M Quick Review

Anton Rogan's debut in an 11 goal game

Trivia

• Celtic still led the Premier Division but things were getting tighter at the top following three draws and a loss in the last 4 games - the loss being the Ne'er game away to Rangers where Celtic had looked poor.
• Defensive issues were the most important in the manager's mind - here, though eight goals were scored, 3 goals were also conceded.
• Hay would attempt to solve these issues in January, but he received scant help from a parsimonious and blinkered Celtic Board. He offered £300k to St Mirren for Steve Clarke but was told that he wouldn't be available and that the club didn't want to sell him only to see him depart 3 days later to Chelsea for £450k. On a scouting trip to London he tried to sign one of two defenders (thought to be Joe McLaughlin of Chelsea or Steve Bruce then of Norwich) and despite bidding £500k he was unsuccessful. He was also informed through the pages of a newspaper by Jack McGinn, the Celtic Chairman, that any bid for a central defender would need to be funded out of the manager's own pocket!
• Rogan debuting at left back allowed Whyte to move into a central position; McGrain came in at right back releasing Grant to midfield and Willy McStay also worked as a sweeper to some extent - his more favoured role; Roy Aitken, Paul McGugan and Mo Johnston were all suspended; Pierce O'Leary and Tommy Burns were still out injured and Davie Provan was a long term casualty (said to be now sleeping 12 hours per day as opposed to the 15 he had been under the actions of Post-Viral Fatigue syndrome.
  

Teams

Celtic:
Bonner, McGrain, Rogan, W McStay, Whyte, Grant, McClair, P McStay, McInally. MacLeod, Archdeacon
NU Subs: McGhee, Shepherd
Scorers: MacLeod (15), McClair (30), McClair (52), McInally (53), MacLeod (61), McClair (62), McInally (71), McClair (77)

Hamilton Accies:
McKellar, Brazil, Sprott, Speirs, Collins, McKee, Phillips (Mailer), Pelosi, Brogan, Craig, McCabe (Clarke)
Scorers: Craig (17), Mailer (79), McKee (84)

Referee: Sinclair (Forfar)

Attendance: 16,380

Articles

• Match Report

Pretty much Rogan's first touch was his worst - he gave the ball away to Hamilton for a pass in to Craig who put the ball away to put Hamilton in front. After that he proved to be sound, winning everything in the air and getting forward to support attacks but he tired toward the end of the game. For the first goal McClair supplied MacLeod with the roles reversed for the second. The third and fourth were solo goals. McClair supplied MacLeod for the fifth and the last three were solo efforts. 2-1 at half time; 8-1 with 13 minutes to play was nice; 8-3 at full time after the defence had gone to sleep was a little more worrying - but we were NOT TO WORRY!!! It was all the newspapers fault. The Board said so.

• Manager Interview

Pictures

• Match Pictures