:00:17. > :00:26.throughout Europe and the world by winning the European Championships.
:00:26. > :00:36.John, you are a mortal. He became the pre-eminent footballer not only
:00:36. > :00:37.
:00:37. > :00:44.of written and Europe but of the world. He is not only a memory or a
:00:44. > :00:49.legend, he is a contemporary inspiration for this club. Yes, for
:00:49. > :00:54.Celtic, another European campaign is about to begin. It seems like note
:00:54. > :00:58.time since Neil Lennon 's team were winning Scottish cup at Hampden,
:00:58. > :01:01.seven and a half weeks ago. Now Celtic will hope to take the
:01:02. > :01:04.first steps towards emulating or maybe even add doing their Champions
:01:04. > :01:14.League achievements of last season. The Belfast part-timers of
:01:14. > :01:18.Cliftonville are in weight. With me, two former Celtic striker 's
:01:18. > :01:22.hoop with Wales and Scotland these days are assistant managers. Before
:01:22. > :01:30.we hear from them, let's set the scene in Belfast with art
:01:30. > :01:34.commentators. -- are commentators. Here we are for the first football
:01:34. > :01:40.match of the season and Celtic's first much in what they hope will be
:01:40. > :01:44.just like the Champions League campaign, getting to the last 16.
:01:44. > :01:49.Different surroundings to the last match they had in the Champions
:01:49. > :01:59.League, which was in the Juventus Stadium in Turin. We are in Northern
:01:59. > :02:02.Ireland. Celtic can expect a competitive game. Cliftonville are
:02:02. > :02:12.well-known for being competitive. They are different to the rest of
:02:12. > :02:12.
:02:12. > :02:21.the Irish league because they try to quite comfortably. They won the
:02:21. > :02:28.league cup. They have had a good season. Celtic art minus Wanyama who
:02:28. > :02:36.went to Southampton last week. Also without Mulgrew, Matthews, Ledley
:02:36. > :02:42.and another art injured, also van Dyck. They are missing a big number
:02:42. > :02:47.of the team who I think Lennon would have liked to play today. I do not
:02:47. > :02:53.think Scott Brown has played a lot of football recently. They lost four
:02:53. > :02:57.preseason games coming into it. A big responsibility on Kris Commons,
:02:57. > :03:04.James Forrest, Stokes, Samaras. They have to step up to the mark and get
:03:04. > :03:14.through Cliftonville. This team will fancy their chances. They have to
:03:14. > :03:24.get at them early on, get the ball and try to use their quality. Neill
:03:24. > :03:25.
:03:25. > :03:33.has said in the Beeld up -- build-up to the game, needs must. This is the
:03:33. > :03:43.start of it so he has to make sure he gets through. He has to try to
:03:43. > :03:46.
:03:46. > :03:54.hurdle and another two after it is to get back to where they were last
:03:54. > :03:57.season. John, your old team reached the last 16 of the Champions League
:03:57. > :04:01.last season. Neil Lennon thinks it is crazy they have to make such an
:04:01. > :04:05.early start to the competition this time around.
:04:05. > :04:14.Do you agree? You would think they would be rewarded for reaching the
:04:14. > :04:18.last 16. They have to come in because they are a Scottish team and
:04:18. > :04:27.they have to plate three qualifying matches to reach the group stages.
:04:27. > :04:30.That is where they are. They got to the last 16 of the Champions League
:04:30. > :04:37.last season and they have to go through the same amount of games.
:04:37. > :04:40.bill think they could not have got Celtic -- Cliftonville think they
:04:40. > :04:49.could not have got Celtic at a better time given that Celtic are
:04:49. > :04:57.far from peaking at this stage. think that they know what Celtic art
:04:57. > :05:02.capable of, regardless of what stage of the preseason it is. I wonder
:05:02. > :05:06.what the manager thinks about it. Neil Lennon with Chris Maguire
:05:06. > :05:16.clean. Just seven weeks after you lifted the Scottish cup. The
:05:16. > :05:16.
:05:16. > :05:20.Champions League campaign starts tonight. Is the squad ready? They
:05:20. > :05:25.are fantastic professionals and they looked in good condition. It is
:05:25. > :05:30.impossible for them to be up to speed. Such a short space of time.
:05:30. > :05:38.Ambrose has not had much of a pre-season at all. Is that a
:05:38. > :05:43.gamble? No, he looks OK. The rate may have done his body a world of
:05:43. > :05:47.good. He is in very good condition. Should be pre-season results be a
:05:47. > :05:57.concern? It is a concern to me but the whole preseason boss disjointed
:05:57. > :06:01.with four games in ten days. It was very staggered so we did not have a
:06:01. > :06:07.settled team. You do not like to lose games but this is a real
:06:07. > :06:12.competitive game tonight so I expect a performance. Nice to be home for a
:06:12. > :06:22.game? I will let you know afterwards! We know that the bench
:06:22. > :06:23.
:06:23. > :06:29.is not exactly the strongest, with several players out? Ann I think
:06:29. > :06:33.they have got enough. The starting line-up for me has enough to win.
:06:33. > :06:38.Although it is a Champions League game it is hugely important for the
:06:38. > :06:41.club but also another stage in the development and the preseason and
:06:41. > :06:47.this will be another step towards it, so as long as nothing
:06:47. > :06:52.catastrophic happens here tonight it will be a good step along the way.
:06:52. > :07:00.agree. I think they have so much more quality. The game will start at
:07:00. > :07:10.a frantic pace, I think. Lift and Phil will want to come out, fly out
:07:10. > :07:11.
:07:11. > :07:16.-- Cliftonville. Brown, the captain tonight, needs to take a bit more
:07:16. > :07:21.responsibility tonight in a potentially dangerous claim, in
:07:21. > :07:27.terms of quality. Slow the ball down and go and get the ball and be brave
:07:27. > :07:34.in tight areas, pass it, show their quality. Celtic are full of quality
:07:34. > :07:38.still. Anyone of the Cliftonville layers could not get into the Celtic
:07:39. > :07:43.team. Celtic have to show that in terms of their attitude. If their
:07:43. > :07:48.attitude is right, there is no wait Celtic should lose. Cliftonville of
:07:48. > :07:55.team in Ireland and it is the biggest match for them in their 134
:07:55. > :08:01.year history. They won the double and then the treble last season.
:08:01. > :08:03.That they are part-timers. We can now hear from their manager.
:08:03. > :08:13.excitement is building around the ground. Can you do the seemingly
:08:13. > :08:16.
:08:16. > :08:23.impossible? Remark we will give it a good go. -- we will do our best.
:08:23. > :08:31.will see what happens. Describe what it has been like since the draw was
:08:31. > :08:35.made? Hectic, madness. It has really been crazy. The clamour for tickets.
:08:35. > :08:42.Getting the ground ready. The preparations. It has been
:08:42. > :08:48.outstanding. We are just focusing on the football though and we are
:08:48. > :08:53.actually going to play a match. is the aim for the match? Do you do
:08:53. > :08:59.your best to try to keep the tie alive for the game at Parkhead?
:08:59. > :09:03.At the end of the day we are a part-time club but I have just asked
:09:03. > :09:10.the players to be brave. Be prepared to take it in turns and play
:09:10. > :09:17.football. The full-time team a couple of months ago work in the
:09:17. > :09:27.last 16 of the Champions League and that is what we are facing. Good
:09:27. > :09:31.luck. This was Cliftonville clinching their title last season.
:09:31. > :09:37.Stephen Kraken was saying a little earlier they like to pass the ball.
:09:37. > :09:41.Yes, they passed the ball and I was surprised they profit from the
:09:41. > :09:48.back. They move the ball really well. -- they passed it from the
:09:48. > :09:56.back. They know that the session will be key. If they keep
:09:56. > :10:01.surrendering the ball to Celtic, Celtic will punish them. More from
:10:01. > :10:06.Mark and John at half-time. We are about to get under way at the
:10:06. > :10:10.Solitude Stadium in Belfast. The second round qualifying game which
:10:10. > :10:14.hopefully for Celtic leads to the Champions League. Cliftonville
:10:14. > :10:24.against the Scottish champions and your commentary comes from Stephen
:10:24. > :10:36.
:10:36. > :10:40.the Northern Irish capital. The last 16 exit at the hands of the Italian
:10:40. > :10:44.champions, Juventus, came at the end of a journey, and the Celtic fans
:10:44. > :10:48.are believing once more that their team could make an impact on the
:10:48. > :10:53.biggest stage of all after a few years in Champions League ex-oil.
:10:53. > :11:02.They slayed the mighty Barcelona and the fact that they won the league
:11:02. > :11:09.title again was not enough to propel them into the glamorous group stage.
:11:09. > :11:15.We are at Solitude, the home of the Northern are champions,
:11:15. > :11:22.Cliftonville, who have not lost here since September. The atmosphere
:11:22. > :11:32.around Solitude has been to refit in the build-up to the game. Fans
:11:32. > :11:33.
:11:33. > :11:43.mingling outside. -- has been horrific. -- terrific. Attendance
:11:43. > :11:53.
