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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 | :00:37. | :00:44. | |
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 | :00:49. | :00:54. | |
time since Neil Lennon 's team were winning Scottish cup at Hampden, | :00:54. | :00:58. | |
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 | :01:04. | :01:14. | |
Cliftonville are in weight. With me, two former Celtic striker 's | :01:14. | :01:18. | |
hoop with Wales and Scotland these days are assistant managers. Before | :01:18. | :01:22. | |
we hear from them, let's set the scene in Belfast with art | :01:22. | :01:30. | |
commentators. -- are commentators. Here we are for the first football | :01:30. | :01:34. | |
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. | :01:40. | :01:44. | |
Different surroundings to the last match they had in the Champions | :01:44. | :01:49. | |
League, which was in the Juventus Stadium in Turin. We are in Northern | :01:49. | :01:59. | |
Ireland. Celtic can expect a competitive game. Cliftonville are | :01:59. | :02:02. | |
well-known for being competitive. They are different to the rest of | :02:02. | :02:12. | |
:02:12. | :02:12. | ||
the Irish league because they try to quite comfortably. They won the | :02:12. | :02:21. | |
league cup. They have had a good season. Celtic art minus Wanyama who | :02:21. | :02:28. | |
went to Southampton last week. Also without Mulgrew, Matthews, Ledley | :02:28. | :02:36. | |
and another art injured, also van Dyck. They are missing a big number | :02:36. | :02:42. | |
of the team who I think Lennon would have liked to play today. I do not | :02:42. | :02:47. | |
think Scott Brown has played a lot of football recently. They lost four | :02:47. | :02:53. | |
preseason games coming into it. A big responsibility on Kris Commons, | :02:53. | :02:57. | |
James Forrest, Stokes, Samaras. They have to step up to the mark and get | :02:57. | :03:04. | |
through Cliftonville. This team will fancy their chances. They have to | :03:04. | :03:14. | |
get at them early on, get the ball and try to use their quality. Neill | :03:14. | :03:24. | |
:03:24. | :03:25. | ||
has said in the Beeld up -- build-up to the game, needs must. This is the | :03:25. | :03:33. | |
start of it so he has to make sure he gets through. He has to try to | :03:33. | :03:43. | |
:03:43. | :03:46. | ||
hurdle and another two after it is to get back to where they were last | :03:46. | :03:54. | |
season. John, your old team reached the last 16 of the Champions League | :03:54. | :03:57. | |
last season. Neil Lennon thinks it is crazy they have to make such an | :03:57. | :04:01. | |
early start to the competition this time around. | :04:01. | :04:05. | |
Do you agree? You would think they would be rewarded for reaching the | :04:05. | :04:14. | |
last 16. They have to come in because they are a Scottish team and | :04:14. | :04:18. | |
they have to plate three qualifying matches to reach the group stages. | :04:18. | :04:27. | |
That is where they are. They got to the last 16 of the Champions League | :04:27. | :04:30. | |
last season and they have to go through the same amount of games. | :04:30. | :04:37. | |
bill think they could not have got Celtic -- Cliftonville think they | :04:37. | :04:40. | |
could not have got Celtic at a better time given that Celtic are | :04:40. | :04:49. | |
far from peaking at this stage. think that they know what Celtic art | :04:49. | :04:57. | |
capable of, regardless of what stage of the preseason it is. I wonder | :04:57. | :05:02. | |
what the manager thinks about it. Neil Lennon with Chris Maguire | :05:02. | :05:06. | |
clean. Just seven weeks after you lifted the Scottish cup. The | :05:06. | :05:16. | |
:05:16. | :05:16. | ||
Champions League campaign starts tonight. Is the squad ready? They | :05:16. | :05:20. | |
are fantastic professionals and they looked in good condition. It is | :05:20. | :05:25. | |
impossible for them to be up to speed. Such a short space of time. | :05:25. | :05:30. | |
