CELTIC IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GLORY AGAIN

NEIL LENNON LURGAN CELT

CELTIC 3 (Commons 45, Samaras 48, Forrest 90)
SHAKHTER KARAGANDY 0

There have been more cultured European nights in the east end of Glasgow but this theatre of football has rarely seen such a dramatic game and finale.

Goals either side of half-time had given Neil Lennon’s side a Champions League reprieve but the tie was heading into overtime when James Forrest struck and Celtic Park exploded.

The home side were often utterly dominant but unable to finish off a side hoping to give Kazakhstan representation in the group stage for the first time.

The visitors were themselves unlucky not to score a crushing away goal midway through the second half but will have to content themselves with a place in the Europa Cup.

Celtic, making three changes from the first leg, had the obvious intent of testing Aleksandr Mokin as early as possible but the Shakhter goalkeeper, whose handling had been woeful in Astana, responded well.

Mikael Lustig’s far post header from a Kris Commons cross had the crowd on their feet but Mokin punched the ball over the bar.

Although Fraser Forster had to stretch low to save a shot from Sergei Khizhnichenko, Celtic continued to pound the Shakhter penalty box with shots and crosses.

Forrest forced another save from Mokin and the goalkeeper continued to dispel the image he had presented in the home game when he palmed away another goal-bound effort, this time from the lively Anthony Stokes.

Wicked free kick
Next up in the effort to secure the relaxant of an early goal was Commons with a wicked free kick which Mokin, not so convincingly this time, pushed to safety.

It seemed Celtic must score but somehow the Kazakhstan side survived. With half an hour played there was a reminder of the doomsday scenario for the home side of a Shakhter away goal when Aldin Dzidic headed over Forster’s bar.

Encouraged, the visitors enjoyed their best spell of the half with Lustig required to block a Khizhnichenko attempt.

Both Celtic and the crowd were subdued and the game entering injury-time when Commons gloriously transformed a fruitless first half by unleashing a venomous shot from 25 yards to put his side unexpectedly, if deservedly, ahead.

The psychological impact of the goal negated any need for Lennon to give a state of the nation address in the home dressing room at half time.

If anything his players started the second period even more pumped up than they had been in the first and this time they got their reward quickly.

Just three minutes, and much Celtic pressing, were on the clock when Lustig’s shot from the edge of the box landed at the feet of Georgios Samaras.

Close range
From close range he put Celtic level on aggregate with almost the whole of the second half to find the third which, if not responded to at the other end, would take the Glasgow club into the group stage for a second successive season.

They very nearly got that goal when Forrest sent over a teasing cross which found Stokes unmarked at the far post. He should have buried it but instead his right foot volley hit the bar.

Just how vulnerable Celtic’s position was couldn’t have been more vividly illustrated than in the next two minutes.

First Adam Matthews, guarding the far post, had to desperately scoop Dzidic’s net-bound shot off the line and then Shakhter came even closer.

In the first game the long throws into the box of Gediminas Vicius had caused the Celtic defence undue problems and there was a mighty sigh of relief when Khizhnichenko’s effort from another hit the bar.

Even if they did not score, the visitors made it clear they were not going to roll over and provided a timely warning to Celtic that they could not attack with abandon in pursuit of the third goal.

With the game ebbing and flowing more evenly than at any other point the spectacle was gripping, both teams aware that one slip would consign them to the Europa League.

Almost unbelievably, lightning struck twice as the game went into injury-time with an extra 30 minutes, and possibly penalties as well, looming. This time it was Forrest, who had been lively but often lacking a finishing flourish, who redeemed himself by sweeping home Stokes’ low cut back and send Celtic Park into raptures.
Guardian Service

Green Brigade

SUPPORT MARTIN COREY A LIFE LONG LURGAN CELTIC FAN

From Wikipedia,



Green Brigade
Formation 2006
Type Ultras group, football supporters group (Celtic F.C.)
Location Glasgow, Scotland


The Green Brigade are an ultras group consisting of supporters of the Scottish Football Club Celtic.

