusk is beginning to fall in Northern

:50:45.:50:49.

Ireland, has Cliftonville go forward looking for a third hold back into

:50:49.:50:59.
:50:59.:51:18.

that. He didn't get his foot round it. Credit to Cliftonville, they

:51:18.:51:28.
:51:28.:51:50.

have kept going, happens to -- European action this week. Hibernian

:51:50.:52:00.
:52:00.:52:32.

clipping the crossbar, Celtic have not really managed to test Conor

:52:32.:52:42.
:52:42.:53:00.

Devlin in the second half. They tried to be too clever, but when it

:53:00.:53:04.

has needed to be cleared he has just kicked it. His decision-making has

:53:04.:53:14.
:53:14.:53:21.

Forrest! Keep it is the icing on the cake. You would think, if that

:53:21.:53:29.

wasn't already over, it surely is now. 3-0 to Celtic. His performance

:53:29.:53:39.
:53:39.:53:41.

as deserved that. Jaimie McGovern going backwards towards his goal. I

:53:41.:53:44.

think Conor Devlin will be disappointed getting beaten at his

:53:44.:53:50.

near post. James Forrest has been terrific, direct and speedy. And

:53:50.:53:56.

that is a great finish. He will want to put last season behind him,

:53:56.:54:00.

despite the fact he has medals to show for it, he did not play a big

:54:00.:54:05.

part of it as he would've liked to. Tommy Breslin has the think again,

:54:05.:54:13.

contemplate the second leg. Sometimes you come up against

:54:13.:54:19.

players and they are better than you, it is simple. Maybe at times

:54:19.:54:23.

they did give Celtic too much space and didn't keep the ball well

:54:23.:54:28.

enough, but Celtic of Shaun the difference in quality to night. It

:54:28.:54:33.

was a strong, professional performance. They might want another

:54:33.:54:43.
:54:43.:54:58.

one. Into the last five minutes here thoughts of Neil Lennon. He will be

:54:58.:55:07.

delighted with his nights work. was the last acts by James Forrest,

:55:07.:55:17.

he has been replaced by Dylan McGee, a Scottish hundred 21

:55:17.:55:27.
:55:27.:55:27.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

:55:27.:56:33.

international, who started his game time, so this will put him in a

:56:33.:56:43.
:56:43.:56:43.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

:56:43.:57:51.

through to Conor Devlin. He just can't get enough power on the shot.

:57:51.:58:01.
:58:01.:58:06.

A little glimpse of the quality of minutes. I think it is a job well

:58:06.:58:16.

done. If you give this to Neil Lennon, a good win and no fitness

:58:16.:58:22.

concerns, I think you would have been delighted. Here comes the book

:58:22.:58:32.
:58:32.:58:32.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

:58:32.:59:16.

again. Yellow card given to Liam too much to do. The home supporters

:59:16.:59:26.
:59:26.:59:39.

with love a goal. -- would love a minutes of stoppage time. I think

:59:39.:59:44.

there will be a few tired bodies and that Cliftonville dressing room.

:59:44.:59:48.

They have put so much into it. The lakes will be feeling at tomorrow

:59:48.:59:58.
:59:58.:59:58.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

:59:58.:02:31.

be a little bit harsh on it is job done for Neil Lennon and

:02:31.:02:39.

for Celtic. He exchanges handshakes with Tony Breslin. I am sure he will

:02:39.:02:44.

be busily disappointed with the results. -- bitterly disappointed.

:02:44.:02:50.

But he will be routed as well. A massive night for Cliftonville pier

:02:50.:02:56.

at Solitude. But it is Neil Lennon who is smiling at the end of this

:02:56.:03:02.

one. Goals for Mikhail Lustig with a header followed by a fantastic

:03:02.:03:08.

finish by Georgios Samaras, with a third at the end from James Forrest.

:03:08.:03:12.