Ambrose has not had much of a pre-season at all. Is that a | :05:30. | :05:38. | |
gamble? No, he looks OK. The rate may have done his body a world of | :05:38. | :05:43. | |
good. He is in very good condition. Should be pre-season results be a | :05:43. | :05:47. | |
concern? It is a concern to me but the whole preseason boss disjointed | :05:47. | :05:57. | |
with four games in ten days. It was very staggered so we did not have a | :05:57. | :06:01. | |
settled team. You do not like to lose games but this is a real | :06:01. | :06:07. | |
competitive game tonight so I expect a performance. Nice to be home for a | :06:07. | :06:12. | |
game? I will let you know afterwards! We know that the bench | :06:12. | :06:22. | |
:06:22. | :06:23. | ||
is not exactly the strongest, with several players out? Ann I think | :06:23. | :06:29. | |
they have got enough. The starting line-up for me has enough to win. | :06:29. | :06:33. | |
Although it is a Champions League game it is hugely important for the | :06:33. | :06:38. | |
club but also another stage in the development and the preseason and | :06:38. | :06:41. | |
this will be another step towards it, so as long as nothing | :06:41. | :06:47. | |
catastrophic happens here tonight it will be a good step along the way. | :06:47. | :06:52. | |
agree. I think they have so much more quality. The game will start at | :06:52. | :07:00. | |
a frantic pace, I think. Lift and Phil will want to come out, fly out | :07:00. | :07:10. | |
:07:10. | :07:11. | ||
-- Cliftonville. Brown, the captain tonight, needs to take a bit more | :07:11. | :07:16. | |
responsibility tonight in a potentially dangerous claim, in | :07:16. | :07:21. | |
terms of quality. Slow the ball down and go and get the ball and be brave | :07:21. | :07:27. | |
in tight areas, pass it, show their quality. Celtic are full of quality | :07:27. | :07:34. | |
still. Anyone of the Cliftonville layers could not get into the Celtic | :07:34. | :07:38. | |
team. Celtic have to show that in terms of their attitude. If their | :07:39. | :07:43. | |
attitude is right, there is no wait Celtic should lose. Cliftonville of | :07:43. | :07:48. | |
team in Ireland and it is the biggest match for them in their 134 | :07:48. | :07:55. | |
year history. They won the double and then the treble last season. | :07:55. | :08:01. | |
That they are part-timers. We can now hear from their manager. | :08:01. | :08:03. | |
excitement is building around the ground. Can you do the seemingly | :08:03. | :08:13. | |
:08:13. | :08:16. | ||
impossible? Remark we will give it a good go. -- we will do our best. | :08:16. | :08:23. | |
will see what happens. Describe what it has been like since the draw was | :08:23. | :08:31. | |
made? Hectic, madness. It has really been crazy. The clamour for tickets. | :08:31. | :08:35. | |
Getting the ground ready. The preparations. It has been | :08:35. | :08:42. | |
outstanding. We are just focusing on the football though and we are | :08:42. | :08:48. | |
actually going to play a match. is the aim for the match? Do you do | :08:48. | :08:53. | |
your best to try to keep the tie alive for the game at Parkhead? | :08:53. | :08:59. | |
At the end of the day we are a part-time club but I have just asked | :08:59. | :09:03. | |
the players to be brave. Be prepared to take it in turns and play | :09:03. | :09:10. | |
football. The full-time team a couple of months ago work in the | :09:10. | :09:17. | |
last 16 of the Champions League and that is what we are facing. Good | :09:17. | :09:27. | |
luck. This was Cliftonville clinching their title last season. | :09:27. | :09:31. | |
Stephen Kraken was saying a little earlier they like to pass the ball. | :09:31. | :09:37. | |
Yes, they passed the ball and I was surprised they profit from the | :09:37. | :09:41. | |
back. They move the ball really well. -- they passed it from the | :09:41. | :09:48. | |
back. They know that the session will be key. If they keep | :09:48. | :09:56. | |