The group were formed in 2006 and describe themselves as a "a broad front of anti-fascist, anti-racist and anti-sectarian Celtic supporters".[1] They are situated in section 111 ofCeltic Park. The Green Brigade have organised various displays at Celtic matches involving banners, flags and demonstrations which have been credited with improving the atmosphere at Celtic Park.[2]

Green Brigade display on 13 August 2011

Contents
1 Controversy and Reports of Disorder
2 Poppy protest
3 Palestinian Hunger Strike Solidarity Display
4 Appreciation from Celtic Manager Neil Lennon
5 125th Anniversary Display
6 Fans Against Criminalisation Protests
7 References
Controversy and Reports of Disorder[edit source | editbeta]

At a match against Dundee United in November 2010, there was serious disorder in the section occupied by the Green Brigade when a supporter was being ejected by stewards.[3] Supporters charged at the security guards and one was left with a bloody lip after a coin was reportedly thrown.[3]

In April 2011 at the Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen police officers attempted to remove a supporter who had set off a flare inside the stadium.[4][5] Police were unable to remove the supporter because other fans held onto him.[4] Four supporters were later held by police in connection with the incident.[4] More than 100 Green Brigade members walked out of the stadium in protest of the arrests.[4][5]

In April 2011 some members of the Green Brigade were not sent season ticket renewal forms after the club threatened to disperse the group around other sections of the stadium.[2][4]

UEFA head of communications William Gaillard, when talking about the matter in 2006, said that IRA chanting was not sectarian, and was a nationalist issue - similar to fans of other clubs, such as Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, who support nationalist movements in their own countries. He also stated that only in Balkan countries, where some fans show support for organisations that had engaged in ethnic cleansing, was the situation different because these organisations were by their nature discriminatory. He said that this did not apply to the IRA..[6]

Former Celtic manager David Hay has called for singing of IRA anthems to be banned,[7] while current Celtic manager Neil Lennon has also said that IRA chants "embarrass" the club.[8]
Poppy protest[edit source | editbeta]

At a match against Aberdeen in November 2010, the Green Brigade unfurled two banners with the words "Your deeds would shame all the devils in hell. Ireland Iraq Afghanistan. No bloostained poppy on our hoops.[sic]"[9][10] This protest was against the placing of theremembrance poppy on Celtic's shirt for the 11 November 2010 match against St. Mirren. This unfathomable act confused those Celtic supporters who have and who do serve in the Armed Forces and those who wish to show respect for the sacrifice of those Celtic supporters who have lost their lives in the service of their country.

The Green Brigade cited civilian deaths caused by the Armed Forces in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as Bloody Sunday, highlighting the fact that the report "confirmed that 14 unarmed civilians were murdered in Derry in 1972 by the Paratroop Regiment".[11]

The Glasgow Herald reported that in the weeks leading up to the incident, the Green Brigade had stepped up pro-IRA chants.[12]Celtic has been investigated by UEFA in the past for alleged sectarian behaviour, including pro-IRA chants.[13]
Palestinian Hunger Strike Solidarity Display[edit source | editbeta]

It was reported on the Al Jazeera website that on Celtic's last game of the 2011-12 season the Green Brigade organised a display of solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike. This featured a banner reading "Dignity is More Precious than Food" alongside a flurry of Palestinian flags. A spokesman for the ultras groups is reported to have stated: "We did this in solidarity, to raise awareness and because it's the right thing to do. We want Palestinians to know we are thinking about them and encourage Scottish civil society to look at the injustice in Palestine."[14]
Appreciation from Celtic Manager Neil Lennon[edit source | editbeta]

After this last match of the season Celtic manager Neil Lennon presented the SPL trophy to the Green Brigade by placing it in front of the section where they sit. He later said, "I just wanted to say thank you to them because they have, week in, week out, created a great atmosphere. They sing non-stop. They add colour. Sometimes they are a little bit controversial but in the main they have behaved themselves impeccably and they have changed the culture of the stadium. It’s a fun place to come for the supporters and the atmosphere in the big games has been fantastic. They are the catalyst for all of that."[15]



125th Anniversary Display[edit source | editbeta]

In November 2012, the Green Brigade organised a fulll stadium pre-match card display against Barcelona to celebrate Celtic's 125th anniversary.[16] The display featured a Celtic cross, green and white hoops and 125 Celtic in written form, with supporters earning the praise of club chairman Peter Lawwell.[17]
Fans Against Criminalisation Protests[edit source | editbeta]