:11:53. > :12:01.here will be around 5500. They have CHEERING
:12:01. > :12:08.A terrific night in Belfast. The hazy sunshine. Flares going off as
:12:09. > :12:15.well. The Cliftonville side almost went a treble last season. Devlin in
:12:15. > :12:25.coal used to be on the books at Manchester United. -- Devlin in
:12:25. > :12:25.
:12:25. > :12:32.goal. Transfers and injuries leaving Lennon short of several players.
:12:32. > :12:39.Ambrose has only trained twice. Stokes and Samaras or the men up
:12:39. > :12:49.front. The Celtic bench shows just how wafer thin the squad is right
:12:49. > :13:01.
:13:01. > :13:10.now. Youngsters Irvine and waters we have been speaking about this
:13:10. > :13:20.possibly being the biggest game in Cliftonville's 134 year history. You
:13:20. > :13:21.
:13:21. > :13:24.do not want the game to get away from them too early. Both sides in
:13:24. > :13:34.their respective puddles. This could be the biggest game in
:13:34. > :13:35.
:13:35. > :13:43.Cliftonville's history, the Northern Irish part-time champions. Sweden
:13:43. > :13:46.took care of Celtic last season. Celtic ended a four year absence.
:13:46. > :13:54.The referee was in charge of a couple of Europa league matches last
:13:54. > :13:59.season. An extra hurdle for Celtic to get over this time around. After
:13:59. > :14:09.some poor pre-season results in their recent tour of Germany, they
:14:09. > :14:29.
:14:29. > :14:39.are widely expected to overcome Champions League football.
:14:39. > :14:39.
:14:39. > :15:44.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:15:44. > :15:54.Cliftonville when an opening free when he came back from the African
:15:54. > :15:59.
:15:59. > :16:09.cup of Nations. He won that with Nigeria. Celtic are a little bit
:16:09. > :16:27.
:16:27. > :16:31.clear-cut chance of the match with a header from Kris Commons. That
:16:31. > :16:40.caused lots of problems. It all came from James Forrest on the left-hand
:16:40. > :16:46.side. He wants to be one-on-one with the full-back. James Forrest on his
:16:46. > :16:51.weaker left that played in a lovely ball to the back post. Conor Devlin
:16:51. > :17:01.is beaten, but the crossbar saves him. Cliftonville off the hook
:17:01. > :17:20.
:17:20. > :17:30.thought it would, fast and furious. Both sides trying to pass the ball.
:17:30. > :17:38.
:17:38. > :17:44.Celtic are now trying to get on the artificial pitch out there. Celtic
:17:44. > :17:54.played on these pictures twice last season. With the attempt, that was
:17:54. > :17:58.
:17:58. > :18:05.James Forrest. Again, 333 macro. He is going to have fun against Ciaran
:18:05. > :18:15.Caldwell. Positive play by Celtic. It does look as though James Forrest
:18:15. > :18:20.has started down the left. I like the fact that Kris Commons is on the
:18:20. > :18:30.rights and James Forrest is on the left. It opens up the pitch. It is a
:18:30. > :18:48.
:18:48. > :18:56.at the bottom of your picture. It is a temporary stand that was in
:18:56. > :19:06.yesterday. If Celtic get the first goal, it will settle them down and
:19:06. > :19:17.
:19:17. > :19:22.Celtic neatest -- Celtic need to take the sting out of the game.
:19:22. > :19:32.only other Champions League tie for Cliftonville, it was their biggest
:19:32. > :19:36.
:19:36. > :19:46.ever aggregate defeat when Hassler back inside beat them 13-1. -- a
:19:46. > :19:46.
:19:46. > :19:56.Slovakian side beat them 13-1. we'll have warned his players not to
:19:56. > :19:56.
:19:56. > :20:41.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:20:41. > :20:46.give Celtic any encouragement, not third Bremen in Germany, but it
:20:46. > :20:56.didn't work out for him there. He was on the reserve team. He moved
:20:56. > :21:12.
:21:12. > :21:16.Particularly by Georgios Samaras, you can look a bit ungainly when
:21:16. > :21:26.running for it, but he does it to good effect. He is the talisman for
:21:26. > :21:39.
:21:39. > :21:49.Celtic in Europe. He scored five by Anthony Stokes. This is what he
:21:49. > :21:52.is good at, turning people. You just can't get enough power in the ball.
:21:52. > :22:02.Liam Boyce with as little trick there, he certainly is a talented
:22:02. > :22:09.
:22:09. > :22:15.the six yard line. That was slack play by Kelvin Wilson, the cutest
:22:15. > :22:25.expected to win that ball. He has to be more decisive, go and cleared the
:22:25. > :22:47.
:22:47. > :22:57.Tommy Breslin was worried about that, but so far they have not been.
:22:57. > :22:59.
:22:59. > :23:04.Jaimie McGovern was speaking to the press yesterday, he was talking
:23:04. > :23:14.about which he once from the opposition players, but Tommy
:23:14. > :23:46.
:23:46. > :23:56.Breslin did not want them thinking the ball than anyone else in the
:23:56. > :24:18.
:24:18. > :24:22.Georgios Samaras. I think he looks in the mood tonight. But having
:24:22. > :24:32.questions about his appetite in the past, but tonight he looks in the
:24:32. > :24:51.
:24:51. > :25:01.draws the free kick. It is just here, there has been a free kick,
:25:01. > :25:26.
:25:26. > :25:33.there was no need to go in there by was under pressure. This left-hand
:25:33. > :25:38.side has been very productive for Celtic. That was a terrific cross by
:25:38. > :25:46.Emilio Izaguirre. Cliftonville have to stop crosses coming into their
:25:46. > :25:56.box, they have to close people dying or they will be punished. A horrible
:25:56. > :25:59.
:25:59. > :26:08.pre-season for Celtic, four matches played, and they lost them all. They
:26:08. > :26:18.were defeated by a couple of German second division sides, as well. Not
:26:18. > :26:35.
:26:35. > :26:40.We were talking about Liam Boyce, and he has a great partnership. Neil
:26:40. > :26:50.Lennon will be delighted with the start so far. He played here as a
:26:50. > :26:51.
:26:51. > :26:55.young man, Neil Lennon. Tommy Breslin was in the team that Neil
:26:55. > :27:01.Lennon -- the Neil Lennon played for that day. He went over to Manchester
:27:02. > :27:06.city after that. Tommy Breslin played very similarly to Neil
:27:06. > :27:16.Lennon, he was good on the ball and a great competitor. Neil Lennon
:27:16. > :27:44.
:27:44. > :27:54.getting back to his best last season, after that ankle brickie had
:27:54. > :27:56.
:27:56. > :28:06.the previous season. The game has not been as one-sided as some people
:28:06. > :28:25.
:28:25. > :28:31.thought it might be. Cliftonville Champions League last season. He was
:28:31. > :28:41.called into the in dash into the England international squad, but he
:28:41. > :29:06.
:29:06. > :29:16.is still waiting for that elusive last season, then he went to right
:29:16. > :29:21.back. He has slotted into that role really well. Sometimes when to go to
:29:21. > :29:24.full-back, they lose some of the quality, but that has not happens.
:29:25. > :29:34.He scored the goal that secured the title from the penalty spot against
:29:35. > :29:35.
:29:35. > :31:30.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:31:30. > :31:40.kick. That is where I think Commons first touch right there but another
:31:40. > :31:40.
:31:40. > :32:21.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:32:21. > :32:31.Belfast sunshine to see what Celtic frustrated Celtic and their players
:32:31. > :32:31.
:32:31. > :32:41.will get. I just think over the two legs, there is no doubt Celtic will
:32:41. > :32:41.
:32:41. > :34:26.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:34:26. > :34:36.had the best chance of the game so corner. A couple of diagonal balls
:34:36. > :34:42.
:34:42. > :34:52.in behind the Cliftonville fullbacks last season, well over half the
:34:52. > :35:09.
:35:09. > :35:19.final, that has two B the -- that has to be the inspiration for Stokes
:35:19. > :35:30.
:35:30. > :35:39.referee is going to his pocket. He is not happy by the -- with the
:35:40. > :35:45.challenge by McGovern. I think it was more reaction. He was waving his
:35:46. > :35:53.arms. I do not think the referee took too kindly to that. You see his
:35:53. > :36:03.reaction. He was waving at the referee. His second season here,
:36:03. > :36:23.
:36:24. > :36:33.expected the ball to go into the box, a little training ground move,
:36:34. > :36:34.
:36:34. > :37:35.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:37:36. > :37:45.that unfortunately it did not. -- was closed recently. They have had
:37:46. > :37:46.
:37:46. > :38:45.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:38:45. > :38:49.new seats put in their provided by a their! Celtic in front! And away
:38:49. > :38:54.goal after 22 minutes. That will be a huge disappointment for
:38:54. > :39:03.Cliftonville. They have been playing well in the game. It is absolutely
:39:03. > :39:13.criminal. Devlin came for the cross, did not get anywhere near it.
:39:13. > :39:16.
