MATCH 1593 - Sunday, 22 February 2015

SEASON: 2014/15
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC    4    HAMILTON    0

Scorers:  Commons(2), Johansen, Guidetti

Very wet Sunday lunch time for the second meeting of the clubs at Celtic Park this season.  I wasn't able to get my own supporters bus into the park but I was able to catch a lift on the Edinburgh Shamrock CSC who had stopped off in Coatbridge on route to the game.

It was all about getting the first goal and as soon as it came the floodgates opened.

ANOTHER RAINY DAY N PARADISE

Second half - kick off

Personal note:  33rd match of the season; 23rd Hamilton match overall

MATCH 1592 - Thursday, 19 February 2015

SEASON:  2014/15

ROUND OF 32, FIRST LEG

VENUE:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC    3    INTER    3

Scorers:  Armstrong, O.G., Guidetti;  

Shaqiri; Palacio(2)

A classic UEFA Europa League encounter at a packed Celtic Park between two iconic European club sides with Celtic scoring in injury time to earn a draw against their legendary Italian opponents.

The only thing missing was Inter's famous blue & black jersey.

Inter took a two goal lead inside 15 minutes but Celtic responded well with two quick fire goals midway through a dramatic first half. However Inter regained the lead just before half time which they held until three minutes into stoppage time.

Personal note:  This was the first time seeing Inter in a European tie but 11 involving an Italian club.  My 7th European tie of the season

Match Programme

MATCH 1591 - Saturday, 7 February 2015

Season: 2014/15
ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP
Venue:  LIBERTY STADIUM (1)

SWANSEA CITY    1    SUNDERLAND    1

Scorers: Ki;  Defoe

37 hour marathon to follow Sunderland to Swansea and visit a new ground!  Trip started just after 8pm on Friday with a train into Glasgow, then overnight travel on the Megabus sleeper service to Cardiff. The final leg of the to journey to Swansea was completed by train plus the local No. 4 bus from town to ground. We eventually arrived home at 9am on Sunday.

This was my first match in Wales therefore a new ground.  The modern Liberty Stadium is neat to say the least, holding just over 20,000.  There is a good atmosphere at the away side of the ground.

As for the game it wasn't a classic so the goals were welcome.  A typical Defoe strike out of nothing opened the scoring giving Sunderland a half time advantage.  The equaliser came in the second half from ex-Celt Ki Sung-yueng.

Personal note:
14th country to watch football in.
67th top division match in England
33rd Sunderland match in 8 different grounds
2nd Swansea match (other one in Carlisle Apr 2008)

Cardiff, 7.30am

Swansea Train Station

The away support

MATCH 1590 - Sunday, 1 February 2015

Season: 2014/15
SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP Semi Final
Venue:  HAMPDEN PARK

CELTIC    2   RANGERS*   0

Scorers: Griffiths, Commons

Two first half goals gave Celtic a comfortable victory over their lower league opponents which booked their place in the final.  This was the billed by the media as the first "Old Firm" game since the liquidation of the former Rangers club in 2012.
Apart from the two goals the game lacked any quality throughout.

From the back of the Celtic End with the young W Gorman CSC crew

Personal note:  

• 30th match of season
• 112th match at Hampden
• 98th Celtic League Cup tie
• 2nd Rangers match since 2012