Green Brigade scallywags get over Celtic fallout with Brendan Rodgers but one ditty is missing from the songbook
The Green Brigade went through a former favourites song book in a cheeky response to their telling-off from Brendan Rodgers. But the supporters took their manager’s message on board as they stuck by the current team despite Dundee United’s dogged display.
Daizen Maeda struck in the first half on a night when the Hoops were totally dominant but failed to make things a bit more comfortable before Reo Hatate settled it late on. Celtic should have been out of sight but the punters stayed on board – as Rodgers’ team went 16 points clear in the Premiership.
The manager wasn’t happy with some fans grumbling at the build-up play in the St Mirren win and for chanting about Kieran Tierney. Sometimes the best way to deal with any hint of a falling out is to make light of it – and the ultras section are never shy at making their point.
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Sure enough, the scallywags in the corner went through a catalogue of the greats that included everyone from Billy McNeill and Jimmy Johnstone, through Tommy Burns, Martin O’Neill and Henrik Larsson to modern heroes such as Artur Boruc, Charlie Mulgrew and Scott Sinclair. And of course Tierney’s tune got a run out at the end. A few of the current ones got chants too and the Hoops manager surely must have seen the funny side too – even if he didn’t get to hear his ditty.
He was certainly left smiling at his side picking up another solid win against one of the toughest teams in the division. Rodgers stuck with the same starting line up from the Saints win – at least that was his original plan. Nicolas Kuhn was on the team sheet but had to be replaced at the last minute by Yang Hyun-jun after pulling out following the warm-up.
The Dundee United team also made interesting reading. Jim Goodwin’s side looked like they were running on fumes in the defeat to Hearts at the weekend and the gaffer made five changes.
The most eye-catching one was top scorer Sam Dalby being left on the bench, along with the likes of Ryan Strain and Luca Stephenson, with Kevin Holt missing out. There was no chance Goodwin was writing this one off as a free punch – but they were always going to be up against it.
United’s solid form this season has them flying high in third place. Celtic at Parkhead was a different matter though – even if the champions had a few off-the-pitch distractions.
Not that there seemed to be any signs last night of the any punters being in a huff after their telling-off – even with the tongue-in-cheek song list. There was also a huge turnout, especially given it was their fourth home game in a fortnight and the kind of evening where brass monkeys get nervous.
But the home side got a warm welcome – and tried to turn up the heat on the visitors. It was complete dominance. Celtic’s first-half possession stats were off the charts and poor Kasper Schmeichel was a hypothermia risk.
The action was all at the other end as Arne Engels flashed one across the face of goal then whipped over a corner that Auston Trusty headed off the top of the bar. United survived the opening 20 minutes but there were no grumps or groans from the crowd. And they had a goal to celebrate soon after as Celts went ahead after 23 minutes.
The pressure had been pretty relentless to that point and eventually it told as Maeda drilled home the rebound after Jack Walton had shoved out a low curler from Luke McCowan. Moments later Engels saw his drive diverted just over the top and it was clear Celtic were in the mood. Yang was determined to make an impression down the right and the Korean youngster was often in the thick of it.
Goodwin’s side just couldn’t get out but there wasn’t much safety in numbers with the ball pinballing around the box. It was a tough shift yet they got to the interval without suffering any further damage.
There was no let-up after the break either. Engels was a major threat and wasn’t far off with a clipped effort that fizzed narrowly wide before another one was blocked.
At that stage it was more like a training match with attack versus defence. United did start to stir though. They got up the pitch, forced a couple of corners and Glenn Middleton took a pot shot from distance that sailed high over.
Emmanuel Adegboyega’s cross then floated perilously past the top corner and while it might not have been much, at least it was something. And it was a reminder to Celtic that even though they’d been in complete control there was still work to be done – and that was before Dalby was thrown on.
Celtic were continuing to push for the killer second though, with Kyogo Furuhashi sent on along with Hatate. The frontman didn’t have much space but quickly fired a header straight down the barrel at Walton after Hatate had drilled one at the keeper to make sure Celts were on song once again.
United’s rope-a-dope was getting more joy though and Schmeichel had to beat out Middleton’s drive. But Celts avoided any late tension when Maeda’s ball fell to Hatate and the midfielder slammed it home to make sure everyone was singing from the same hymn sheet again.