:39:16. > :39:26.They have been threatening, they nerves of Celtic, Neil Lennon and
:39:26. > :39:28.
:39:28. > :39:38.the supporters. The score at scored three times last season -- Mikael
:39:38. > :40:03.
:40:03. > :40:13.Lustig scored three times last keep their head. They have to be
:40:13. > :40:49.
:40:49. > :40:59.careful. They cannot let the game go situation for Conor Devlin as that
:40:59. > :40:59.
:40:59. > :41:55.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:41:55. > :42:05.trying to do, just hang that on the six yard line. Neil Lennon will be
:42:05. > :42:08.
:42:08. > :42:13.delighted. He will be a lot more relaxed. He was quite annoyed
:42:14. > :42:23.yesterday that Celtic had to play this game, to play at this stage of
:42:24. > :42:54.
:42:54. > :43:04.Boyce. In the last few minutes he through three qualifiers to get into
:43:04. > :43:17.
:43:17. > :43:27.the group stages of the Champions The third is to come, and then the
:43:27. > :43:27.
:43:27. > :44:18.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:44:18. > :44:28.His opponent did well just to snuff it out. Neil Lennon in the past has
:44:28. > :44:28.
:44:28. > :45:13.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:45:13. > :45:22.tried to snap the players out of Samaras! Celtic have insurance at
:45:22. > :45:31.last. That was at top quality finish. Joe Gormley give it up
:45:31. > :45:36.weekly and Celtic capitalised. Kris Commons does well, it goes back to
:45:36. > :45:46.Georgios Samaras, you think he is missed this opportunity, but it is a
:45:46. > :45:48.
:45:48. > :45:55.fantastic finish. That is a well deserved 2-goal lead by Celtic.
:45:55. > :46:00.Possibly they have clinched the tie already, two away goals against
:46:00. > :46:10.their part-time opponents. The second leg will be in Glasgow next
:46:10. > :46:19.
:46:19. > :46:25.Tuesday night. Celtic would love to Cliftonville supporters. We said
:46:25. > :46:35.that if they were in the moods, Celtic would win the game. They are
:46:35. > :46:35.
:46:35. > :47:23.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:47:23. > :47:27.in was like you're playing old summer, in the rugby league.
:47:27. > :47:37.always thought it helps to have competitive games pre-season.
:47:37. > :47:37.
:47:37. > :47:41.Competitive football really helps at this stage of the season. That was a
:47:41. > :47:51.majestic touch, ball coming over his shoulder. He is showing the quality
:47:51. > :48:17.
:48:17. > :48:27.that Celtic was understrength, and they are, but it is still a strong
:48:27. > :48:43.
:48:43. > :48:51.disappointed. The two goals they have lost a plain bad goals. They
:48:51. > :48:54.could be out of the tie already. The next goal could be crucial. There
:48:54. > :49:01.was no flag there against Ciaran Caldwell, but he fluffed his big
:49:01. > :49:06.chance. He has been quiet, doing most of his work defensively. It was
:49:06. > :49:16.a good switch of play. He takes a back inside, but couldn't settle
:49:16. > :49:20.
:49:20. > :49:26.himself dying to get the shot on comes from Dublin. A controversial
:49:26. > :49:36.figure Cliftonville. He was fined and put on the transfer list for a
:49:36. > :49:40.
:49:40. > :49:47.breach of club discipline a few their principles. They have to keep
:49:47. > :49:57.passing the ball, try to get forward more quickly. They have to give Ryan
:49:57. > :50:34.
:50:34. > :50:38.Catney and Joe Gormley the chance to card. That yellow card is 458 macro.
:50:38. > :50:48.That is great feat. It is certainly a booking, he followed through.
:50:48. > :51:02.
:51:02. > :51:10.Anthony Stokes was expecting the one Cliftonville and they have been
:51:10. > :51:20.queueing overnight for them in Belfast. It is not everyday you
:51:20. > :51:25.
:51:25. > :51:30.would see fixture... Here. Bad effort by Anthony Stokes. The
:51:30. > :51:34.referee did not like that by Georgios Samaras. He is normally the
:51:34. > :51:39.one getting pushed about. He certainly looks in the mood for the
:51:39. > :51:49.game. Physically he is up for the challenge. The players from
:51:49. > :52:18.
:52:18. > :52:28.Cliftonville are certainly leaving a he is in the mood. He is using his
:52:28. > :52:40.
:52:40. > :52:50.speed, his trickery. So far he has They are ganging up on the Greek
:52:50. > :53:11.
:53:11. > :53:19.Georgios Samaras with the second, time in the match, Kris Commons hit
:53:19. > :53:23.the goal frame. Beram Kayal with an effort. This could be a long, long
:53:23. > :53:33.night for the Northern Irish champions. Kris Commons picks up a
:53:33. > :53:43.great ball. 16 macro let's turn and get the shot away. I thought it was
:53:43. > :53:50.
:53:50. > :53:57.drifting into the top corner. Celtic the way. He is a former Scottish
:53:57. > :54:07.international. Kris Commons stop playing internationals at the end of
:54:07. > :54:09.
:54:09. > :54:19.last season. Georgios Samaras is playing in the left. The front fork
:54:19. > :54:23.
:54:23. > :54:33.and interchange positions, but it doesn't affect their play. A lot of
:54:33. > :54:34.
:54:34. > :54:44.talk in the build-up was about the attitude of Celtic. They have not
:54:44. > :54:46.
:54:46. > :54:51.had that they have not had any Lennon will have said to them, if
:54:51. > :54:55.you want to get back to the big stadiums you have to come to places
:54:55. > :55:00.like this, show the right attitude and go and win the game and get back
:55:00. > :55:10.into the Champions League. It seems that his players have listen to what
:55:10. > :55:25.
:55:25. > :55:30.easy Cliftonville get opened up when they lose the ball. They are able to
:55:30. > :55:34.slide the ball through. As much as it is nice football they are
:55:34. > :55:44.playing, they have not been productive. The two strikers have
:55:44. > :55:44.
:55:44. > :56:34.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:56:34. > :56:38.not had an of service. -- had enough Cliftonville away. I think Tommy
:56:38. > :56:43.Breslin will have to mix things up at half-time. He has to try and do
:56:43. > :56:53.something a little bit different. You just think if Celtic get a third
:56:53. > :57:22.
:57:22. > :57:32.goal, the whole tie is completely reasonably well, in coping with
:57:32. > :57:40.
:57:40. > :57:45.Celtic would shine through. At the start of the game it was always
:57:45. > :57:50.going to be intense Cliftonville going to try to force themselves on
:57:50. > :58:00.Celtic. Once it slowed down and the flair players for Celtic came on the
:58:00. > :58:10.
:58:10. > :58:17.ball, it was always going to be a from Celtic sometimes. Maybe it is
:58:17. > :58:21.because of this pre-season, but they are just leaving little chance at
:58:21. > :58:31.times. Neil Lennon will be sent to them, don't give away back into the
:58:31. > :58:31.
:58:31. > :59:24.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:59:24. > :59:32.game. -- don't give them away back Ukrainian referee. Celtic very
:59:32. > :59:40.comfortable now. Goals from Lustig and Samaras. They are two up.
:59:40. > :59:45.Georgios Samaras may not look it but he must be very happy for the way
:59:45. > :59:53.his team have performed in that first half.
:59:53. > :59:58.All going according to plan so far for Celtic. 2-0 up. How impressed
:59:58. > :00:04.are you with the way Celtic have gone about this? Very impressed.
:00:04. > :00:09.Straight from kick-off they have looked up for it. As if Neal has
:00:09. > :00:14.gone in there and said, forget about are four pre-season defeats, it is
:00:14. > :00:21.all about tonight. This is where it starts tonight. The back four have
:00:21. > :00:28.looked solid. Ambrose should be coming onto the ball once or twice.
:00:28. > :00:32.The midfield, Brown and Kayal, have controlled it. They have had little
:00:32. > :00:40.spells, Cliftonville, but when you look at it... Samaras scored an
:00:40. > :00:47.unbelievable goal. I spoke about the attitude, and they matched them very
:00:47. > :00:52.early on, physically and then the quality that Celtic have. Commons's
:00:52. > :01:00.delivery, which we are going to see soon, and Samaras's goal is
:01:00. > :01:07.fantastic. There has been a belief about Celtic, as you would expect
:01:07. > :01:10.with a team that reached the last 16 last season. I think there was a
:01:10. > :01:20.quiet confidence in Neil Lennon when he was interviewed for the match. He
:01:20. > :01:26.knows his players. They started brilliantly. Samaras was a catalyst.
:01:26. > :01:31.His distribution to Forrest on the left-hand side was excellent. He has
:01:31. > :01:36.been their star player in the first half. They wanted that opening
:01:36. > :01:44.goal. It came along at 25 minutes and it was Mikael Lustig who got the
:01:44. > :01:50.goal from the corner kick following this from Forrest. Forrest has been
:01:50. > :01:58.great. It is listed with the touch which wins the corner. This is what
:01:58. > :02:06.Celtic have that Cliftonville do not have, real quality. Must dig loses
:02:06. > :02:15.his man. -- lusting loses his man. His man doesn't even bother marking
:02:15. > :02:23.him. -- Lustig. That is a fantastic ball. Commons with his less foot, we
:02:23. > :02:28.see later on he is equally good with his right foot. Celtic assessment
:02:28. > :02:38.front three have all been great. Difficult to single one out but
:02:38. > :02:42.