surrendering the ball to Celtic, Celtic will punish them. More from | :09:56. | :10:01. | |
Mark and John at half-time. We are about to get under way at the | :10:01. | :10:06. | |
Solitude Stadium in Belfast. The second round qualifying game which | :10:06. | :10:10. | |
hopefully for Celtic leads to the Champions League. Cliftonville | :10:10. | :10:14. | |
against the Scottish champions and your commentary comes from Stephen | :10:14. | :10:24. | |
:10:24. | :10:36. | ||
the Northern Irish capital. The last 16 exit at the hands of the Italian | :10:36. | :10:40. | |
champions, Juventus, came at the end of a journey, and the Celtic fans | :10:40. | :10:44. | |
are believing once more that their team could make an impact on the | :10:44. | :10:48. | |
biggest stage of all after a few years in Champions League ex-oil. | :10:48. | :10:53. | |
They slayed the mighty Barcelona and the fact that they won the league | :10:53. | :11:02. | |
title again was not enough to propel them into the glamorous group stage. | :11:02. | :11:09. | |
We are at Solitude, the home of the Northern are champions, | :11:09. | :11:15. | |
Cliftonville, who have not lost here since September. The atmosphere | :11:15. | :11:22. | |
around Solitude has been to refit in the build-up to the game. Fans | :11:22. | :11:32. | |
:11:32. | :11:33. | ||
mingling outside. -- has been horrific. -- terrific. Attendance | :11:33. | :11:43. | |
:11:43. | :11:53. | ||
here will be around 5500. They have CHEERING | :11:53. | :12:01. | |
A terrific night in Belfast. The hazy sunshine. Flares going off as | :12:01. | :12:08. | |
well. The Cliftonville side almost went a treble last season. Devlin in | :12:09. | :12:15. | |
coal used to be on the books at Manchester United. -- Devlin in | :12:15. | :12:25. | |
:12:25. | :12:25. | ||
goal. Transfers and injuries leaving Lennon short of several players. | :12:25. | :12:32. | |
Ambrose has only trained twice. Stokes and Samaras or the men up | :12:32. | :12:39. | |
front. The Celtic bench shows just how wafer thin the squad is right | :12:39. | :12:49. | |
:12:49. | :13:01. | ||
now. Youngsters Irvine and waters we have been speaking about this | :13:01. | :13:10. | |
possibly being the biggest game in Cliftonville's 134 year history. You | :13:10. | :13:20. | |
:13:20. | :13:21. | ||
do not want the game to get away from them too early. Both sides in | :13:21. | :13:24. | |
their respective puddles. This could be the biggest game in | :13:24. | :13:34. | |
:13:34. | :13:35. | ||
Cliftonville's history, the Northern Irish part-time champions. Sweden | :13:35. | :13:43. | |
took care of Celtic last season. Celtic ended a four year absence. | :13:43. | :13:46. | |
The referee was in charge of a couple of Europa league matches last | :13:46. | :13:54. | |
season. An extra hurdle for Celtic to get over this time around. After | :13:54. | :13:59. | |
some poor pre-season results in their recent tour of Germany, they | :13:59. | :14:09. | |
:14:09. | :14:29. | ||
are widely expected to overcome Champions League football. | :14:29. | :14:39. | |
:14:39. | :14:39. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds | :14:39. | :15:44. | |
Cliftonville when an opening free when he came back from the African | :15:44. | :15:54. | |
:15:54. | :15:59. | ||
cup of Nations. He won that with Nigeria. Celtic are a little bit | :15:59. | :16:09. | |
:16:09. | :16:27. | ||
clear-cut chance of the match with a header from Kris Commons. That | :16:27. | :16:31. | |
caused lots of problems. It all came from James Forrest on the left-hand | :16:31. | :16:40. | |
side. He wants to be one-on-one with the full-back. James Forrest on his | :16:40. | :16:46. | |
weaker left that played in a lovely ball to the back post. Conor Devlin | :16:46. | :16:51. | |
is beaten, but the crossbar saves him. Cliftonville off the hook | :16:51. | :17:01. | |
:17:01. | :17:20. | ||
thought it would, fast and furious. Both sides trying to pass the ball. | :17:20. | :17:30. | |
:17:30. | :17:38. | ||
