MATCH 1646 - Sunday, 24 April 2016

Season: 2015/16
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC    1    ROSS COUNTY    1
Scorers:  Griffiths;  Murdoch

My 40th match of the season

MATCH 1645 - Sunday, 17 April 2016

SEASON 2015/16
SCOTTISH CUP SEMI FINAL
Venue: HAMPDEN PARK

CELTIC    2    RANGERS*    2

Scorers: Sviatchenko, Rogic;  Miller, Mckay

For the second time this season Celtic fail to get past the semi final stage of a domestic cup.

39th match of season.

MATCH 1644 - Sunday, 10 April 2016

Season:  2015/16
ENGLISH FA PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  STADIUM OF LIGHT (25)

The mark of champions

SUNDERLAND    0    LEICESTER CITY    2

Scorers:  Vardy(2)

The remarkable story of Leicester City's march to being the Champions of England continued at the Stadium of Light with a performance worthy of champions.  Going to a difficult venue and playing a team fighting for their lives they controlled the match from first to last touch of the ball, when Vardy rolled in the second in the fifth minute of injury time.

This was our first visit of the season to the Stadium of Light. We drove down and thankfully the Sunday morning traffic was kind to us with no hold UPS on M74 or A69.  We arrived at 11.15am and parked in the waste ground behind the east of the stadium, at no cost.

This was our 25th visit to SOL and it's always a great occasion watching Premier League football at Sunderland.  They continue to offer the best value of all Premier League clubs to watch top league football - from £25 for most matches - therefore it will be a shame if they lose their top flight club status.  Unfortunately on the field they are not so great, struggling to score goals and are currently in the relegation zone with only five game remaining.

Only my second time watching Leicester, the first was 32 years ago at Ibrox of all places when Gary Lineker was in their team!  Hopefully they can complete their fairytale story with three more wins.

THE TEAMS ENTER THE ARENA

FULL STADIUM AT KICK OFF

EMPTY STADIUM AT FULL TIME

LEICESTER FANS LIVING THE DREAM

BUS CONVOY FROM LEICESTER

MATCH 1643 - Saturday, 2 April 2016

Season:  2015/16
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC    3    HEARTS    1

Scorers: Mackay-Steven, Roberts(2);  Walker

This was the first home match in four weeks so everyone was up for it.  Hearts took the initiative early on and managed to get in front with a cracking strike from outside the box. 

However before half time Celtic had fought back to turn the match around with two excellent strikes the first from Gary Mackay-Steven and then Patrick Roberts scored his first ever competitive goal.

Early in the second half Roberts completed the scoring to send Celtic seven points clear in title race.

Personal note:  32nd Celtic match of the season including 3 against Hearts.

MATCH 1642 - Thursday, 17 March 2016

Season: 2016/17



Round of 16, 2nd Leg

Venue: OLD TRAFFORD (50)

MANCHESTER UNITED    1    LIVERPOOL    1

Scorers: Martial;  Coutinho

Great way to spend St Patrick's Day watching England's two finest clubs scrapping it out in European competition.  Travelled down by bus from Glasgow to Manchester.  I had a few hours to kill before and after the game so walked from & to the city centre.  First time I've done this took about 40 minutes, good exercise.

Link to official UEFA site:

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2016/matches/round=2000660/match=2017210/postmatch/lineups/index.html

Fantastic first half action and tremendous atmosphere to accompany the play, which only increased when United took the lead.

The second half was less intense due to Liverpool securing the away goal to enhance their lead right on the stroke of half time.  The match ended with fighting in the East Stand as a few stupid Liverpool fans unfurled a banner to wind up the Reds support.  Not very clever when you have nowhere to go and only a few police and stewards to stop the onslaught of attacks.

The teams arrive for battle

United line up



Set play opportunity for United

 

Klopp observes the action

Man United could've done with this man on the pitch

Personal note:  My 50th match at Old Trafford over a span of 32 years!  Many changes over the years but the South Stand (soon to be renamed after legend Bobby Charlton) still remains my favourite stand in the ground.
7th match between the sides and Manchester United remain unbeaten with 2 wins & 5 draws!