:02:42. > :02:47.Forrest a threat down both sides to and we expected him to go back on it
:02:47. > :02:53.but he went on his left foot. He hits the crossbar. Then he goes over
:02:53. > :02:59.onto the right foot and does it on the other side. It is putting people
:02:59. > :03:04.into a good area than worrying about how the ball looks. He just puts it
:03:04. > :03:09.in the area and invites strikers to go and get on the end of it. I
:03:09. > :03:14.thought that was fantastic from Samaras. This one went over the bar.
:03:14. > :03:22.He might have done a bit better in hitting the target. But first he
:03:22. > :03:28.went down the side on his right foot, then he went on his left.
:03:28. > :03:33.sums up how positive Celtic have been from the start but Forrest is a
:03:33. > :03:39.very positive anyway. He gets the ball and he has one thing on his
:03:39. > :03:49.mind, can I beat the full-back Matt can I pick my striker out? For me, a
:03:49. > :03:49.
:03:49. > :03:58.good winter should be satisfied if he makes his striker a goal. -- wind
:03:58. > :04:04.-- winger. John has raved about Kris Commons already. There was a short
:04:04. > :04:12.curling shot which look like -- looked like it was net-bound as
:04:12. > :04:18.well. He almost got through and the ball just checked behind him a
:04:18. > :04:24.little bit. But at other times he will get on the end of crosses. That
:04:24. > :04:33.is really so unlucky. I thought that was a goal. As soon as it left his
:04:33. > :04:40.foot. He was very unfortunate. But we know he will go for it. I am not
:04:40. > :04:45.sure what his stronger side is. He is so strong on his left. It is
:04:45. > :04:49.arguable which side he is strongest on. There was no stopping the shot
:04:49. > :04:57.from Georgios Samaras 131 minutes and his first half performance has
:04:57. > :05:07.been top. Yes. Cliftonville will not come up against players in their
:05:07. > :05:12.league that will do that. He turned onto his left foot and finished it.
:05:12. > :05:19.He carved out the goal after it ended up going behind him. He was
:05:19. > :05:25.great. He didn't look up. He just drilled it into the net. The
:05:25. > :05:28.goalkeeper had no chance whatsoever. You cannot be too critical of
:05:28. > :05:35.Cliftonville in that circumstance, because that is a good player.
:05:35. > :05:41.was a European talismanic for Celtic last season. He could be a game.
:05:41. > :05:46.Yes, he gives it his midfield and defence a breather because he can
:05:46. > :05:52.run at people. He is deceiving the quick with that gangly stride he
:05:52. > :05:58.has. When you get the centre forward facing his own goal away from your
:05:58. > :06:02.goal, you think you have done the job but the swivel, and to get the
:06:02. > :06:07.power from that left foot to get it into the net is fantastic. Is it
:06:07. > :06:14.fair to say the only defensive problems Celtic have had have been
:06:14. > :06:20.of their own making? Yes. It is still pre-season. One of the things
:06:20. > :06:23.Neil Lennon is doing is working towards a defensive chain. To make
:06:23. > :06:30.them defend in a much more solid shape. That is something that will
:06:30. > :06:37.come. Tonight they have been a little bit staggered at times,
:06:37. > :06:41.sometimes indecisive, sometimes having to scrabble. That looked for
:06:41. > :06:50.all the world like a free kick. The referee did not give it. A little
:06:50. > :06:59.scrappy at times but that is what pre-season back Falls lookalike for
:06:59. > :07:05.a time. -- Falls. What is Neil Lennon saying at this moment about
:07:05. > :07:10.what he wants from the second half? Keep the ball. There is nothing
:07:10. > :07:16.worse than chasing a ball. From a Cliftonville point of view. If they
:07:16. > :07:20.can get a couple more goals... He might make one or two changes, just
:07:20. > :07:24.save a little bit of legs because they are still in pre-season. I
:07:24. > :07:28.think he will be absolutely delighted with the first half. They
:07:28. > :07:34.were professional in attitude and that is what this book about -- he
:07:34. > :07:38.spoke about before the game. Sometimes you can go onto the pitch
:07:38. > :07:43.waiting for other players to do it against lesser opposition but
:07:43. > :07:48.tonight the attitude has been spot on. We will come back to this game
:07:48. > :07:55.in a minute but let's talk about Gary Hooper, who seems to be going,
:07:55. > :08:00.gone as far as the Celtic fans are concerned. His contract is up in a
:08:00. > :08:05.year. Would you have expected Celtic, even knowing there is only
:08:05. > :08:07.12 months on his deal, to have got more money than they have for him?
:08:07. > :08:17.Could he score good goals in the English Premier League, for
:08:17. > :08:20.
:08:20. > :08:27.instance? I think they can. Crystal Palace, Cardiff, Hull, those are
:08:27. > :08:37.teams who have been interested. They are interested in him at the money
:08:37. > :08:38.
:08:38. > :08:43.that Celtic are demanding. There are other players playing in the Premier
:08:43. > :08:50.League... I watch a lot of Premier League games. We watch Premier
:08:50. > :08:54.League players and we see players that are not as good as Gary Hooper.
:08:54. > :09:00.Would you be surprised if Celtic did not get a much bigger offer in the
:09:00. > :09:07.next few days, but he would go for less than 5 million? No, because he
:09:07. > :09:12.has 12 months left on his contract. He is letting his contract run down
:09:12. > :09:15.because he wants to leave the club. I think he wants a taste of the
:09:15. > :09:19.Premier League, which is arguably one of the strongest leagues in the
:09:19. > :09:24.world. I would not be surprised if one of the middle range clubs of the
:09:24. > :09:31.Premier League, West Bromwich Albion, Swansea, Everton, I would
:09:31. > :09:37.not be surprised if one of those clubs came in. That would hike the
:09:37. > :09:41.price up, wouldn't it? I think the reason it is 5 million is he only
:09:41. > :09:51.has a year on his contract. Is that if there is competition it will
:09:51. > :09:54.
:09:54. > :09:58.price the clubs up? I am surprised that one of the... Maybe not the top
:09:58. > :10:01.three all four because they may feel he has a bit more to prove in the
:10:01. > :10:08.Premier League because he has not played at that level. Late in the
:10:08. > :10:15.SPL, scored acts of goals, scored Champions League goals... -- load of
:10:15. > :10:18.goals. Having you here, Mark, we have a chance to talk Scotland
:10:18. > :10:24.briefly and the difference that that goal in Croatia... We were trying to
:10:24. > :10:28.work out how long ago it was, five and a half weeks? What difference
:10:28. > :10:35.does this make to the national mood? It is incredible, really and
:10:35. > :10:40.going into the game we lost some players and looking at the squad,
:10:40. > :10:46.people had an opportunity for those reasons and everyone on the night
:10:46. > :10:53.contributed. It really was a fabulous performance. But wait a
:10:53. > :10:58.minute. We are going to have to work on the celebration! Yes, I was
:10:58. > :11:05.criticised for my celebration when we scored before because apparently
:11:05. > :11:09.I did nothing. We have things going on, organisational things. I have
:11:09. > :11:13.work to do. Yes, of course you want to celebrate but you also don't want
:11:13. > :11:17.to get carried away. But it was a fantastic performance and out of
:11:17. > :11:24.that we can take things into the next stage, the preparation for the
:11:24. > :11:29.England game. Not just the result. The result was brilliant but the
:11:29. > :11:33.performance, for me, was the important thing. If we had drawn 1-1
:11:33. > :11:36.in the end we would have been disappointed but we still would have
:11:36. > :11:43.taken something away from the performance. There is that match
:11:43. > :11:49.coming up, and the group games coming up for Scotland. I do not
:11:49. > :11:55.know why I am speaking to you about this because you have done it...
:11:55. > :12:00.Home game against Belgium to come. Away to Macedonia. And then Croatia
:12:00. > :12:05.at home. All following that Finland international. Do you see things now
:12:05. > :12:09.on the up? There will be a better spirit because they have some
:12:09. > :12:14.terrific players. I do not think they have got the quality they have
:12:14. > :12:21.had in recent years, years gone by. I do not want to name great
:12:21. > :12:31.players... But Mark will tell you the spirit on the camp is very
:12:31. > :12:39.important. For Scotland to go out to Croatia and when 1-0 will have given
:12:39. > :12:43.them great hope. That was a wonderful result. I think one of the
:12:43. > :12:47.most important things is that Gordon is new to the job and when you go in
:12:47. > :12:53.as a manager in any club game, never mind international, you want to give
:12:53. > :12:57.the players a message to believe in. Horton was clear about how he wanted
:12:57. > :13:04.to approach the Croatia game and the players did what he asked them to do
:13:04. > :13:08.will stop -- Gordon. Then they will come back next time listening to
:13:08. > :13:13.what he has two say, believing he has something positive to say to
:13:13. > :13:18.help them win football matches. That will help the confidence grow. You
:13:18. > :13:24.get that enthusiasm, that the governors, and the belief in the
:13:24. > :13:30.manager. That has made a spill a whole lot better. For Celtic it is
:13:30. > :13:34.so far all going according to plan after Mikael Lustig's 25 minute
:13:35. > :13:39.header, followed six minutes later by the left foot last from Georgios
:13:39. > :13:49.Samaras, to get Celtic two goals in front against Cliftonville in
:13:49. > :14:00.
