MATCH 1906 - Tuesday 24 January 2023

SEASON 2022/23

SCOTTISH CUP 4th Round

Venue: PRESTONFIELD

LINLITHGOW ROSE  0  RAITH ROVERS  2

Scorers:  Gullan(2)

A day after the biggest Scottish Cup upset (Darvel beating Aberdeen) I went through to Linlithgow to visit a new ground however Raith Rovers show no signs of panic and comfortably advance to the next round of the cup.

Prestonfield is a tidy little ground and there are 2,000 fans in attendance.  The match will be best remembered for the worse collective officiating since the 2015 Scottish Cup semi final.  The ref and his standside linesman missed two penalties and wrongly called a goal from Raith at the start of the second half as offside when the home sides centre half clearly played the ball straight into the path of the Raith striker. 

MATCH 1905 - Saturday 21 January 2023

SEASON 2022/23

SCOTTISH CUP 4th Round

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  5  MORTON  0

Scorers: Mooy(2), Kyogo(2), Turnbull

A comfortable cup tie win for Celtic with a helping hand from their former player Efe Ambrose and VAR.  A quite awful decision from VAR to award a penalty at 0-0.

Celtic took full advantage and before half time were 4-0 ahead and on their way to the next round.

At the break Celtic introduced new signing, Tomoki Iwata from Japan and late in the game gave a debut to young Irish defender, Bosun Lawal.

Man of the Match:  Aaron Mooy.

2,000 fans from Greenock.

Personal note:

• 17th fixture I've attended between the clubs, 5 in Scottish Cup.
• Meeting at Celtic Park 12 times and 5 times at Cappielow.
• Overall 19th time seeing Morton since December 1982 - the other two matches were v Airdrieonians (original club).

MATCH 1904 - Wednesday 18 January 2023

SEASON 2022/23

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  4  ST MIRREN  0

Scorers:  Abada, Kyogo(2), Turnbull

In a extremely cold night in Glasgow, Celtic turned up the heat on their opponents playing some lovely football and scoring four quality goals.

Yuki Kobayashi made his debut

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• 62nd league fixture between Celtic and St Mirren
• Overall 72nd time seeing St Mirren - all v Celtic except one game v Airdrieonians 
• Making them 10th on my list of teams seen

MATCH 1903 - Saturday 14 January 2023

SEASON 2022/23

SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP Semi Final

HAMPDEN PARK 

CELTIC  2  KILMARNOCK  0

Scorers: Maeda, Giakoumakis

For the second week running these two sides meet in Glasgow.  This time at Hampden in the League Cup and the match ended with the same scoreline as the league match seven days earlier.

The rain poured down all game making it was a real slogg for the players to fight through the nineties. Sitting low down in the East End Stand (Celtic End) we had a limited view of the far box so only saw the ball hit the net for the opening goal after a good delivery from a free kick.  We had to wait until injury time to see the second goal after two VAR calls ruled out two other efforts for offside.

Pre-match

Personal note:

• 83rd time attending this fixture - Celtic Park 49 + Rugby Park 28 + Hampden Park 6
• Visit number 133 to Hampden Park
• 130th tie in the Scottish League Cup since 1981 - 121 of them involving Celtic

MATCH 1902 - Saturday 7 January 2023

SEASON 2022/23

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  2  KILMARNOCK  0

Scorers: Jota, OG

Celtic's first home match of 2023 and there is a debut for Canadian international, Alistair Johnston at right back.

A rarity - zero interest in football.

Personal note:

• 82nd time seeing this fixture
• My first match of 2023

FLASHBACK MATCH 716 - Wednesday 4 January 1995

SEASON 1994/95

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  IBROX STADIUM

RANGERS  1  CELTIC  1

Scorers: Ferguson;  Byrne

Celtic were not given a chance pre-match so much so that the normal high demand for tickets outside the ground was non existant and the spare I had went to a lucky young supporter hanging around with his pals for free. 

Expectedly Celtic fell behind in the first half but a great second half performance meant they were unfortunate not to win the game. Phil O'Donnell was fantastic driving Celtic on from midfield and an excellent strike by Irishman, Paul Byrne.

 

FLASHBACK MATCH 376 - Tuesday 3 January 1989

SEASON 1988/89

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: IBROX STADIUM

RANGERS  4  CELTIC  1

Scorers: Butcher, Walters(2), Ferguson; Morris

Not a good day as Rangers record a another big home win after Celtic take an early lead.  Second time in the Enclosure under the Ibrox main stand.

FLASHBACK MATCH 321 - Saturday 2 January 1988

SEASON 1987/88

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

CELTIC  2  RANGERS  0

Scorers: McAvennie(2)

Watched the game from the "Jungle" in line with the spot McAvennie swept home the opening goal after a defence splitting pass from McStay and an excellent overlap from Morris.

FLASHBACK MATCH 50 - Saturday 1 January 1983

SEASON 1982/83

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  IBROX STADIUM (1) 

RANGERS  1  CELTIC  2

Scorers:  Black;  McStay, Nicholas

My first visit to Ibrox.  The day Charlie Nicholas danced all over Ibrox. We knew he was going to score and they knew he was going to score and oh bhoy he did in great style.

My 3rd Celtic/Rangers derby and a hat trick of wins for the hoops.