MATCH 1551 - Sunday, 16 March 2014

Season: 2013/14
SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP FINAL
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

                              

ABERDEEN    0    INVERNESS CT    0

after extra time

Aberdeen won 4-2 on penalities

Celtic Park was turned red for a day as over 40,000 Aberdeen fans gathered in hope of winning their first trophy since 1995.  Inverness the huge underdogs battled all the way and made the big Dons support wait and sweat for their triumph. Which eventually came as Aberdeen players held their nerve to convert all four penalty kicks in the shoot out after 120 goalless minutes.

It meant Aberdeen had gone through the competition without conceding a goal.

I went a long with my son and we sat in the Inverness end curious to see the final at Celtic Park and the large Aberdeen support.  Celtic Park was a great venue and helped create a wonderful atmosphere. 

MATCH 1550 - Friday, 14 March 2014

Season:  2013/14
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  RUGBY PARK

                                      

KILMARNOCK    0    CELTIC    3

Scorer:  Commons(3)

Kris Commons became the latest Celt to notch a hat-trick in recent weeks with three second half goals.  The novelty of Friday night football (introduced to SPL this season) encouraged a large away support of 5000 in an overall crowd of 7500.

Highlight of the night was the two Celtic ends singing "C'mon you Bhoys in Green" to each other, unless ofcourse you are Kris Commons!

Personnel note:  35th match of the season

MATCH 1549 - Saturday, 1 March 2014

Season:  2013/14
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

                                 

CELTIC    5    INVERNESS CT    0

Scorers:  Griffiths(3), Mulgrew, Commons

Witnessed Leigh Griffiths score for the first time for Celtic, he grabbed his first Celtic goal at home then went onto net another two to secure his first hat-trick for the club. 

All Scottish score sheet - doesn't seem to happen often.

MATCH 1548 - Sunday, 16 February 2014

Season:  2013/14
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

                                

CELTIC     3     ST JOHNSTONE    0

Scorer: Stokes(3)

Anthony Stokes lit up the game with a well taken hat trick of goals. However the main achievement was Fraser Forster's continued run of clean sheets in SPL football.

Leigh Griffiths made his full debut following his recent move from Wolves.

33rd match of the season just 20 hours after the last one!

MATCH 1547 - Saturday, 15 February 2014

Season 2013/14
ENGLISH FA CUP
Venue:   Etihad Stadium (City of Manchester Stadium)

                                 

MANCHESTER CITY    2    CHELSEA    0

Scorer:  Jovetic, Nasri

First visit to the very impressive Etihad Stadium.  City create a very friendly and fun atmosphere pre-match with the home players greeted by their young fans at the entrance of the stadium with a few light hearted competitions.  Around the other side of the ground is another stage with something for the adults.  Music and some fun in the form of "Blind Date" where a lucky new couple get treated to some hospitality - a nice touch.

The stadium is as good a modern stadium as I've been too and the home support must enjoy going their on a regular basis but if you've not managed to get this ground yet hopefully you get there soon.

We were in the second tier of the Family Stand (second row) great seats!  With 6,000 Chelsea fans in attendance it made for a good atmosphere.

This was the third time watching City this season and although a little understrengthed the real City turned up this time. 

All in all worth the long trip down from Scotland and special thanks to the Football Ground Guide for some good travel tips at:

http://www.footballgroundguide.com/manchester_city/

MATCH 1546 - Saturday, 8 February 2014

Season:  2013/14
SCOTTISH CUP - 5th Round
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

                             

  

CELTIC    1    ABERDEEN    2

Scorer: Stokes;  Anderson, Pawlett

Top tier closed and only 30,000 turned up for the tie of the round.  Aberdeen were confident and despite going a goal down were good enough to take the game to Celtic and out play them for much of the match.  Celtic's 4-2-4 formation played into their hands and Aberdeen where able to take a strangle hold on midfield.

Personal note:  10th Scottish Cup meeting these two sides.  Only the 3rd at Celtic Park.  Aberdeen winning six of the ties.

MATCH 1545 - Sunday, 2 February 2014

Season:  2013/14
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

                            

CELTIC    1    ST. MIRREN    0

Scorer:  Commons

A record breaking day for Celtic's English goalkeeper Fraser Forster as he kept yet another clean sheet.

MATCH 1544 - Wednesday, 29 January 2014

Season:  2013/14
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

                       

CELTIC    4    KILMARNOCK    0

Scorer:  Ledley, O.G., Mulgrew, Balde

My 65th match between these sides.

MATCH 1543 - Sunday, 26 January 2014

Season:  2013/14
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  EASTER ROAD STADIUM

HIBERNIAN    0    CELTIC    4
Scorers:  Commons(2), Van Dijk, Pukki


Only my 3rd away match of the season (all in Edinburgh) and my second visit to Easter Road taking my overall number of visits to 42 since 1982.
Celtic continued their winning run in front of a disappointing crowd of 12,500.

Easter Road is easily the best stadium of its size in Britain and it's always good to go through to it. 

MATCH 1542 - Saturday,18 January 2014

Season:  2013/14
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

                               

CELTIC    3    MOTHERWELL    0

Scorer:  Commons(2), O.G.

Celtic continue their dominance in the league with a convincing win over second placed Motherwell.  Celtic had Stokes sent off with 10 minutes remaining.

Celtic team:

Forster, Fisher, Izaguirre, Ledley, Ambrose (Balde), van Dijk, Brown, Mulgrew, Commons (Pukki), Forrest, Stokes 

Motherwell

Nielsen, Carswell, Hammell, Ainsworth (Kerr), Hutchinson, McManus, Francis-Angol, Lasley, Sutton (Anier), McFadden,Vigurs