:14:00. > :14:10.Belfast. Back there now, to Stephen Celtic's first-ever match against
:14:10. > :14:14.
:14:14. > :14:23.Northern Irish opponents. They have played teams from the Republic. The
:14:23. > :14:33.route to Lisbon, where the final will be played, were Celtic last
:14:33. > :14:56.
:14:56. > :15:02.last season in the Champions what Neil Lennon will be sent to his
:15:02. > :15:06.players, but what will Tommy Breslin have to say? The next goal will be
:15:06. > :15:11.crucial. If it goes the way of Celtic, it will be a long night
:15:11. > :15:21.tonight and at Parkhead next week. He will just be encouraging his
:15:21. > :15:27.
:15:27. > :15:33.time the Celtic players are running. A towards Cliftonville,
:15:33. > :15:37.they tend to have the better of them. It looks like Georgios Samaras
:15:37. > :15:47.has started off the same way he was playing in the first half. And will
:15:47. > :16:21.
:16:21. > :16:31.be demanding that he -- that his clever interplay with Ciaran
:16:31. > :16:41.
:16:41. > :16:46.Thistle, once upon a time. Cliftonville have done OK, but it is
:16:46. > :16:52.just that final pass, that final cross that has let them down. This
:16:52. > :17:02.is another opportunity and the big boys are going up. Can George
:17:02. > :17:41.
:17:41. > :17:46.were talking up their chances before the game, thinking they had an
:17:46. > :17:56.opportunity. I would imagine at half-time a few of them would have
:17:56. > :17:57.
:17:57. > :18:04.been looking at each other after realising how did these players are.
:18:04. > :18:13.That was Celtic's own fault. That was just a little bit of indecision
:18:13. > :18:16.between Mikael Lustig and Fraser Forster. Stephen Garrett will
:18:16. > :18:21.certainly see that as a missed opportunity to get his side back in
:18:21. > :18:31.the game. Georgios Samaras was scathing about is surfaces
:18:31. > :18:46.
:18:46. > :18:56.yesterday. -- about artificial want to play on grass. It can be a
:18:56. > :19:27.
:19:27. > :19:35.bit of an inconvenience to have to Cliftonville, moving it from left to
:19:35. > :19:45.right. They need to maintain the ball better in the final third.
:19:45. > :20:04.
:20:04. > :20:14.Don't give it to them cheaply, don't little bit more careful when they
:20:14. > :20:46.
:20:46. > :20:51.second half started the way the first acted, with Cliftonville
:20:51. > :20:56.trying to take the game to Celtic. You would expect in ten minutes,
:20:56. > :21:06.when it settles down again, Celtic will go back to moving the ball,
:21:06. > :21:17.
:21:17. > :21:27.making Cliftonville go from side to Beram Kayal. It has been a very
:21:27. > :21:45.
:21:45. > :21:54.competitive midfield battle. The concern Neil Lennon in the second
:21:54. > :22:01.half. Scott Brown has given it away, Beram Kayal has given that
:22:01. > :22:05.away a bit sloppily. Neil Lennon will want them to up their speed.
:22:05. > :22:15.Cliftonville and start their league season until the 10th of August, to
:22:15. > :22:19.
:22:19. > :22:25.again this season. Linfield have added a lot of good players, so it
:22:25. > :22:35.should be closer, and on the evidence we see tonight Cliftonville
:22:35. > :22:45.
:22:45. > :22:50.Cliftonville. George McMullan start that move on the far side. It has
:22:50. > :22:55.resulted in the set piece opportunity. One touch football,
:22:55. > :23:05.passing and moving. That is what you try to preach all the time, pass and
:23:05. > :23:39.
:23:39. > :23:49.was riding around there, that the sewer. Just got on the back of the
:23:49. > :23:51.
:23:51. > :24:01.knee. I think the knee of Liam Boyce just goes into Mikael Lustig. I
:24:01. > :24:39.
:24:39. > :24:48.think you will be OK. -- he will be Anthony Stokes is drifting out to
:24:48. > :24:54.the left-hand side. Good play by Liam Boyce! Drops it in for Joe
:24:54. > :25:02.Gormley! It looks like -- at the click it was going to fall to Joe
:25:02. > :25:07.Gormley! That is better play, better ball in the final third. Joe Gormley
:25:07. > :25:12.just does not get the amount of time that he expects in Irish league
:25:12. > :25:22.football. We know that Liam Boyce has that quality, that little bit of
:25:22. > :25:22.
:25:22. > :26:05.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:26:05. > :26:15.straight at the goalkeeper. That was good patient play. Moving its side
:26:15. > :26:16.
:26:16. > :26:26.to side. Any crosses coming into the box, too often the Celtic players
:26:26. > :26:43.
:26:43. > :26:53.the game. They are wrestling the game back from Cliftonville. They
:26:53. > :27:00.
:27:00. > :27:10.are just slowing the temple, taking only lost once at home in all
:27:10. > :27:36.
:27:36. > :27:42.free season. Anthony Stokes with another opportunity. We had
:27:42. > :27:52.mentioned about Gary Hooper leaving. This is a huge opportunity for him
:27:52. > :27:53.
:27:53. > :28:03.at Celtic. Neil Lennon will be so much happier now that Celtic have
:28:03. > :28:33.
:28:33. > :28:43.times for Celtic last season. He did score the winner in the cup
:28:43. > :28:51.
:28:51. > :28:56.Cliftonville have it in them to go and get the goal? Can they muster up
:28:56. > :29:06.the quality, the energy? Their fitness will be a factor night. They
:29:06. > :29:36.
:29:36. > :29:46.have been chasing the ball for long temporary stand that we have here at
:29:46. > :30:13.
:30:13. > :30:18.at a Bruce Springsteen concert yet Smyth came up from the back for
:30:18. > :30:28.that. That is the best chance they have had, Mark Smyth coming at the
:30:28. > :30:28.
:30:28. > :31:09.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:31:09. > :31:16.back post. A good block and the 61 minutes we have had so far.
:31:16. > :31:24.All the hard work in pre-season starts to pay off. Izaguirre was
:31:24. > :31:34.caught by Barry Johnston here. Smyth does well. But good defending.
:31:34. > :31:34.
:31:34. > :32:25.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:32:25. > :32:35.A great touch. He should really have Cliftonville have won three European
:32:35. > :32:35.
:32:35. > :34:29.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:34:29. > :34:39.done everything score today. -- to make sure it was a timely tackle.
:34:39. > :34:44.
:34:44. > :34:47.At times he has shown little flashes of quality. 22-year-old Liam Boyce.
:34:47. > :34:57.A couple of Scottish clubs have contacted me with regards his
:34:57. > :34:57.
:34:57. > :36:20.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:36:20. > :36:30.work a little harder on certain Wilson's challenge on Gormley. Taken
:36:30. > :36:30.
:36:30. > :37:21.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:37:21. > :37:31.bar. The scoreline could have been a lot more for Celtic. James Forrest
:37:31. > :37:37.
:37:37. > :37:45.drew to men. Stokes just goes coming off for Cliftonville,
:37:45. > :37:51.replaced by Diarmuid O'Carroll. A man from the south of the border.
:37:51. > :37:57.Just four goals last season. He started at Celtic, left back in
:37:57. > :38:07.2008. There is another change coming in a moment for Cliftonville, as
:38:07. > :38:15.
:38:15. > :38:25.Initially he won the first header, flicked it on to voice... Can he get
:38:25. > :38:25.
:38:25. > :39:05.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:39:05. > :39:10.a shot on target? -- and Carol was dream tie for Cliftonville, but on
:39:10. > :39:20.the pitch they always knew it was a big ask, and that has been the case
:39:20. > :39:20.
:39:20. > :41:14.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:41:14. > :41:18.had a problem with an impact to the back of his knee earlier on. The
:41:18. > :41:24.last thing Neil Lennon needs is another injury problem. Albeit at a
:41:24. > :41:32.very good physician in this tie. Cliftonville are having their second
:41:32. > :41:38.change. Watch the challenge here between Garrett and Lustig.
:41:38. > :41:47.thought he took a straight elbow or straight arm. There was a bit of
:41:47. > :41:54.trickery. Here is that bit from Boyce. That final little pass, that
:41:54. > :42:04.little bit of quality, that is what can get the goal. That is Donna
:42:04. > :42:34.
:42:34. > :42:44.Lee, a 21-year-old call centre we here. -- he is going to come off,
:42:44. > :43:03.