Many Celtic players played well tonight. Neil Lennon will feel a lot

:03:12.:03:22.
:03:22.:03:22.

better about things after what was April pre-season run in Germany. --

:03:22.:03:30.

a poor run. They will be back at Celtic Park for the return next

:03:30.:03:35.

Tuesday, when the Northern Irish champions crossed the Irish Sea for

:03:35.:03:45.
:03:45.:03:48.

could have gone much better for Celtic. Three goals, three off the

:03:48.:03:56.

frame as well. A comprehensive defeat, you would had to say. -- you

:03:56.:04:02.

would have to say, kicked off by Lustig's header after 25 minutes,

:04:02.:04:08.

George Samaras with number two and then James Forrest's goal, six

:04:08.:04:17.

minutes from time. The second leg is at Celtic park next Tuesday night.

:04:17.:04:23.

Neil Lennon and Celtic can begin to look forward to the next qualifying

:04:23.:04:29.

round, which hopefully takes his team up a little closer to the

:04:29.:04:35.

prestige of the Champions League group stages. Final score 3-0 in

:04:35.:04:42.

Belfast. John and Martin. That was, offensive in the end? It was pretty

:04:42.:04:48.

comfortable in the end. Because of Celtic ass professionalism and

:04:48.:04:58.
:04:58.:04:58.

attitude, coming out of the blocks, the way they started the game. --

:04:58.:05:05.

Celtic's professionalism. Especially commons and Sampras, two of the

:05:05.:05:15.
:05:15.:05:17.

senior players, and Brown. I think Cliftonville players will be proud

:05:17.:05:22.

of themselves, of the way they kept going. They had one or 2/2 chances

:05:22.:05:28.

but in the end it could have been five or six and that may have been a

:05:28.:05:37.

bit unfair on Cliftonville. Celtic's chances hit the bar a few

:05:37.:05:43.

times. Some doubted Celtic and their ability to get through it smoothly

:05:43.:05:50.

tonight. One of the great things that result does for Neil is just

:05:50.:05:52.

defies his pre-season. You can say they have had a difficult three

:05:52.:05:57.

season. But I can say they have had a great pre-season because they have

:05:57.:06:01.

prepared for this game. Although they have lost games, they have been

:06:01.:06:08.

working hard in between games. On tonight's performance, Neil has got

:06:08.:06:12.

it absolutely spot on. It frustrates managers that people want to talk

:06:12.:06:16.

about pre-season games and results. I think that tonight proves it is

:06:16.:06:23.

almost irrelevant. It is a regime you are going through to get to the

:06:23.:06:28.

point of playing important games. Especially, when you are managing

:06:28.:06:34.

Celtic, every defeat is magnified tenfold. Everything about the

:06:34.:06:37.

performance tonight was fantastic. Be weight Celtic paste the whole

:06:37.:06:47.

game as well. -- the way Celtic paste the whole game. There was a

:06:47.:06:52.

patient's once the game got under way but Celtic had to start with the

:06:52.:06:56.

right tempo and at half-time we said Samaras was the one who started

:06:56.:07:01.

that. He was running out, getting the ball to Forrest, who was then

:07:01.:07:10.

getting it back. Getting the game up the park for Celtic. So although

:07:10.:07:14.

they were patient, after that early period, they started with the right

:07:14.:07:19.

tempo and the right way of taking the initiative. There was quality

:07:19.:07:23.

about the performance, quality about all three goals as well, the Lustig

:07:23.:07:28.

header, great timing from him as well, and great corner delivery from

:07:28.:07:37.

Commons. This is what Commons can do. On both sides as well, but he

:07:37.:07:47.
:07:47.:07:49.

faces his left side, I believe. That That is saying to any player, time

:07:49.:07:57.

your run, go and get your run. Tying it. Georgios Samaras did so many

:07:57.:08:02.

great things last season for Celtic in Europe. He was running out of the

:08:02.:08:08.

blocks. And this was some goal. Again, we have talked about the fact

:08:08.:08:16.

that when it comes back to him, the ball came across but he got a little

:08:16.:08:20.

touch back. A fantastic finish absolutely hammered into the back of

:08:20.:08:26.

the net. You cannot criticise the goalkeeper. Two touches with his

:08:26.:08:36.

right. He had to manipulate the ball back onto his other side but

:08:36.:08:40.

absolutely fabulous. Sometimes he is a figure of frustration to the

:08:40.:08:45.