On 6 April 2013, the Green Brigade took part in a demonstration comprising 3000 Celtic supporters as part of Fans Against Criminalisation, a body comprising the Green Brigade, the Celtic Trust, Celtic Supporters Association, the Affiliation of Registered Celtic Supporters Clubs and the Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs. Although the march to Celtic Park after the demonstration had not been granted permission, raising concerns about dispersal amongst police. After the event Police Scotland said they were "delighted" by the conduct of the protestors.[18] The protest was organised after a previous march that had not received council permission was broken up by police on the 16th March. [19] This initial protest had been called over supporters receiving bans and what was described as "harassment by the police". The Green Brigade announced on its website that it would be holding a "corteo to Celtic Park to raise awareness and show support for the growing list of Celtic supporters receiving and facing bans from both the Club and the PF. It is no secret the level of harrassment many fans receive at the hands of Strathclyde Police nor is Celtic PLCs complicity able to be ignored. As such there is an ever growing list of fans being denied their passion of following their team."[20] Fans took to social media after the initial protest, posting pictures of mounted police and a group of supporters surrounded by police with batons being prevented from leaving the area.[21] Celtic fans felt that the initial demonstration had been improperly policed and turned out to show their support for those demonstrators.[22]

CELTIC AWAKENING !

The Stolen Child

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Glencar Waterfall, County Leitrimmentioned in the poem

"The Stolen Child" is a poem by William Butler Yeats, published in 1889 in The Wanderings of Oisin and Other Poems.

Contents   [hide]  1 Overview 2 Location 3 Publication history 4 In modern culture 5 See also 6 References 7 External links

Overview[edit]

The poem was written in 1886 and is considered to be one of Yeats's more notable early poems. The poem is based on Irish legend and concerns faeries beguiling a child to come away with them. Yeats had a great interest in Irish mythology about faeries resulting in his publication of Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry in 1888 and Fairy Folk Tales of Ireland in 1892.

The poem reflects the early influence of Romantic literature and Pre-Raphaelite verse.

Where dips the rocky highland

Of Sleuth Wood in the lake,

There lies a leafy island

Where flapping herons wake

The drowsy water rats;

There we've hid our faery vats,

Full of berrys

And of reddest stolen cherries.

Come away, O human child!

To the waters and the wild

With a faery, hand in hand.

For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.

Where the wave of moonlight glosses

The dim gray sands with light,

Far off by furthest Rosses

We foot it all the night,

Weaving olden dances

Mingling hands and mingling glances

Till the moon has taken flight;

To and fro we leap

And chase the frothy bubbles,

While the world is full of troubles

And anxious in its sleep.

Come away, O human child!

To the waters and the wild

With a faery, hand in hand,

For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.

Where the wandering water gushes

From the hills above Glen-Car,

In pools among the rushes

That scarce could bathe a star,

We seek for slumbering trout

And whispering in their ears

Give them unquiet dreams;

Leaning softly out

From ferns that drop their tears

Over the young streams.

Come away, O human child!

To the waters and the wild

With a faery, hand in hand,

For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.

Away with us he's going,

The bright, but solemn eyed -

He'll hear no more the lowing

Of the calves on the warm hillside

Or the kettle on the hob

Sing peace into his breast,

Or see the brown mice bob

Round and round the oatmeal chest

For he comes, the human child

To the waters and the wild

With a faery, hand in hand

From a world more full of weeping than he can understand

Location[edit]

The places mentioned in the poem - Google map link

The places mentioned in the poem are in Leitrim and Sligo where Yeats spent much of his childhood.

Publication history[edit]

The poem was first published in the Irish Monthly in December 1886. The poem was then published in a compilation of work by several Irish poets Poems and Ballads of Young Ireland in 1888 with several critics praising the poem. It was later published in his first book of poetry The Wanderings of Oisin and Other Poems as well as Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry.

In modern culture[edit]

The poem was set to music and recorded by Loreena McKennitt on her 1985 debut albumElemental. Subsequently, additional musical versions were recorded by the folk rock group The Waterboys, appearing on their 1988 album Fisherman's Blues, with portions of the poem spoken by Tomas Mac Eoin; Heather Alexander on her 1994 album Wanderlust; and Hamilton Camp on his 2005 album Sweet Joy in the songCelts. Another version set to music and recorded on the Danny Ellis album 800 Voices, was released in 2006. As far back as 1911, the English composer Cyril Rootham set the poem to music. The renowned American composer Eric Whitacre has also set this poem in a piece for The King's Singers and the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. British composer and guitar virtuoso Steve Hackett recorded a version of Yeat's poem, under the title "Waters of the Wild" from his 2006 album "Wild Orchids"

Keith Donohue's novel, The Stolen Child (Nan A. Talese, 2006) was inspired by the poem. The refrain is prominently featured in Steven Spielberg's film A.I. Artificial Intelligence. The poem is also featured in the television series Torchwood episode "Small Worlds", being spoken by a fairy who steals a young girl. The novel Dies the Fire also incorporates the poem into elements of Wiccan rituals.