:43:03. > :43:13.OK. Sometimes football players, just like a little girl, just like to be
:43:13. > :43:30.
:43:30. > :43:40.you can't continually give the ball away, because if they do them get
:43:40. > :43:50.back for long time. Georgios Samaras is going to come off. Anthony Stokes
:43:50. > :44:12.
:44:12. > :44:15.still has his chance to get his by Celtic. They have just been able
:44:15. > :44:25.to carve Cliftonville open with their patients, quality and the
:44:25. > :44:51.
:44:51. > :44:58.of Anthony Stokes there! He is lightly around the box, isn't he? He
:44:58. > :45:07.is always trying to create a bit of space for himself. Conor Devlin
:45:07. > :45:17.shuffling across his goal. Georgios Samaras, he got the second
:45:17. > :45:17.
:45:17. > :45:21.for Celtic in the first half, a wonderful goal, Tony Watt, who got
:45:21. > :45:30.the second goal for Celtic against Barcelona last November, he comes
:45:30. > :45:39.on. One Scottish newspaper yesterday was suggesting he was going to do
:45:39. > :45:44.out on loan. Neil Lennon was keen to point out yesterday that that has
:45:44. > :45:54.not been said by him. Tony Watt will not be going on loan as things
:45:54. > :46:01.stand, anyway. He needs as many of his strikers that he can get at the
:46:01. > :46:11.moment, with Gary Hooper expected to leave by the end of the week. Queens
:46:11. > :46:20.
:46:20. > :46:28.through this game. His decision-making has been good. His
:46:28. > :46:34.reading of the game, his interceptions, he has that simple. I
:46:34. > :46:39.think he is a centre half, I do night. The partnership with him and
:46:39. > :46:44.Kelvin Wilson, that can certainly improve Celtic. Efe Ambrose arrived
:46:44. > :46:54.that Celtic, he did play some matters in midfield. There was some
:46:54. > :47:00.
:47:00. > :47:04.talk that he might go there. certain games, he may. If they do
:47:04. > :47:09.progress in Europe, he could play as a midfield player because it gives
:47:09. > :47:19.them a sense of stability. I to night, he has said, he would like to
:47:19. > :47:24.
:47:24. > :47:34.play centre half. Final change for Cliftonville. Stephen Garrett coming
:47:34. > :47:46.
:47:46. > :47:56.off, and Chris Curran coming on. with Conor Devlin in a previous
:47:56. > :48:02.life. On the substitution with Georgios Samaras, I think that is a
:48:02. > :48:08.well-deserved break. It was terrific to night. He was the catalyst for
:48:08. > :48:18.their first-half performance. I think it will be a big season for
:48:18. > :48:20.
:48:20. > :48:27.Tony Watt. Tony Watt got six goals last season, but he only scored once
:48:27. > :48:37.after that game with Barcelona in November. They will never be able to
:48:37. > :48:38.
:48:38. > :48:43.take that moment away from him, that fine strike, beating Victor Valdes.
:48:44. > :48:48.He will want to achieve a lot more in his career. He was only 19.
:48:48. > :48:53.has to go under in his career now. He has had his moment of glory, but
:48:53. > :49:03.there is more there for him if he wanted. Gary Hooper going, there
:49:03. > :49:05.
:49:05. > :49:15.will be more opportunities for him He will be disappointed. It opened
:49:15. > :49:36.
:49:36. > :49:40.up for him again. He just gets away Commons. Kris Commons will be
:49:40. > :49:46.unhappy he didn't score tonight can hit the woodwork twice. The
:49:46. > :49:56.Australian Tomas Rogic scored a couple of times for Celtic. Talks
:49:56. > :50:35.
:50:35. > :50:38.very highly of him. , Neil Lennon delighted with the third goal. If he
:50:38. > :50:45.could get that in the next nine minutes, he will be delighted with
:50:45. > :50:49.their work your Belfast. Dusk is beginning to fall in Northern
:50:49. > :50:59.Ireland, has Cliftonville go forward looking for a third hold back into
:50:59. > :51:18.
:51:18. > :51:28.that. He didn't get his foot round it. Credit to Cliftonville, they
:51:28. > :51:50.
:51:50. > :52:00.have kept going, happens to -- European action this week. Hibernian
:52:00. > :52:32.
:52:32. > :52:42.clipping the crossbar, Celtic have not really managed to test Conor
:52:42. > :53:00.
:53:00. > :53:04.Devlin in the second half. They tried to be too clever, but when it
:53:04. > :53:14.has needed to be cleared he has just kicked it. His decision-making has
:53:14. > :53:21.
:53:21. > :53:29.Forrest! Keep it is the icing on the cake. You would think, if that
:53:29. > :53:39.wasn't already over, it surely is now. 3-0 to Celtic. His performance
:53:39. > :53:41.
:53:41. > :53:44.as deserved that. Jaimie McGovern going backwards towards his goal. I
:53:44. > :53:50.think Conor Devlin will be disappointed getting beaten at his
:53:50. > :53:56.near post. James Forrest has been terrific, direct and speedy. And
:53:56. > :54:00.that is a great finish. He will want to put last season behind him,
:54:00. > :54:05.despite the fact he has medals to show for it, he did not play a big
:54:05. > :54:13.part of it as he would've liked to. Tommy Breslin has the think again,
:54:13. > :54:19.contemplate the second leg. Sometimes you come up against
:54:19. > :54:23.players and they are better than you, it is simple. Maybe at times
:54:23. > :54:28.they did give Celtic too much space and didn't keep the ball well
:54:28. > :54:33.enough, but Celtic of Shaun the difference in quality to night. It
:54:33. > :54:43.was a strong, professional performance. They might want another
:54:43. > :54:58.
:54:58. > :55:07.one. Into the last five minutes here thoughts of Neil Lennon. He will be
:55:07. > :55:17.delighted with his nights work. was the last acts by James Forrest,
:55:17. > :55:27.he has been replaced by Dylan McGee, a Scottish hundred 21
:55:27. > :55:27.
:55:27. > :56:33.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:56:33. > :56:43.international, who started his game time, so this will put him in a
:56:43. > :56:43.
:56:43. > :57:51.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:57:51. > :58:01.through to Conor Devlin. He just can't get enough power on the shot.
:58:01. > :58:06.
:58:06. > :58:16.A little glimpse of the quality of minutes. I think it is a job well
:58:16. > :58:22.done. If you give this to Neil Lennon, a good win and no fitness
:58:22. > :58:32.concerns, I think you would have been delighted. Here comes the book
:58:32. > :58:32.
:58:32. > :59:16.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:59:16. > :59:26.again. Yellow card given to Liam too much to do. The home supporters
:59:26. > :59:39.
:59:39. > :59:44.with love a goal. -- would love a minutes of stoppage time. I think
:59:44. > :59:48.there will be a few tired bodies and that Cliftonville dressing room.
:59:48. > :59:58.They have put so much into it. The lakes will be feeling at tomorrow
:59:58. > :59:58.
:59:58. > :02:31.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:02:31. > :02:39.be a little bit harsh on it is job done for Neil Lennon and
:02:39. > :02:44.for Celtic. He exchanges handshakes with Tony Breslin. I am sure he will
:02:44. > :02:50.be busily disappointed with the results. -- bitterly disappointed.
:02:50. > :02:56.But he will be routed as well. A massive night for Cliftonville pier
:02:56. > :03:02.at Solitude. But it is Neil Lennon who is smiling at the end of this
:03:02. > :03:08.one. Goals for Mikhail Lustig with a header followed by a fantastic
:03:08. > :03:12.finish by Georgios Samaras, with a third at the end from James Forrest.
:03:12. > :03:22.Many Celtic players played well tonight. Neil Lennon will feel a lot
:03:22. > :03:22.
:03:22. > :03:30.better about things after what was April pre-season run in Germany. --
:03:30. > :03:35.a poor run. They will be back at Celtic Park for the return next
:03:35. > :03:45.Tuesday, when the Northern Irish champions crossed the Irish Sea for
:03:45. > :03:48.
:03:48. > :03:56.could have gone much better for Celtic. Three goals, three off the
:03:56. > :04:02.frame as well. A comprehensive defeat, you would had to say. -- you
:04:02. > :04:08.would have to say, kicked off by Lustig's header after 25 minutes,
:04:08. > :04:17.George Samaras with number two and then James Forrest's goal, six
:04:17. > :04:23.minutes from time. The second leg is at Celtic park next Tuesday night.
:04:23. > :04:29.Neil Lennon and Celtic can begin to look forward to the next qualifying
:04:29. > :04:35.round, which hopefully takes his team up a little closer to the
:04:35. > :04:42.prestige of the Champions League group stages. Final score 3-0 in
:04:42. > :04:48.Belfast. John and Martin. That was, offensive in the end? It was pretty
:04:48. > :04:58.comfortable in the end. Because of Celtic ass professionalism and
:04:58. > :04:58.
:04:58. > :05:05.attitude, coming out of the blocks, the way they started the game. --
:05:05. > :05:15.Celtic's professionalism. Especially commons and Sampras, two of the
:05:15. > :05:17.