Celtic fans, Georgios Samaras, but when he produces performances like

:08:45.:08:52.

that he is top dog. I remember watching a couple of goals against

:08:52.:08:59.

Rangers two or three seasons ago. The crowd were divided at one stage.

:08:59.:09:02.

Some more quite happy to see him leave the club. Others could see the

:09:02.:09:09.

potential. But he started to show himself. He stays on his feet a lot

:09:09.:09:15.

more now. He used to go over a lot. He shows more physical presence.

:09:15.:09:25.
:09:25.:09:25.

When he's on his game he is a seasoned international. You were

:09:25.:09:31.

pleased with the Forrest goal. Maybe it is a part of his goal that he

:09:31.:09:35.

still has to add in there. Yes, there was one in the first half

:09:35.:09:40.

where he put it over the bar. Here he spins the defender and he hits

:09:40.:09:44.

the target. That is the important thing. In the first half he has

:09:44.:09:49.

driven one over the bar. On that occasion, the keeper can stick at a

:09:49.:09:52.

food and save it but if he hits the target he has a chance of scoring

:09:52.:10:01.

and he did. And of the season at Parkhead he scored a similar goal.

:10:01.:10:10.

-- end of the season. He is important for Celtic. I know that

:10:10.:10:18.

Auden Strachan has a huge amount of hope pinned on Forrest. -- Gordon.

:10:18.:10:25.

It would be great to think for James Forrest, for Celtic and Scotland,

:10:25.:10:30.

that he can have an injury free time, because his time has so far

:10:30.:10:37.

been disrupted constantly. Yes, you do not find players who are very,

:10:37.:10:41.

very quick. They struggle with their hamstrings. I did not have that

:10:41.:10:46.

problem! It is great to see young players so positive. Coming into the

:10:46.:10:50.

side. Also playing for his country. It is great to see a youngster

:10:50.:10:55.

coming through the ranks and playing with so much confidence, being the

:10:55.:11:00.

star attraction, like he is and when he plays like that he's unstoppable.

:11:00.:11:06.

Those three goals do not tell the whole story tonight. It could so

:11:06.:11:10.

easily have been half a dozen, with several more coming off a post or a

:11:10.:11:16.

bar. Yes, but you do have to put the ball in the back of a net and as

:11:16.:11:22.

close as it was, you know, Commons coming inside and this one of the

:11:22.:11:28.

crossbar. A terrific little ball. He just lose it in a good area towards

:11:28.:11:35.

the back post and it is a clever header. -- he just leaves it.

:11:35.:11:40.

thought this one was in there. is a fantastic piece of individual

:11:40.:11:44.

skill. That is so difficult to do, to come in there on your wrong side,

:11:44.:11:49.

your right foot, and just bend it into the top corner there. That is

:11:49.:11:55.

inches away. Inches away from being my contender for goal of the season,

:11:55.:12:05.
:12:05.:12:07.

already. Anthony Stokes frustrated here as well. I think in the absence

:12:07.:12:13.

of Hooper, he has had to step up to the plate as a player. He has played

:12:13.:12:18.

well and I think he can get goals. We have seen him get goals. He has

:12:18.:12:25.

been unlucky there. You have to put it in the back of the net. I thought

:12:26.:12:31.

the goalkeeper made a little touch combat. But another good game.

:12:31.:12:37.

