MATCH 1915 - Thursday 13 April 2023

 SEASON: 2022/23

Quarter Final First Leg

Venue: OLD TRAFFORD

MANCHESTER UNITED  2  SEVILLA  2

Scorers:  Sabitzer(2); Own goals(2)

11 am bus from Glasgow and arrived in Manchester for 4pm.  Walked to the ground from city centre, about a 2.5 miles.  Got an old favourite for dinner - a meat & potato pie (£4.20) in the ground.

The game was a good Euro tie with Man United not taking full advantage when they were well on top.  This allowed Sevilla to grow into the game and indeed the tie.  In the first half United went two up but despite a number of good chances, a third home goal didn't materialise.

In the final stages of the game Sevilla got a break, an own goal after some slack defending.   

This was the boost of confidence they needed and they took full advantage of United's injury problems losing both of the centre halves and ending with only nine outfield players, to equalise in time added on.

Personal note:

• 55th Old Trafford match
• 3rd time seeing Sevilla (Celtic Friendly and Espanyol in UEF 2007 at Hampden)
• 17th United game in Europe

MATCH 1914 - Saturday 8 April 2023

SEASON 2022/23

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  3  RANGERS  2

Scorers:  Kyogo(2), Jota;  Tavernier(2)

Celtic won a scrappy encounter which was littered with mistakes and fouls throughout the 90 plus minutes.

There were no away fans which was very evident when Tavernier equalised just before half time with an expertly taken free kick that was met with absolute silence.

Chances came for both sides.  Morelos missed but Kyogo didn't and that was the difference.

You'll Never Walk Alone (pre-match)

Personal note:

• My 3rd Celtic-RangersII match of the season
• 20th time seeing the new Rangers club (19 v Celtic; 1 v Dundee United)
• 32nd Celtic match of the season

MATCH 1913 - Sunday 2 April 2023

SEASON 2022/23

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  VICTORIA PARK

ROSS COUNTY  0  CELTIC  2

Scorers:  Jota, Bernabei

The match will be best remembered for Alexandro Bernabei becoming the first player from Argentina to score for Celtic, with his lovely strike sealing victory just before the end of the match.

Personal note:

• 6th visit to Victoria Park, Dingwall
• 24th time attending this fixture overall
• 25th time seeing Ross County including their League Cup Final win over Hibernian

MATCH 1912 - Saturday 18 March 2023

SEASON 2022/23

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  3  HIBERNIAN  0

Scorers:  Jota, Oh, Haksabanovic;  Campbell

Oh Hyeon-gyu 

Hibs are reduced to ten men very early in the game after two bookable offences for their forward, Youan.  The 10 men then take the lead from a VAR awarded penalty and hold the lead until half time.  Early  in the second half Celtic equalise and the second goal of the match is also via a penalty. 

Celtic take the lead with less than 10 minutes to play and it's a special moment for recent signing Oh.  

Personal note:

• 30th Celtic match of the season
• The 120th time seeing this fixture

MATCH 1911 - Wednesday 8 March 2023

SEASON 2022/23

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  3  HEARTS  1

Scorers:  Maeda, Kyoto, Haksabanovic;  Ginnelly

Celtic came from behind after Hearts took an early take to level midway through a stop-start first half due to VAR checks and injuries which meant six minutes were added from the first 45 minutes.  In the second half Celtic score two very good goals - a well workedpassing move and a solo effort - to eventually see off third place, Hearts.

Personal note:

• Milestone - My 100th league match between the sides
• Overall the 117th match I've attended between the clubs
• It was also the 122nd time seeing Hearts which includes matches v Barcelona, Sunderland, Motherwell & Hibernian.

MATCH 1910 - Sunday 26 February 2023

SEASON 2022/23

SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP FINAL

Venue: HAMPDEN PARK

CELTIC  2  RANGERS*  1

Scorers:  Kyogo(2);  Morelos

For the second season running Kyogo is the League Cup hero with a final brace.  Celtic control most of the match and go two up in under an hour and although Rangers pull one back Celtic are able to see out the remainder of the match comfortably and should have sealed the win in the last few minutes with a third but two is enough to clinch their 21st League Cup victory.

The wee guy that makes a big difference

Personnal Note:  

• My 21st Scottish League Cup Final - 19 involving Celtic
• The 9th time Celtic v Rangers(7)/Rangers*(2)
• The 13th time I've seen Celtic lift this trophy since my first final in 1982 - the winning managers being McNeill, Jansen, Dalglish, O'Neill, Strachan(2), Deila, Rodgers(3), Lennon, Postecoglue(2)

MATCH 1909 - Saturday 18 February 2023

SEASON 2022/23

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  4  ABERDEEN  0

Scorers: McGregor, Hatate(2), Abada

A fast start from Celtic sees them two goals up in the opening 15 minutes in front of another capacity crowd at Celtic Park.  

The game is secured in the final 15 minutes with two more goals to complete a big win over the Dons.

Most impressive player in the match: Reo Hatate

Personal note:  

• The 130th time I've attended this fixture, 108 in the league all since March 1981
• Overall the 135th time seeing Aberdeen.
• The first match 28 March 1981 at Celtic Park, score 1-1

28 March 1981 - George McCluskey after scoring the equaliser 

MATCH 1908 - Saturday 11 February 2023

SEASON - 2022/23

SCOTTISH CUP 5th ROUND

Venue - CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  5  ST MIRREN  1

Scorers: Maeda, Hatate(2), Oh, O'Riley

Evening kick off of 5.30pm as match is live on satellite TV.  Four of Celtic's five goals are scored by three of their Asian footballers including a first goal for Oh of South Korea.

Man of the Match: Cameron Carter-Vickers

Personal note:

• 7th ocassion attending this fixture in Scottish Cup
• One other St Mirren fixture in Scottish Cup was against Airdrieonians at Broomfield in 1983 Quarter Final tie
• Overall the 73rd time seeing St Mirren (all bar one - the match above - v Celtic)

MATCH 1907 - Wednesday 1 February 2023

SEASON 2023/23

SCOTTISH PEMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  3  LIVINGSTON  0

Scorers:  Taylor, Maeda, Kyogo

All goals were scored in the first half to make it a comfortable evening for the home side.

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.