:05:17. > :05:22.senior players, and Brown. I think Cliftonville players will be proud
:05:22. > :05:28.of themselves, of the way they kept going. They had one or 2/2 chances
:05:28. > :05:37.but in the end it could have been five or six and that may have been a
:05:37. > :05:43.bit unfair on Cliftonville. Celtic's chances hit the bar a few
:05:43. > :05:50.times. Some doubted Celtic and their ability to get through it smoothly
:05:50. > :05:52.tonight. One of the great things that result does for Neil is just
:05:52. > :05:57.defies his pre-season. You can say they have had a difficult three
:05:57. > :06:01.season. But I can say they have had a great pre-season because they have
:06:01. > :06:08.prepared for this game. Although they have lost games, they have been
:06:08. > :06:12.working hard in between games. On tonight's performance, Neil has got
:06:12. > :06:16.it absolutely spot on. It frustrates managers that people want to talk
:06:16. > :06:23.about pre-season games and results. I think that tonight proves it is
:06:23. > :06:28.almost irrelevant. It is a regime you are going through to get to the
:06:28. > :06:34.point of playing important games. Especially, when you are managing
:06:34. > :06:37.Celtic, every defeat is magnified tenfold. Everything about the
:06:37. > :06:47.performance tonight was fantastic. Be weight Celtic paste the whole
:06:47. > :06:52.game as well. -- the way Celtic paste the whole game. There was a
:06:52. > :06:56.patient's once the game got under way but Celtic had to start with the
:06:56. > :07:01.right tempo and at half-time we said Samaras was the one who started
:07:01. > :07:10.that. He was running out, getting the ball to Forrest, who was then
:07:10. > :07:14.getting it back. Getting the game up the park for Celtic. So although
:07:14. > :07:19.they were patient, after that early period, they started with the right
:07:19. > :07:23.tempo and the right way of taking the initiative. There was quality
:07:23. > :07:28.about the performance, quality about all three goals as well, the Lustig
:07:28. > :07:37.header, great timing from him as well, and great corner delivery from
:07:37. > :07:47.Commons. This is what Commons can do. On both sides as well, but he
:07:47. > :07:49.
:07:49. > :07:57.faces his left side, I believe. That That is saying to any player, time
:07:57. > :08:02.your run, go and get your run. Tying it. Georgios Samaras did so many
:08:02. > :08:08.great things last season for Celtic in Europe. He was running out of the
:08:08. > :08:16.blocks. And this was some goal. Again, we have talked about the fact
:08:16. > :08:20.that when it comes back to him, the ball came across but he got a little
:08:20. > :08:26.touch back. A fantastic finish absolutely hammered into the back of
:08:26. > :08:36.the net. You cannot criticise the goalkeeper. Two touches with his
:08:36. > :08:40.right. He had to manipulate the ball back onto his other side but
:08:40. > :08:45.absolutely fabulous. Sometimes he is a figure of frustration to the
:08:45. > :08:52.Celtic fans, Georgios Samaras, but when he produces performances like
:08:52. > :08:59.that he is top dog. I remember watching a couple of goals against
:08:59. > :09:02.Rangers two or three seasons ago. The crowd were divided at one stage.
:09:02. > :09:09.Some more quite happy to see him leave the club. Others could see the
:09:09. > :09:15.potential. But he started to show himself. He stays on his feet a lot
:09:15. > :09:25.more now. He used to go over a lot. He shows more physical presence.
:09:25. > :09:25.
:09:25. > :09:31.When he's on his game he is a seasoned international. You were
:09:31. > :09:35.pleased with the Forrest goal. Maybe it is a part of his goal that he
:09:35. > :09:40.still has to add in there. Yes, there was one in the first half
:09:40. > :09:44.where he put it over the bar. Here he spins the defender and he hits
:09:44. > :09:49.the target. That is the important thing. In the first half he has
:09:49. > :09:52.driven one over the bar. On that occasion, the keeper can stick at a
:09:52. > :10:01.food and save it but if he hits the target he has a chance of scoring
:10:01. > :10:10.and he did. And of the season at Parkhead he scored a similar goal.
:10:10. > :10:18.-- end of the season. He is important for Celtic. I know that
:10:18. > :10:25.Auden Strachan has a huge amount of hope pinned on Forrest. -- Gordon.
:10:25. > :10:30.It would be great to think for James Forrest, for Celtic and Scotland,
:10:30. > :10:37.that he can have an injury free time, because his time has so far
:10:37. > :10:41.been disrupted constantly. Yes, you do not find players who are very,
:10:41. > :10:46.very quick. They struggle with their hamstrings. I did not have that
:10:46. > :10:50.problem! It is great to see young players so positive. Coming into the
:10:50. > :10:55.side. Also playing for his country. It is great to see a youngster
:10:55. > :11:00.coming through the ranks and playing with so much confidence, being the
:11:00. > :11:06.star attraction, like he is and when he plays like that he's unstoppable.
:11:06. > :11:10.Those three goals do not tell the whole story tonight. It could so
:11:10. > :11:16.easily have been half a dozen, with several more coming off a post or a
:11:16. > :11:22.bar. Yes, but you do have to put the ball in the back of a net and as
:11:22. > :11:28.close as it was, you know, Commons coming inside and this one of the
:11:28. > :11:35.crossbar. A terrific little ball. He just lose it in a good area towards
:11:35. > :11:40.the back post and it is a clever header. -- he just leaves it.
:11:40. > :11:44.thought this one was in there. is a fantastic piece of individual
:11:44. > :11:49.skill. That is so difficult to do, to come in there on your wrong side,
:11:49. > :11:55.your right foot, and just bend it into the top corner there. That is
:11:55. > :12:05.inches away. Inches away from being my contender for goal of the season,
:12:05. > :12:07.
:12:07. > :12:13.already. Anthony Stokes frustrated here as well. I think in the absence
:12:13. > :12:18.of Hooper, he has had to step up to the plate as a player. He has played
:12:18. > :12:25.well and I think he can get goals. We have seen him get goals. He has
:12:26. > :12:31.been unlucky there. You have to put it in the back of the net. I thought
:12:31. > :12:37.the goalkeeper made a little touch combat. But another good game.
:12:37. > :12:41.Celtic will look at replacing Gary Hooper. But Anthony Stokes is
:12:41. > :12:48.waiting in the wings. He missed a lot of last season. He will be
:12:48. > :12:51.looking to make up for lost time. Yes, and you look at what Neil has,
:12:51. > :12:56.young Tony Watts, who has been talked about going out on loan, not
:12:56. > :13:00.sure whether they have enough strength and cover to send any of
:13:00. > :13:06.the strikers out on loan at the moment. Samaras can play down the
:13:06. > :13:10.middle. Commons can play there as well. James Forrest and come in. I
:13:10. > :13:17.think they are short of striker. When you let a striker go like
:13:17. > :13:22.Cooper, and he guarantees you what he has got, 82 games in 137
:13:22. > :13:32.appearances for Celtic, that is a frightening statistic. -- like
:13:32. > :13:33.
:13:33. > :13:36.Hooper. He may well get more games this season, but I think Neil's
:13:36. > :13:42.priority will be a striker and a goal-scorer. They do not come
:13:42. > :13:48.cheaply. But I am sure he will have his eye on one or two. Doyle has
:13:48. > :13:58.been mentioned, the lad at Burnley has been mentioned. But I think that
:13:58. > :13:59.
:13:59. > :14:09.is what his priority will be. difficult to fault the front four.
:14:09. > :14:11.
:14:11. > :14:16.Yes, the movement and Comments did the as Samaras, manipulating the
:14:16. > :14:21.ball with both feet. Good layers do that. A lot of players at
:14:21. > :14:24.Cliftonville play on one foot and turn on their right foot and only go
:14:24. > :14:34.on their right foot. But that in conjunction with the movement of
:14:34. > :14:41.
:14:41. > :14:51.Forrest coming on side, it was just too much for Cliftonville. It was
:14:51. > :14:57.
:14:57. > :15:05.important for Celtic that they kept that? Not really. I think we were
:15:05. > :15:09.architects of own downfall. I felt we were well in the game when they
:15:09. > :15:14.scored. The next goals were preventable. Celtic is a class act
:15:14. > :15:18.and the move the ball about. I was proud of our players. We looked
:15:18. > :15:24.comfortable at times and created have chances. There was the danger
:15:24. > :15:31.your players might have been overawed. Yes, but they weren't. At
:15:31. > :15:36.this level of football if you give -- if you give the way -- if you
:15:36. > :15:46.give the ball away cheaply you will get punished. What is the plan for
:15:46. > :15:46.
:15:46. > :15:53.Parkhead called # -- for Parkhead? I'm going to as Neil Lennon of I can
:15:53. > :16:03.play 17 players! We will work hard play 17 players! We will work hard
:16:03. > :16:04.
:16:04. > :16:14.play 17 players! We will work hard back, it would have lifted them.
:16:14. > :16:23.Celtic will be pleased that they didn't get a goal. He tried to time,
:16:23. > :16:28.but he just couldn't get on it. They did not have any clear-cut chances.