Celtic will look at replacing Gary Hooper. But Anthony Stokes is

:12:37.:12:41.

waiting in the wings. He missed a lot of last season. He will be

:12:41.:12:48.

looking to make up for lost time. Yes, and you look at what Neil has,

:12:48.:12:51.

young Tony Watts, who has been talked about going out on loan, not

:12:51.:12:56.

sure whether they have enough strength and cover to send any of

:12:56.:13:00.

the strikers out on loan at the moment. Samaras can play down the

:13:00.:13:06.

middle. Commons can play there as well. James Forrest and come in. I

:13:06.:13:10.

think they are short of striker. When you let a striker go like

:13:10.:13:17.

Cooper, and he guarantees you what he has got, 82 games in 137

:13:17.:13:22.

appearances for Celtic, that is a frightening statistic. -- like

:13:22.:13:32.
:13:32.:13:33.

Hooper. He may well get more games this season, but I think Neil's

:13:33.:13:36.

priority will be a striker and a goal-scorer. They do not come

:13:36.:13:42.

cheaply. But I am sure he will have his eye on one or two. Doyle has

:13:42.:13:48.

been mentioned, the lad at Burnley has been mentioned. But I think that

:13:48.:13:58.
:13:58.:13:59.

is what his priority will be. difficult to fault the front four.

:13:59.:14:09.
:14:09.:14:11.

Yes, the movement and Comments did the as Samaras, manipulating the

:14:11.:14:16.

ball with both feet. Good layers do that. A lot of players at

:14:16.:14:21.

Cliftonville play on one foot and turn on their right foot and only go

:14:21.:14:24.

on their right foot. But that in conjunction with the movement of

:14:24.:14:34.
:14:34.:14:41.

Forrest coming on side, it was just too much for Cliftonville. It was

:14:41.:14:51.
:14:51.:14:57.

important for Celtic that they kept that? Not really. I think we were

:14:57.:15:05.

architects of own downfall. I felt we were well in the game when they

:15:05.:15:09.

scored. The next goals were preventable. Celtic is a class act

:15:09.:15:14.

and the move the ball about. I was proud of our players. We looked

:15:14.:15:18.

comfortable at times and created have chances. There was the danger

:15:18.:15:24.

your players might have been overawed. Yes, but they weren't. At

:15:24.:15:31.

this level of football if you give -- if you give the way -- if you

:15:31.:15:36.

give the ball away cheaply you will get punished. What is the plan for

:15:36.:15:46.
:15:46.:15:46.

Parkhead called # -- for Parkhead? I'm going to as Neil Lennon of I can

:15:46.:15:53.

play 17 players! We will work hard play 17 players! We will work hard

:15:53.:16:03.
:16:03.:16:04.

play 17 players! We will work hard back, it would have lifted them.

:16:04.:16:14.

Celtic will be pleased that they didn't get a goal. He tried to time,

:16:14.:16:23.

but he just couldn't get on it. They did not have any clear-cut chances.

:16:23.:16:28.

Liam Boyce does really well there, place it into Joe Gormley, but he

:16:28.:16:38.
:16:38.:16:49.

just didn't get the shopping early. did Fraser Forster have a big state

:16:49.:16:54.

to make, the answer would have to be no. The dissenters were doing great

:16:54.:17:03.

blocking in front of him, as well. -- the defenders. Although Celtic

:17:03.:17:06.

were a little bit out of shape defensively, particularly from bowls

:17:06.:17:15.

further away, they defended their goal well enough and never really

:17:15.:17:25.
:17:25.:17:32.

looked like Cliftonville was going massive. The players at the lower

:17:32.:17:37.

levels have to aspire to reach up to the higher levels. Every time you go

:17:37.:17:44.

onto the page you are representing your club, cure at a great place and

:17:44.:17:48.

you have to go and perform enjoy your quality. There is no respite

:17:48.:17:54.

when you're playing for mass of clubs. There is no hiding place.

:17:54.:18:01.

Tonight I felt Celtic approached the game in the right manner. Yes,

:18:01.:18:03.

Cliftonville had little periods without threatening the goal for

:18:03.:18:08.

