MATCH 1950 - Sunday 21 January 2024

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH CUP 4th Round

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  5  BUCKIE THISTLE  0

Scorers:  Bernardo, Holm, Kyogo, Palma, Vata

Bernardo opens the scoring

MATCH 1949 - Sunday 14 January 2024

SEASON 2023/24

ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP

Venue:  OLD TRAFFORD

MANCHESTER UNITED  2  TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR  2

Scorers:  Hojlund, Rashford; Richarlison, Bentancur

My first trip to Old Trafford this season.  To see United take on ex-Celtic manager, Ange Postecoglou's new club Spurs.  While they have been enjoying a better than expected season, United have been performing well below expected levels.

After a great start from United scoring inside 3 minutes, Tottenham controlled most of the game however by the end of the game United were unlucky not to win after having the best of the chances.

Travel:  Car to Motherwell train station for 8:35 train to Glasgow Central. Bus Glasgow (10am) to Manchester city centre arriving just after 2pm. Metro to Old Trafford cricket ground and 10 minute walk to the football equivalent. 

Returning by rail to Motherwell, however the Manchester Piccadilly to Preston leg had a rail replacement service (bus) but thankfully this was the only hassle on the day and I was easily back home for 12.

Overall another good trip to the Theatre of Dreams.

The huge North Stand (renamed after Alex Ferguson) 

View from my seat in the East Stand upper

Personal note:

• 4th time attending this fixture all at Old Trafford
• My 56th match at Old Trafford, making it my 3rd most visited ground.
• Overall the 77th time seeing Man Utd and 15th time seeing Tottenham Hotspur

Minor Match 68 - Saturday 13 January 2024

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH LOWLANDS LEAGUE

Venue: EAST PEFFERMILL

EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY  1  CELTIC-B  3

MATCH 1948 - Monday 8 January 2024

SEASON  2023/24

FA CUP 3rd ROUND

Venue: DW STADIUM

WIGAN ATHLETIC  0  MANCHESTER UNITED  2

Scorers: Dalot, Fernandes

Although United had a small distance to travel to one of their neighbours in their first FA Cup tie of the season I set out at 9am for my first trip to Wigan. Train into Glasgow, followed by Flixbus to Manchester, a short walk to Manchester Victoria station to catch the train to Wigan Wallgate.  The final leg of the trip was a walk to the ground which was about 25 minuntes but very straightforward. 

The visit of United even although they have not been in great form attracted a near capacity and noisy crowd of 22,870.

The Reds receiving the biggest of the four stands on the East side of the ground which made for a great cup tie atmosphere.

As for the game the first half was good but the second poor.  Man United should've had a comfortable 3/4 goal lead at half-time instead of the slim one goal lead.  The second half was a non-event with United fortunate to add to their lead through a disputed penalty. 

Personal note:

• New ground and club for me DW Stadium and Wigan Athletic FC.
• 15th different ground I've watched Manchester United in.
• My 76th Man Utd match.

MATCH 1947 - Saturday 30 December 2023

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  2  RANGERS*  1

Scorers:  Bernardo, Kyogo;  Tavernier

Portugese midfielder Bernardo celebrates scoring his first Celtic Park goal

Three excellent goals from two ordinary teams. No away fans for this fixture again and it certainly worked in Celtic's favour as Celtic Park is a horrible place for any Rangers side and even worse with no one in their corner.

The latest Rangers* manager in charge at Celtic Park was Belgian, Philippe Clement.

Personal note:

• 20th time seeing this "new" fixture
• 12th time in league - all at Celtic Park (unsurprisingly)  
• Last match of 2023 in all 47 attended, 37 Celtic and 10 non-Celtic

A team with no support 

MATCH 1946 - Saturday 23 December 2023

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  2  LIVINGSTON  0

Scorers: Kyogo, Scales

Two second half goals are good enough to beat bottom of the table Livingston as the visitors are having an unusually poor season.

Personal note:

• 29th time seeing this fixture
• Overall the 30th time seeing Livingston - one v Sunderland 
• The first match was under the name of Meadowbank Thistle in 1995 v Celtic at Hampden in the Scottish Cup

MATCH 1945 - Saturday 16 December 2023

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  0  HEARTS  2

Scorers: Shankland; Kingsley

Poor performance from Celtic but excellent one from Hearts scoring two goals from reliable sources - their talisman Lawrence Shankland and free kick expert Stephen Kingsley.

No real response from Celtic.

First time seeing Hearts win at Celtic Park since season 2009/10.

MATCH 1944 - Wednesday 13 December 2023

SEASON 2023/24

Group Stage

CELTIC  2  FEYENOORD  1

Scorers: Palma, Lagerbielke; Minteh

A last minute goal gives Celtic their only win of six Champions League group matches.  Two goals from summer recruits Luis Palma (Honduras) and Lagerbiekle (Sweden) seals the win again the Dutch champions.

Huge away support from Holland

Personal note: 

• My first time seeing Feyenoord in UEFA competition 
• 3rd time seeing this fixture - 2 Celtic Park and 1 Feyenoord Stadion
• My 161st Celtic match in UEFA European competition since 1982

MATCH 1943 - Wednesday 6 December 2023

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  4  HIBERNIAN  1

Scorers:  Oh(2), O'Riley, Palma;  Doidge

Hibs came to Celtic Park with another manager from their last visit.  This time it's Nick Montgomery in their dugout.  Celtic get off to a flyer scoring early and by half time had doubled their lead. 

In the second half another early goal saw Celtic stretch their lead from the penalty spot and then Oh scores his second of the game to complete Cltic's scoring.  A clean sheet is not achieved though as Hibs scored a consolation.

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• 123rd time attending this fixture
• 110 in the League

MATCH 1942 - Saturday 25 November 2023

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  1  MOTHERWELL  1

Scorers:  Turnbull;  Obika

Poor match - a weak Celtic line up and Motherwell employing outrageous time wasting antics which the referee was unable to deal with.

As for the game Celtic were awarded two penalty kicks and typically missed one.

Report: LINK

Personal note:

• Overall my 18th match of the season including:
• 10 Scottish Premiership league matches - all Celtic
• 10 matches at Celtic Park in all competitions