:16:28. > :16:38.Liam Boyce does really well there, place it into Joe Gormley, but he
:16:38. > :16:49.
:16:49. > :16:54.just didn't get the shopping early. did Fraser Forster have a big state
:16:54. > :17:03.to make, the answer would have to be no. The dissenters were doing great
:17:03. > :17:06.blocking in front of him, as well. -- the defenders. Although Celtic
:17:06. > :17:15.were a little bit out of shape defensively, particularly from bowls
:17:15. > :17:25.further away, they defended their goal well enough and never really
:17:25. > :17:32.
:17:32. > :17:37.looked like Cliftonville was going massive. The players at the lower
:17:37. > :17:44.levels have to aspire to reach up to the higher levels. Every time you go
:17:44. > :17:48.onto the page you are representing your club, cure at a great place and
:17:48. > :17:54.you have to go and perform enjoy your quality. There is no respite
:17:54. > :18:01.when you're playing for mass of clubs. There is no hiding place.
:18:01. > :18:03.Tonight I felt Celtic approached the game in the right manner. Yes,
:18:03. > :18:08.Cliftonville had little periods without threatening the goal for
:18:08. > :18:12.Celtic, but Neil Lennon will be delighted with a clean sheet and
:18:12. > :18:22.three goals, they are through by, job done. His bigger worry tonight
:18:22. > :18:24.was probably complacency, and how that could become a problem. He must
:18:24. > :18:34.be absolutely delighted with the attitude based should from the
:18:34. > :18:37.start. That is right. From the very beginning I had a feeling that there
:18:37. > :18:44.was a quiet confidence and determination, that he was enjoying
:18:44. > :18:48.the occasion. He said he didn't want to show that he was nervous because
:18:48. > :18:53.that would seep through to the players. That showed on the pitch.
:18:53. > :18:58.There was no setting back, from the first ball Celtic took the
:18:58. > :19:03.initiative. That is exactly what the manager had instructed them to do.
:19:03. > :19:07.Here is the man himself, Neil Lennon.
:19:07. > :19:14.Your thoughts? I am delighted. We played well and scored three goals
:19:14. > :19:17.and created a lot of chances. It was a sticky game for us and we doubled
:19:17. > :19:23.that well. All the more pleasing because it was a potential banana
:19:23. > :19:29.skin. Yes, we have had lots of talk about our preseason and the results,
:19:29. > :19:35.but we just wanted to get ready for these games. We have a friendly on
:19:35. > :19:40.Saturday that the bulk of this team will not be involved in an another
:19:40. > :19:45.game against Cliftonville next week. I suppose it is all about building
:19:45. > :19:51.momentum. Do you think they are getting sharper? Some are, some are
:19:51. > :19:59.a bit rusty. It is completely understandable. Good performances
:19:59. > :20:02.the night from Emilio Izaguirre, Mikael Lustig. I am delighted with
:20:03. > :20:07.the performances and the attitude. There was so much talk about this
:20:07. > :20:17.fixture and what a mental both sides, real sense of occasion out
:20:17. > :20:17.
:20:17. > :20:23.there. It meant a lot to me personal -- personally. When I was young, the
:20:23. > :20:28.opportunity to see Celtic live is very rare. I couldn't have asked for
:20:28. > :20:32.any more from both sets of supporters. Even the weather has
:20:32. > :20:38.been good! I get the feeling there is a sense of pride from your part.
:20:38. > :20:45.If results haven't had gone the way I wanted, I would have been getting
:20:45. > :20:53.stick from back home. Hopefully the next generation of Celtic supporters
:20:53. > :20:59.here will have gone away happy. suppose you will continue to tweak
:20:59. > :21:09.with the squad. Any more word on the future of Gary Hooper? I have
:21:09. > :21:10.
:21:10. > :21:15.nothing more to add on that. The hubs are ongoing. Steven Mouyokolo
:21:15. > :21:23.be able to join at the weekend. Virgil van Dijk will be open the
:21:23. > :21:29.joining. Thank you. So, an emotional night for Neil
:21:29. > :21:34.Lennon. People can say what they like about preseason friendlies and
:21:34. > :21:41.the results on tour, but it comes down in the end to the real thing,
:21:41. > :21:46.and tonight was the real thing. the pre-season tour, you look at the
:21:46. > :21:51.amount of time you have before your first competitive game. You have to
:21:51. > :21:56.think if we work as hard as we want to work in certain areas, will it
:21:57. > :22:00.affect the performance in a preseason game? Sometimes it does.
:22:00. > :22:05.Sometimes you have disabled go into this game tired, but we will get
:22:05. > :22:12.something out of it having done the work. That is what the preseason is
:22:12. > :22:15.all about. Get through it and major players aren't injured. When you get
:22:15. > :22:20.to the competitive games, they should be fresh and ready. It is
:22:20. > :22:29.about steps up progression, and this strikes me as a significant step for
:22:29. > :22:36.Celtic. It is about having the squad to cope, if you like. He has just
:22:36. > :22:41.list of about five players that will come from injury, little knocks. He
:22:42. > :22:45.had a strong enough 11 that did fantastically for him. The play
:22:45. > :22:51.Brentford on Saturday, then Cliftonville next Tuesday, then
:22:51. > :22:53.another friendly on the Saturday, then they go into the next round of
:22:53. > :23:01.the Champions League qualifiers. Before you know what they're into
:23:01. > :23:06.the first game of the real season starts and they County at home. It
:23:06. > :23:16.is about managing his squad, adding one or two, and bringing the injured
:23:16. > :23:21.players back and just seeing whether the likes of Tony Watt who came onto
:23:21. > :23:26.night, are they ready? Can they take the pressure of the senior boys?
:23:26. > :23:31.There is so much juggling going on, trying to win games was planning for
:23:31. > :23:37.the season. With the injuries he has got, some decisions have been taken
:23:37. > :23:43.out of his hands. The day he has got everyone said, that is the day he
:23:43. > :23:47.makes lots of decisions! That is what he wants. He wants them all fit
:23:47. > :23:51.and strong and ready and willing to play, so he can pick what he thinks
:23:51. > :23:56.is the strongest team. In the meantime he has to juggle it a
:23:56. > :24:01.little bit. He said there, going to Brentford at the weekend, he said
:24:01. > :24:08.that none of the ones playing tonight will be involved. It will be
:24:08. > :24:16.all change at Brentford on Saturday for Celtic. This is a team of
:24:16. > :24:26.ambitions of going far in the Champions League. Celtic are
:24:26. > :24:27.
:24:27. > :24:30.expected to win the treble. That is a huge pressure on Neil Lennon. It
:24:30. > :24:37.is a long, long season. We has to be scientific about how users his
:24:38. > :24:47.squad. He has just lost arguably his best player, one Yam. There is talk
:24:47. > :24:52.about Gary Hooper leaving. It looks like he will leave. As a manager, it
:24:52. > :25:02.must be soul destroying to lose your two best players. The fans put
:25:02. > :25:03.
:25:03. > :25:08.pressure on the manager, put the man's on him. Losing your two best
:25:08. > :25:12.players, that must be a body blow for him. A quick word about the
:25:12. > :25:22.other teams from Scotland in action tomorrow? St Johnstone will play
:25:22. > :25:28.Rosenberg. Ebony cane against Malmo in Sweden. They declared tough
:25:28. > :25:34.games. Had Celtic and playing either of those teams, you would be looking
:25:34. > :25:44.at it thinking that is a hard game for Celtic, never mind St Johnstone
:25:44. > :25:51.
:25:51. > :25:57.or Hibernian. Expectations are still that they will go through. Of course
:25:57. > :26:01.they have a chance, but will be very difficult. It is a balancing act for
:26:01. > :26:04.them the same way that it is for Celtic at the moment. These are big
:26:04. > :26:12.games. The possibilities are glamorous, but they have their
:26:12. > :26:17.domestic season to think about. expectancy level is not the same as
:26:17. > :26:27.for Celtic. Going to Sweden or Norway, there isn't that expectancy
:26:27. > :26:28.
:26:28. > :26:33.level. Steve Lomas did incredibly well to get them into Europe and it
:26:33. > :26:38.is a shame he is not there. We wish Pat Fenlon the best of luck for
:26:38. > :26:48.Hibernian tomorrow night. Her job really well done tonight by New
:26:48. > :26:52.London's team. A really professional job. It was an occasion, a great
:26:52. > :26:55.occasion for Cliftonville and for Neil Lennon to go back with his
:26:55. > :26:59.team. Cliftonville can be proud of their performance, they were well
:26:59. > :27:08.beaten but did not lose the discipline. They stuck with the
:27:08. > :27:18.three rides and were just beaten by a better team. That is the football
:27:18. > :27:18.
:27:18. > :28:10.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 65 seconds
:28:10. > :28:15.season off and running on the BBC! the 3rd of August. All the results
:28:15. > :28:18.on all the reports. Sunday nights means our highlights programme,
:28:18. > :28:26.coverage of all six games played across the Scottish Premier League