Celtic, but Neil Lennon will be delighted with a clean sheet and

:18:08.:18:12.

three goals, they are through by, job done. His bigger worry tonight

:18:12.:18:22.

was probably complacency, and how that could become a problem. He must

:18:22.:18:24.

be absolutely delighted with the attitude based should from the

:18:24.:18:34.

start. That is right. From the very beginning I had a feeling that there

:18:34.:18:37.

was a quiet confidence and determination, that he was enjoying

:18:37.:18:44.

the occasion. He said he didn't want to show that he was nervous because

:18:44.:18:48.

that would seep through to the players. That showed on the pitch.

:18:48.:18:53.

There was no setting back, from the first ball Celtic took the

:18:53.:18:58.

initiative. That is exactly what the manager had instructed them to do.

:18:58.:19:03.

Here is the man himself, Neil Lennon.

:19:03.:19:07.

Your thoughts? I am delighted. We played well and scored three goals

:19:07.:19:14.

and created a lot of chances. It was a sticky game for us and we doubled

:19:14.:19:17.

that well. All the more pleasing because it was a potential banana

:19:17.:19:23.

skin. Yes, we have had lots of talk about our preseason and the results,

:19:23.:19:29.

but we just wanted to get ready for these games. We have a friendly on

:19:29.:19:35.

Saturday that the bulk of this team will not be involved in an another

:19:35.:19:40.

game against Cliftonville next week. I suppose it is all about building

:19:40.:19:45.

momentum. Do you think they are getting sharper? Some are, some are

:19:45.:19:51.

a bit rusty. It is completely understandable. Good performances

:19:51.:19:59.

the night from Emilio Izaguirre, Mikael Lustig. I am delighted with

:19:59.:20:02.

the performances and the attitude. There was so much talk about this

:20:03.:20:07.

fixture and what a mental both sides, real sense of occasion out

:20:07.:20:17.
:20:17.:20:17.

there. It meant a lot to me personal -- personally. When I was young, the

:20:17.:20:23.

opportunity to see Celtic live is very rare. I couldn't have asked for

:20:23.:20:28.

any more from both sets of supporters. Even the weather has

:20:28.:20:32.

been good! I get the feeling there is a sense of pride from your part.

:20:32.:20:38.

If results haven't had gone the way I wanted, I would have been getting

:20:38.:20:45.

stick from back home. Hopefully the next generation of Celtic supporters

:20:45.:20:53.

here will have gone away happy. suppose you will continue to tweak

:20:53.:20:59.

with the squad. Any more word on the future of Gary Hooper? I have

:20:59.:21:09.
:21:09.:21:10.

nothing more to add on that. The hubs are ongoing. Steven Mouyokolo

:21:10.:21:15.

be able to join at the weekend. Virgil van Dijk will be open the

:21:15.:21:23.

joining. Thank you. So, an emotional night for Neil

:21:23.:21:29.

Lennon. People can say what they like about preseason friendlies and

:21:29.:21:34.

the results on tour, but it comes down in the end to the real thing,

:21:34.:21:41.

and tonight was the real thing. the pre-season tour, you look at the

:21:41.:21:46.

amount of time you have before your first competitive game. You have to

:21:46.:21:51.

think if we work as hard as we want to work in certain areas, will it

:21:51.:21:56.

affect the performance in a preseason game? Sometimes it does.

:21:57.:22:00.

Sometimes you have disabled go into this game tired, but we will get

:22:00.:22:05.

something out of it having done the work. That is what the preseason is

:22:05.:22:12.

all about. Get through it and major players aren't injured. When you get

:22:12.:22:15.

to the competitive games, they should be fresh and ready. It is

:22:15.:22:20.

about steps up progression, and this strikes me as a significant step for

:22:20.:22:29.

Celtic. It is about having the squad to cope, if you like. He has just

:22:29.:22:36.

list of about five players that will come from injury, little knocks. He

:22:36.:22:41.

had a strong enough 11 that did fantastically for him. The play

:22:42.:22:45.