Celtic are now trying to get on the artificial pitch out there. Celtic | :17:38. | :17:44. | |
played on these pictures twice last season. With the attempt, that was | :17:44. | :17:54. | |
:17:54. | :17:58. | ||
James Forrest. Again, 333 macro. He is going to have fun against Ciaran | :17:58. | :18:05. | |
Caldwell. Positive play by Celtic. It does look as though James Forrest | :18:05. | :18:15. | |
has started down the left. I like the fact that Kris Commons is on the | :18:15. | :18:20. | |
rights and James Forrest is on the left. It opens up the pitch. It is a | :18:20. | :18:30. | |
:18:30. | :18:48. | ||
at the bottom of your picture. It is a temporary stand that was in | :18:48. | :18:56. | |
yesterday. If Celtic get the first goal, it will settle them down and | :18:56. | :19:06. | |
:19:06. | :19:17. | ||
Celtic neatest -- Celtic need to take the sting out of the game. | :19:17. | :19:22. | |
only other Champions League tie for Cliftonville, it was their biggest | :19:22. | :19:32. | |
:19:32. | :19:36. | ||
ever aggregate defeat when Hassler back inside beat them 13-1. -- a | :19:36. | :19:46. | |
:19:46. | :19:46. | ||
Slovakian side beat them 13-1. we'll have warned his players not to | :19:46. | :19:56. | |
:19:56. | :19:56. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds | :19:56. | :20:41. | |
give Celtic any encouragement, not third Bremen in Germany, but it | :20:41. | :20:46. | |
didn't work out for him there. He was on the reserve team. He moved | :20:46. | :20:56. | |
:20:56. | :21:12. | ||
Particularly by Georgios Samaras, you can look a bit ungainly when | :21:12. | :21:16. | |
running for it, but he does it to good effect. He is the talisman for | :21:16. | :21:26. | |
:21:26. | :21:39. | ||
Celtic in Europe. He scored five by Anthony Stokes. This is what he | :21:39. | :21:49. | |
is good at, turning people. You just can't get enough power in the ball. | :21:49. | :21:52. | |
Liam Boyce with as little trick there, he certainly is a talented | :21:52. | :22:02. | |
:22:02. | :22:09. | ||
the six yard line. That was slack play by Kelvin Wilson, the cutest | :22:09. | :22:15. | |
expected to win that ball. He has to be more decisive, go and cleared the | :22:15. | :22:25. | |
:22:25. | :22:47. | ||
Tommy Breslin was worried about that, but so far they have not been. | :22:47. | :22:57. | |
:22:57. | :22:59. | ||
Jaimie McGovern was speaking to the press yesterday, he was talking | :22:59. | :23:04. | |
about which he once from the opposition players, but Tommy | :23:04. | :23:14. | |
:23:14. | :23:46. | ||
Breslin did not want them thinking the ball than anyone else in the | :23:46. | :23:56. | |
:23:56. | :24:18. | ||
Georgios Samaras. I think he looks in the mood tonight. But having | :24:18. | :24:22. | |
questions about his appetite in the past, but tonight he looks in the | :24:22. | :24:32. | |
:24:32. | :24:51. | ||
draws the free kick. It is just here, there has been a free kick, | :24:51. | :25:01. | |
:25:01. | :25:26. | ||
there was no need to go in there by was under pressure. This left-hand | :25:26. | :25:33. | |
side has been very productive for Celtic. That was a terrific cross by | :25:33. | :25:38. | |
Emilio Izaguirre. Cliftonville have to stop crosses coming into their | :25:38. | :25:46. | |
box, they have to close people dying or they will be punished. A horrible | :25:46. | :25:56. | |
:25:56. | :25:59. | ||
pre-season for Celtic, four matches played, and they lost them all. They | :25:59. | :26:08. | |
were defeated by a couple of German second division sides, as well. Not | :26:08. | :26:18. | |
:26:18. | :26:35. | ||
We were talking about Liam Boyce, and he has a great partnership. Neil | :26:35. | :26:40. | |
Lennon will be delighted with the start so far. He played here as a | :26:40. | :26:50. | |
:26:50. | :26:51. | ||
young man, Neil Lennon. Tommy Breslin was in the team that Neil | :26:51. | :26:55. | |
Lennon -- the Neil Lennon played for that day. He went over to Manchester | :26:55. | :27:01. | |