MATCH 1641 - Sunday, 13 March 2016

Season:  2015/16
SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP  FINAL
Venue:  HAMPDEN PARK

HIBERNIAN    1    ROSS COUNTY    2

Scorers:  Fontaine;  Gardyne, Schalk

Great day for Ross County as they completed a green double having already beating Celtic in the semi final, they defeated the Edinburgh greens to achieved their first ever cup success.  It was far from a classic but the final was settled in dramatic style with a last minute winner.
For the first time in over a hundred visits to Hampden I went via Rutherglen train station.  It's a good hike to the east end of the ground (25-30minutes) but still much quicker than the walk from the city centre or waiting in the queue at Mount Florida station.  A good option if travelling from/to Lanarkshire area.


Personal note: My 15th Scottish League Cup Final but first involving either of these clubs.


Attendance: 38,000 with Hibs bringing 30,000

MATCH 1640 - Sunday, 6 March 2016

Season:  2015/16
SCOTTISH CUP Quarter Final
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC    3   MORTON    0

Scorers:  Griffiths, Mackay-Steven, McGregor

Championship side Morton were no match for Celtic who quickly saw off their challenge scoring three first half goals to qualify for the semi finals.

The game played on Mothers Day and at 12noon for Sky TV were contributing factors to the  small crowd of around 15,000 with 2,000 from Greenock.

Next up for Celtic is another championship side, The Rangers!

Personal note:  15th meeting I've seen between the side, 3 of which have been in the Scottish Cup.  The last meeting at Celtic Park in 1998 attracted a crowd of 40,000 changed days in Paradise, maybe some fans have been spoiled by the success of the last 15 years.

MATCH 1639 - Wednesday, 2 March 2016

Season:  2015/16
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC    0    DUNDEE    0

Dull boring football returns to Celtic Park.  This was the 3rd goalless draw in 14 SPL home matches this season and the 4th time the one upfront system failed, not to mention all three Europa League ties.  In 90 minutes the Dundee keeper only had to make one good save and his team-mates where very comfortable throughout.

Ronnie Deila has proven time and time again he is out of his depth at Celtic.

A year ago this week Celtic lost 1-0 at home to St Johnstone therefore a 0-0 draw at home to Dundee is hardly progress.

The club has got a major decision to make Peter Lawwell is taking the club backwards.

MATCH 1638 - Saturday, 20 Febrauary 2016

SEASON:  2015/16
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

The Celtic Way

CELTIC    3    INVERNESS  CT    0

Scorers: Mackay-Stevens, Griffiths(2)

More highland visitors at Celtic Park.  And more Green Brigade protests pre match against "the Bill".  They would be better off advising their members to stop using flares which attracts unwanted attention, due to the risk of serious injury to either themselves and other fans.

It was a miserable day around Celtic Park as heavy rain fell all day and the first half performance did little to improve the mood of the home fans still on a low from the League Cup exit.  The players left the field at half time to a chorus of boos.

Whatever was said in the dressing room at half time worked wonders as Celtic were transformed into a very different team.  A smashing second half performance lifted the gloom which had engulfed the club for three weeks.

All three goals were expertly taken by my man of the match, Gary Mackay-Steven and top scorer Griffiths, who took his tally for the season to 32.

With the win Celtic moved six points clear of Aberdeen are now well on course to making it five in a row.

Personal note:  25th meeting between these sides.

MATCH 1637 - Saturday, 13 February 2016

Season:  2015/16
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC    2    ROSS COUNTY    0

Scorers:  Griffiths, Boyata

Second game in succession for me between these sides.  Following the League Cup semi final of two weeks ago it was a low key affair before a poor Celtic Park crowd.

Celtic were once again suffering from a lack of confidence at home and played well below acceptable standards.

Personal note:  10th Ross County match all against Celtic - the first one was a Scottish Cup tie in 2004.