See also[edit]

• 1889 in poetry
• List of works by William Butler Yeats

References[edit]

• R. F. Foster, W. B. Yeats: a Life, Oxford University Press 1998 ISBN 0-19-288085-3 pages 56, 75-76
• Richard J Finneran (ed) Yeats: An Annual of Critical and Textual Studies XII, 1994 ISBN 0-472-10614-7 pages 91–92
• Michael Bell, Literature, Modernism and Myth: Belief and Responsibility in the Twentieth Centuries ISBN 0-521-58016-1 pages 44–59
• Terence Brown, The Life of W.B. Yeats Blackwell Publishing 2001 ISBN 0-631-22851-9 pages 9, 19, 66
• William A. Dumbletone, Ireland: Life and Land in Literature SUNY Press 1994 ISBN 0-87395-783-0 Pages 93–95, 129, 135-138

Celtic Green Brigade

Is Celtic finally talking the language of global football? by McAllister of Ongar in Exile

Football is one of the few universal languages in our world: it has the power to unite people in a passionate and unparalleled way. It can supplant life in some sections of our society and it can reward us emotionally in greater ways than we care to admit.
Looking back over the decades of my life following Celtic I can honestly say there have more good times than the bad.
Now this will definitely age me, I can recall the first time I saw Celtic. It was at Cathkin Park [1960-61 season] against Third Lanark though I can’t remember the score [I think we lost...they finished third that year] just the noise and the stench of cigarette smoke and urine. My Dad took me…he reasoned with my Mum that it would be a ‘safe game’ to go to and as my Dad didn’t have a car, we could walk from Govanhill. On the way back I was cautioned not to mention the toilet habits of our fellow supporters or my Mum would ban me from ever going again.

My excitement that day still lives with me and even now I get that same sense of anticipation and glow when I journey to any of the games.

Another seminal moment in my football supporting life was the 1963 Real Madrid - Eintracht Frankfurt European Cup Final. I was in awe of the football that night. That was my first really big football night. What a stadium Hampden was with its steep terraces and giant floodlight pylons. A magical place and it was owned by Queens Park! How could they afford it I used to wonder?

In my lifetime I have seen Celtic grow from being not even the second best team in Scotland to become the best and then the best in Britain and Europe. Yes my Dad took me to Lisbon too. I have watched them achieve international fame and infamy and back again as our beautiful club slipped back down the global rankings. But we never lost the faith.

Today it’s all about money and brands if we are to survive on 'Planet Football' and the number of football brands seems to be consolidating as the TV contracts become bigger. The big boys get richer and the wee guys get marginalised in this world of sport. According to Brandirectory, a US based sports marketing agency, Man U are the biggest global sports brand, bigger than any of their NFL, NBA or NHL franchises. Football is truly a global game.

Sitting in New York, where I travel to frequently on business, I am spell bound by Fox Soccer and its spin on ‘football’. The format is basically the same the obligatory anchorman and the couple of football pundits. Today it was Warren Barton. They talk about “three to two’ victories in “game 17” but by and large the language is pretty much the same. Their ‘uber’ enthusiasm is certainly addictive. They even managed to make the Man City - Reading post match analysis exciting.

Imagine my pride this week as I watched a re-run of Celtic versus Barca right there on Fox Soccer and following that up announcing: “Soccer’s Next Young Star” a new series launching in January filmed at Celtic AND you can watch the Celtic games by signing up to Fox Soccer Plus. North America the home of the brave, the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLS featuring our wee club, this ‘pub team’ as the English media like to call us.

It blows my mind. We might just be on the way back to the top table after all. Why? Well because the great global game is coming to terms with its need to grow its own talent if we wish to compete with the big boys. We need to be spotting “soccer’s next young star” and be like Barcelona and grow our own.
At Celtic we have always had that culture the only problem was we lost our way chasing the Ibrox dragon as it burned its way through cash and Scotland’s football heritage.
We know that our leaders made some shocking errors of judgement and didnt have courage to stick to the principles of the club and respect its heritage. However we have the best home fan base in Scotland, recognised and respected around the world. Welcomed by all for our colour, our joy, our enthusiasm and good sportsmanship and a passionate belief in our destiny. Yes frequently we’ve been kicked in the head by lady luck and fate has scorned us but we are still here, still fighting and still singing.