city after that. Tommy Breslin played very similarly to Neil | :27:02. | :27:06. | |
Lennon, he was good on the ball and a great competitor. Neil Lennon | :27:06. | :27:16. | |
:27:16. | :27:44. | ||
getting back to his best last season, after that ankle brickie had | :27:44. | :27:54. | |
:27:54. | :27:56. | ||
the previous season. The game has not been as one-sided as some people | :27:56. | :28:06. | |
:28:06. | :28:25. | ||
thought it might be. Cliftonville Champions League last season. He was | :28:25. | :28:31. | |
called into the in dash into the England international squad, but he | :28:31. | :28:41. | |
:28:41. | :29:06. | ||
is still waiting for that elusive last season, then he went to right | :29:06. | :29:16. | |
back. He has slotted into that role really well. Sometimes when to go to | :29:16. | :29:21. | |
full-back, they lose some of the quality, but that has not happens. | :29:21. | :29:24. | |
He scored the goal that secured the title from the penalty spot against | :29:25. | :29:34. | |
:29:35. | :29:35. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds | :29:35. | :31:30. | |
kick. That is where I think Commons first touch right there but another | :31:30. | :31:40. | |
:31:40. | :31:40. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds | :31:40. | :32:21. | |
Belfast sunshine to see what Celtic frustrated Celtic and their players | :32:21. | :32:31. | |
:32:31. | :32:31. | ||
will get. I just think over the two legs, there is no doubt Celtic will | :32:31. | :32:41. | |
:32:41. | :32:41. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds | :32:41. | :34:26. | |
had the best chance of the game so corner. A couple of diagonal balls | :34:26. | :34:36. | |
:34:36. | :34:42. | ||
in behind the Cliftonville fullbacks last season, well over half the | :34:42. | :34:52. | |
:34:52. | :35:09. | ||
final, that has two B the -- that has to be the inspiration for Stokes | :35:09. | :35:19. | |
:35:19. | :35:30. | ||
referee is going to his pocket. He is not happy by the -- with the | :35:30. | :35:39. | |
challenge by McGovern. I think it was more reaction. He was waving his | :35:40. | :35:45. | |
arms. I do not think the referee took too kindly to that. You see his | :35:46. | :35:53. | |
reaction. He was waving at the referee. His second season here, | :35:53. | :36:03. | |
:36:03. | :36:23. | ||
expected the ball to go into the box, a little training ground move, | :36:24. | :36:33. | |
:36:34. | :36:34. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds | :36:34. | :37:35. | |
that unfortunately it did not. -- was closed recently. They have had | :37:36. | :37:45. | |
:37:46. | :37:46. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds | :37:46. | :38:45. | |
new seats put in their provided by a their! Celtic in front! And away | :38:45. | :38:49. | |
goal after 22 minutes. That will be a huge disappointment for | :38:49. | :38:54. | |
Cliftonville. They have been playing well in the game. It is absolutely | :38:54. | :39:03. | |
criminal. Devlin came for the cross, did not get anywhere near it. | :39:03. | :39:13. | |
:39:13. | :39:16. | ||
They have been threatening, they nerves of Celtic, Neil Lennon and | :39:16. | :39:26. | |
:39:26. | :39:28. | ||
the supporters. The score at scored three times last season -- Mikael | :39:28. | :39:38. | |
:39:38. | :40:03. | ||
Lustig scored three times last keep their head. They have to be | :40:03. | :40:13. | |
:40:13. | :40:49. | ||
careful. They cannot let the game go situation for Conor Devlin as that | :40:49. | :40:59. | |
:40:59. | :40:59. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds | :40:59. | :41:55. | |
trying to do, just hang that on the six yard line. Neil Lennon will be | :41:55. | :42:05. | |
:42:05. | :42:08. | ||
delighted. He will be a lot more relaxed. He was quite annoyed | :42:08. | :42:13. | |
yesterday that Celtic had to play this game, to play at this stage of | :42:14. | :42:23. | |
:42:24. | :42:54. | ||
Boyce. In the last few minutes he through three qualifiers to get into | :42:54. | :43:04. | |