Brentford on Saturday, then Cliftonville next Tuesday, then

:22:45.:22:51.

another friendly on the Saturday, then they go into the next round of

:22:51.:22:53.

the Champions League qualifiers. Before you know what they're into

:22:53.:23:01.

the first game of the real season starts and they County at home. It

:23:01.:23:06.

is about managing his squad, adding one or two, and bringing the injured

:23:06.:23:16.

players back and just seeing whether the likes of Tony Watt who came onto

:23:16.:23:21.

night, are they ready? Can they take the pressure of the senior boys?

:23:21.:23:26.

There is so much juggling going on, trying to win games was planning for

:23:26.:23:31.

the season. With the injuries he has got, some decisions have been taken

:23:31.:23:37.

out of his hands. The day he has got everyone said, that is the day he

:23:37.:23:43.

makes lots of decisions! That is what he wants. He wants them all fit

:23:43.:23:47.

and strong and ready and willing to play, so he can pick what he thinks

:23:47.:23:51.

is the strongest team. In the meantime he has to juggle it a

:23:51.:23:56.

little bit. He said there, going to Brentford at the weekend, he said

:23:56.:24:01.

that none of the ones playing tonight will be involved. It will be

:24:01.:24:08.

all change at Brentford on Saturday for Celtic. This is a team of

:24:08.:24:16.

ambitions of going far in the Champions League. Celtic are

:24:16.:24:26.
:24:26.:24:27.

expected to win the treble. That is a huge pressure on Neil Lennon. It

:24:27.:24:30.

is a long, long season. We has to be scientific about how users his

:24:30.:24:37.

squad. He has just lost arguably his best player, one Yam. There is talk

:24:38.:24:47.

about Gary Hooper leaving. It looks like he will leave. As a manager, it

:24:47.:24:52.

must be soul destroying to lose your two best players. The fans put

:24:52.:25:02.
:25:02.:25:03.

pressure on the manager, put the man's on him. Losing your two best

:25:03.:25:08.

players, that must be a body blow for him. A quick word about the

:25:08.:25:12.

other teams from Scotland in action tomorrow? St Johnstone will play

:25:12.:25:22.

Rosenberg. Ebony cane against Malmo in Sweden. They declared tough

:25:22.:25:28.

games. Had Celtic and playing either of those teams, you would be looking

:25:28.:25:34.

at it thinking that is a hard game for Celtic, never mind St Johnstone

:25:34.:25:44.
:25:44.:25:51.

or Hibernian. Expectations are still that they will go through. Of course

:25:51.:25:57.

they have a chance, but will be very difficult. It is a balancing act for

:25:57.:26:01.

them the same way that it is for Celtic at the moment. These are big

:26:01.:26:04.

games. The possibilities are glamorous, but they have their

:26:04.:26:12.

domestic season to think about. expectancy level is not the same as

:26:12.:26:17.

for Celtic. Going to Sweden or Norway, there isn't that expectancy

:26:17.:26:27.
:26:27.:26:28.

level. Steve Lomas did incredibly well to get them into Europe and it

:26:28.:26:33.

is a shame he is not there. We wish Pat Fenlon the best of luck for

:26:33.:26:38.

Hibernian tomorrow night. Her job really well done tonight by New

:26:38.:26:48.

London's team. A really professional job. It was an occasion, a great

:26:48.:26:52.

occasion for Cliftonville and for Neil Lennon to go back with his

:26:52.:26:55.

team. Cliftonville can be proud of their performance, they were well

:26:55.:26:59.

beaten but did not lose the discipline. They stuck with the

:26:59.:27:08.

three rides and were just beaten by a better team. That is the football

:27:08.:27:18.
:27:18.:27:18.

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds

:27:18.:28:10.

season off and running on the BBC! the 3rd of August. All the results

:28:10.:28:15.

on all the reports. Sunday nights means our highlights programme,

:28:15.:28:18.

coverage of all six games played across the Scottish Premier League

:28:18.:28:26.

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