Along the way our club administrators might have lost the faith at times BUT WE NEVER DID!

Happy Holidays and Hail Hail

The Green Brigade is an ultras group consisting of supporters of the Scottish football club Celtic.

The group were formed in 2006 and describe themselves as a "a broad front of anti-fascist, anti-racist and anti-sectarian Celtic supporters".^[1] They are normally situated in section 111 of Celtic Park; Celtic football club were closely involved in creating the Green Brigade section within the stadium. The Green Brigade have organised various displays at Celtic matches involving banners, flags and demonstrations which have been credited with improving the atmosphere at Celtic Park.

Green Brigade display on 13 August 2011

The group participate in, and often start, pro-Irish Republican Army, anti-British and Irish Republican chants.

At a match against Dundee United in November 2010, there was serious disorder in the section occupied by the Green Brigade when a supporter was being ejected by stewards.^[5]Supporters charged at the security guards and one was left with a bloody lip after a coin was reportedly thrown.

In April 2011 at the Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen police officers attempted to remove a supporter who had set off a flare inside the stadium. Police were unable to remove the supporter because other fans held onto him. Four supporters were later held by police in connection with the incident.More than 100 Green Brigade members walked out of the stadium in protest of the arrests.

In April 2011 some members of the Green Brigade were not sent season ticket renewal forms after the club threatened to disperse the group around other sections of the stadium.

After the last match of the 2011-12 season Celtic manager Neil Lennon presented the SPL trophy to the Green Brigade by placing it in front of the section where they sit. He later said, "I just wanted to say thank you to them because they have, week in, week out, created a great atmosphere. They sing non-stop. They add colour. Sometimes they are a little bit controversial but in the main they have behaved themselves impeccably and they have changed the culture of the stadium. It’s a fun place to come for the supporters and the atmosphere in the big games has been fantastic. They are the catalyst for all of that."^[8]

In November 2012, the Green Brigade organised a pre-match card display against Barcelona to celebrate Celtic's 125th anniversary.The display featured a Celtic cross, green and white hoops and 125 Celtic in written form, with supporters earning the praise of club chairman Peter Lawwell

Glasgow Celtic past Spartak Moscow into last 16 of Champions League Hail Hail

Lennon steps out of O’Neills Shadow by JasCam

Tonight Neil Lennon steped out of his mentor Martin O'Neill's shadow by taking his young Celtic Team through to the last 16 of the Champions league. Goal's from Hooper and Commons sealed a 2-1 which put's this team up with the best.

Officially we are one of the top 16 in Europe and Scottish Champions

It does not get better than this

Short blog because I'm shaking like a leaf

ALL HAIL NEIL LENNON

UPDATE: What an evening at Parkhead. No sooner had we uploaded Gary Hooper’s opener against Spartak Moscow earlier than Ari had levelled and threatened to spoil the party.

An anxious second half ensued and while the penalty was soft for a foul on Samaras, contact was made and the penalty was awarded.

Neil Lennon could not bring himself to look but Kris Commons chose the perfect time to open his Champions League account and send Celtic into the last 16.

After Beating Moscow home and away as well as Barcelona at home, it was no more than the Bhoys deserved.

Celtic2 by SpheraChannel

Celtic by SpheraChannel

UEFA Champions League Table Group G

Team Statistics	Position	Team	P	Home W	D	L	F	A	Away W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts	Last 10 gamesresults	MatchStatus
	No movement1	Barcelona	6	2	1	0	5	3	2	0	1	6	2	6	13	Win Win Win Loss Win Draw	Reportof Barcelona's last match
	Moving up2	Celtic	6	2	1	0	4	2	1	0	2	5	6	1	10	Draw Win Loss Win Loss Win	of Celtic's last match
	Moving down3	Benfica	6	2	0	1	4	3	0	2	1	1	2	0	8	Draw Loss Loss Win Win Draw	of Benfica's last match
	No movement4	Spartak Moscow	6	1	0	2	4	7	0	0	3	3	7	-7	3	Loss Loss Win Loss Loss Loss

GOAL!! 82 min Celtic 2 Moscow 1
Commons with nerves of steel. Straight down the middle high and firm and in off the underside of the crossbar. Cue the noise...