:43:04. | :43:17. | ||
the group stages of the Champions The third is to come, and then the | :43:17. | :43:27. | |
:43:27. | :43:27. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds | :43:27. | :44:18. | |
His opponent did well just to snuff it out. Neil Lennon in the past has | :44:18. | :44:28. | |
:44:28. | :44:28. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds | :44:28. | :45:13. | |
tried to snap the players out of Samaras! Celtic have insurance at | :45:13. | :45:22. | |
last. That was at top quality finish. Joe Gormley give it up | :45:22. | :45:31. | |
weekly and Celtic capitalised. Kris Commons does well, it goes back to | :45:31. | :45:36. | |
Georgios Samaras, you think he is missed this opportunity, but it is a | :45:36. | :45:46. | |
:45:46. | :45:48. | ||
fantastic finish. That is a well deserved 2-goal lead by Celtic. | :45:48. | :45:55. | |
Possibly they have clinched the tie already, two away goals against | :45:55. | :46:00. | |
their part-time opponents. The second leg will be in Glasgow next | :46:00. | :46:10. | |
:46:10. | :46:19. | ||
Tuesday night. Celtic would love to Cliftonville supporters. We said | :46:19. | :46:25. | |
that if they were in the moods, Celtic would win the game. They are | :46:25. | :46:35. | |
:46:35. | :46:35. | ||
Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds | :46:35. | :47:23. | |
in was like you're playing old summer, in the rugby league. | :47:23. | :47:27. | |
always thought it helps to have competitive games pre-season. | :47:27. | :47:37. | |
:47:37. | :47:37. | ||
Competitive football really helps at this stage of the season. That was a | :47:37. | :47:41. | |
majestic touch, ball coming over his shoulder. He is showing the quality | :47:41. | :47:51. | |
:47:51. | :48:17. | ||
that Celtic was understrength, and they are, but it is still a strong | :48:17. | :48:27. | |
:48:27. | :48:43. | ||
disappointed. The two goals they have lost a plain bad goals. They | :48:43. | :48:51. | |
could be out of the tie already. The next goal could be crucial. There | :48:51. | :48:54. | |
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 | :49:01. | :49:06. | |
a good switch of play. He takes a back inside, but couldn't settle | :49:06. | :49:16. | |
:49:16. | :49:20. | ||
himself dying to get the shot on comes from Dublin. A controversial | :49:20. | :49:26. | |
figure Cliftonville. He was fined and put on the transfer list for a | :49:26. | :49:36. | |
:49:36. | :49:40. | ||
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. | |
:49:57. | :50:34. | ||
Catney and Joe Gormley the chance to card. That yellow card is 458 macro. | :50:34. | :50:38. | |
That is great feat. It is certainly a booking, he followed through. | :50:38. | :50:48. | |
:50:48. | :51:02. | ||
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. | |
:51:20. | :51:25. | ||
would see fixture... Here. Bad effort by Anthony Stokes. The | :51:25. | :51:30. | |
referee did not like that by Georgios Samaras. He is normally the | :51:30. | :51:34. | |
one getting pushed about. He certainly looks in the mood for the | :51:34. | :51:39. | |
game. Physically he is up for the challenge. The players from | :51:39. | :51:49. | |
:51:49. | :52:18. | ||
Cliftonville are certainly leaving a he is in the mood. He is using his | :52:18. | :52:28. | |
:52:28. | :52:40. | ||
speed, his trickery. So far he has They are ganging up on the Greek | :52:40. | :52:50. | |
:52:50. | :53:11. | ||
Georgios Samaras with the second, time in the match, Kris Commons hit | :53:11. | :53:19. | |
the goal frame. Beram Kayal with an effort. This could be a long, long | :53:19. | :53:23. | |
night for the Northern Irish champions. Kris Commons picks up a | :53:23. | :53:33. | |
great ball. 16 macro let's turn and get the shot away. I thought it was | :53:33. | :53:43. | |
:53:43. | :53:50. | ||
drifting into the top corner. Celtic the way. He is a former Scottish | :53:50. | :53:57. | |
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. |