GOAL!! 21 min Celtic 1 Moscow 0
Insaurralde gift wraps an early Christmas present for Celtic with a fluffed clearance that Hooper pounced on like a flash. A fine finish still required and delivered. Celtic Park rocking.

FT Celtic 2 Spartak Moscow 1

FT WRAP It was tense, it was scrappy at times, much of the time, but Celtic stood up when it counted, and Samaras fell down when it mattered, too, 'earning' the penalty that was emphatically converted by Commons at a time when the nerves were jangling in the green half of Glasgow. For guts and effort and application Celtic edged it. Spartak showed touches of class going forward, and a commendable level of effort in the opening exchanges. But showed enough, too, to understand why they are struggling in their own league.

90+5 min The sweetest sound heard in Parkhead all night - the final whistle. Celtic are through to the knock-out stages of this year's Champions League. And deserve it, too. London Calling on the PA system as the players celebrate. A tad optimistic but who would deny them the indulgence of getting a touch carried away.

90+4 min All over in Barcelona where it finished 0-0. This result is enough for Celtic. One more minute...

90+3 min "There's only one Neil Lennon," reverberates around the place. Celtic run down the clock arsing about at a corner. Free kick earned after the Spartak players get the hump. Will all do very nicely. Samaras crosses for the goalkeeper to gather and launch an attack but it's short lived and Celtic get on the ball again through Samaras. He has his critics but he is pretty tidy at holding the ball and drawing a foul when needed.

Kris Commons penalty propels Celtic past Spartak Moscow into last 16

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• Min-by-min
• Guardian report
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Champions League

Celtic 2	Hooper 21,  Commons (pen) 82
Spartak Moscow 1	Ari 39

• Ewan Murray at Celtic Park
• The Guardian, Wednesday 5 December 2012 22.04 GMT
• Jump to comments (27)

Kris Commons, left, celebrates scoring Celtic's second goal in their Champions League match against Spartak Moscow. Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images

Celtic's progress has now been endorsed by material reward. On a nervous night in Glasgow, during which the football was rarely pretty, Neil Lennon was afforded the finest triumph of his managerial career to date. Celtic were generally unfancied at the start of Group G but this win catapulted them into the Champions League's knock-out stages. Few could quibble over them deserving that place.

Kris Commons was the Celtic hero here, with a penalty which saw offSpartak Moscow. That Spartak were probably worthy of a draw, and enjoyed more possession than their hosts for long spells, is totally irrelevant. Celtic's qualification is worthy of immense credit.

The win for Lennon's team ensured 10 points from a Champions League group for the first time in Celtic's history. It also, crucially, bettered Benfica's scoreless draw in Barcelona.

Before kick-off, Celtic's anxiety could more reasonably have stemmed from Catalonia rather than Glasgow as Barcelona's team for the visit of Benfica was noticeably under strength. Lionel Messi was among Tito Vilanova's substitutes but Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, Cesc Fábregas, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba were absent altogether.

Such a selection, of course, was Vilanova's prerogative given Barça's secured progression to the last 16. Any concept of "reserves" must also recognise Barcelona's status and strength in depth.

Lennon had been adamant, publicly and in private, that events at the Camp Nou would not play on his mind. Celtic's task was simple: to pick up where they left off when Barcelona were conquered on a memorable occasion here last month. Lennon had to do without the influential Victor Wanyama, who was suspended, but was otherwise untroubled by issues of selection.

Of more concern to Celtic's manager would have been the edgy start of his team, which was in tune with the stadium atmosphere. Spartak, who had nothing other than pride to play for amid a fruitless group campaign, used that spell to display the kind of fluency which contradicted the theory they are a club in turmoil.

Still, it took 16 minutes for a goal threat of any kind. It arrived from the Russians, as Kim Kallstrom played a fine one-two with Artem Dzyuba before curling a 20-yard effort narrowly wide.

Spartak's blunder in affording Celtic the opening goal was therefore a surprise. Georgios Samaras played a hopeful ball forward, which Juan Insaurralde should easily have cut out. Instead, the Argentine woefully miscued his clearance straight to the feet of Gary Hooper and the striker lashed a low shot beyond Sergei Pesyakov.

Such clinical finishing has been an admirable trait during Celtic's European run. Heading into this game, they had a higher percentage of Champions League goals from shots on target than both Real Madrid and Barcelona. Hooper merely endorsed that statistic.

Spartak's response was admirable, given their circumstances. The impressive Emmanuel Emenike shrugged off the attentions of Beram Kayal before playing in Ari, who offered a deft chip over the onrushing Fraser Forster. Kelvin Wilson's despairing goalline header could only help the ball into the net.

Celtic's start to the second half was brighter than it had been in the first. Their captain, Scott Brown, miscued a decent opportunity from inside the Spartak penalty area before Samaras struck the outside of a post with a close-range volley.

That effort was immediately followed by a first, inaccurate ripple of news throughout Celtic Park suggesting that Barcelona had taken the lead. The danger attached to that was that the Celtic players could take heed of misinformation and temper their now brisk play.

Spartak sought to regain some impetus by introducing Aiden McGeady, a player once of this manor. The midfielder, a purchase from Celtic two years ago, would surely have started but for a knee problem. McGeady's guile was also the very commodity Celtic were in desperate need of with half an hour to play.

Charlie Mulgrew came within an acrobatic Pesyakov save of sending Celtic back in front. Commons had been the creator with a corner. A set-piece looked like Celtic's best hope of a winner. And so it proved.

Samaras tumbled under a challenge from Marek Suchy, in winning what was a soft penalty. Celtic had no reason to care about that, with Commons displaying wonderful nerve to blast home the spot-kick via the crossbar.

Kallstrom displayed Spartak frustration with a boot at Commons, which resulted in a red card for the Swedish midfielder. Commons departed the field on a stretcher but he soon returned to join his team-mates in epic celebration. How Celtic had earned it.

Finish Group On a High Celtic!

By Fanzone · Comments (0)

Spank Spartak For The Faithful…..

Before a ball was kicked in this seasons Champions League, many outside the club had the Bhoys down as cannon fodder no matter what group we would be drawn in. And when the draw was made who can forget the ‘bye, bye Celtic’ tweet from the imbeciles down at ITV?

As the team drawn from Pot Four we were always going to up against it. So when Celtic followed Barcelona, Benfica and then Spartak Moscow  out the hat we knew any chance of progress would be difficult.

But that didn’t deter the manager or the team.

We knew we would have to do at least one thing we hadn’t managed before this campaign….win away from home in the group stages.

After a goalless draw at home to Benfica in our opening match we found ourselves in a position we didn’t want to be in. We HAD to win in Moscow if we were to harbour any ambitions of staying in Europe beyond Christmas.

Having won away in Finland and Sweden in our qualifying gave the Bhoys a belief that we could do it in Russia. And we did. Goals from Hooper, Forrest and a last minute header from our European talisman Samaras gave Celtic a memorable 3-2 win in Moscow.

That result lifted the whole club. Suddenly, we did have a chance, albeit a slim one of taking something from this group. However there was one small problem going forward…..Barcelona!

Our next fixture was in against the Catalans, in the Camp Nou.

Little did we know that Lenny’s troops would give such a spirited performance. Only this time lady luck was against us. Instead of scoring a last minute winner, we lost a goal in injury time to go down 2-1, after leading Barca 1-0, again thanks to Samaras.

So, at the half way stage we were sitting with four points from three games. Not to shabby given our opening score.

With renewed confidence Celtic entertained Barcelona the same week as the club celebrated our 125th birthday. Could we possibly beat the best team in the world, Messi and all, at Celtic Park? What a present THAT would be!

As they say, anythings possible in football. Especially where Celtic are concerned.

A Fraser Forster super show inspired the Bhoys to a 2-1 victory on the most memorable European night in Paradise. Victor Wanyama, a player who’s been immense in the Champions League opened the scoring before 18 year old substitute Tony Watt put the Hoops 2-0 up with minutes to go. (long enough for Messi to pull one back)

Who would have believed it? Second in the group with two games to go.

But Celtic don’t do easy. A 2-0 reverse in Lisbon to a rejuvenated Benfica side now means the Hoops need to better the Portuguese score in Barcelona this evening.

If anyone had asked us at the beginning of the campaign would we be happy playing in the Europa league in the new year we all would have been delighted. So to be in with the chance of a place in the last 16 is unbelievable.

I’m sure Lenny and the Bhoys will give their all tonight against the Russians. Win, lose or draw, Celtic have given us another memorable European campaign.

C’mon You Bhoys In Green!