You’re always taking a risk of missing kick off when taking a lunchtime flight from Dublin to see Celtic and to make kick off at Paradise, it normally works out well for me but on Sunday my flight was delayed for a half hour into Edinburgh.
Having a seat up the front of the aeroplane made my exit sharpish when we landed in Scotland and I made the 13:50 bus to Glasgow which took just over an hour before a quick dash to the taxi rank to grab a cab and fair play to the driver he got me there in quick time. Kieran Tierney opened the scoring after only 7 minutes while I was on route coming up the London Road.
The atmosphere was loud with the stadium rocking after the early goal as I walked up Paradise Way. Then Nygren added a second on 10 minutes and the noise levels grew even louder as I took my seat and got an update from the gentleman who sits to my right. I was 10 minutes late and had missed 2 goals which I would see replayed at halftime on my phone.
Martin O’Neill had opted for Duran to lead the attack with Hassan and Osmand on the wings. Osmand was making his first start for Celtic after some cameo appearances off the bench in big games . He has spent so much time out injured it was a delight to see him score Celtic’s third and fourth goal. He brings youth and a fearless attitude to the Celtic attack and is already a fans favourite.
Hearts did pull one back before half time when Mendy scored. The goal upset Martin O’Neill on the touchline after the throw was taken higher up to the pitch than where the ball had gone out. He made his feelings known to the fourth official.
Celtic were not finished yet in the first half and Baur done brilliantly to weave in and out of the Hearts defence before shooting with the Hearts defender McCart helping by turning it into his own goal to make it 5.
Hearts fans had come thinking they were contenders but many of them left at half time realising that they may always be the Bridesmaid of Scottish football. We agreed at halftime that we had not expected to be 5-1 up at the break as we sipped our Bovril while watching videos circulated on social media showing trouble outside the ground before kick off between Celtic and Hearts fans. Not what you want to see and I hope no one was badly injured.
With 45 minutes in his legs and two goals Osmand made way for the fans favourite Jota who once again caught the eye during the second half and it is great to see him back and getting us off our seats again.
We did not have long to wait in the second half for goal number 6 when Duran struck 4 minutes in. On the hour mark McGregor got the rare luxury of some rest time and was replaced by Oxlade-Chamberlain with Hogh coming on for Duran and Tierney made way for Emenalo to make his debut in the Hoops. Forest was the final sub replacing Hassan who had his best game in the Hoops since arriving at the club.
Hogh did not get the goal we all longed for him but he did get an assist for Nygren’s second of the day. 7-1 the final score. As my dear old Mam says “One good day does not make a Summer” but I did enjoy the game and the after match pint tasted sweet on a day that the Celtic Fans remembered the late Johnny Doyle the Celtic fan who lived the dream.
A quick look at the stats on the way back to Edinburgh Airport showed that it was Hearts who had more possession with 52% with 20 shots ( 5 on target ) to Celtic’s 18 (10 on target). Celtic now sit 4 points ahead of the rangers who drew 2-2 away to Dundee on Saturday night.
A positive afternoon on the road following Celtic but I was happy to get to my bed after midnight. I am back on the road on Thursday for the Europa League clash with Celtic Vigo under the lights at Celtic Park before we get back to domestic action against Hibs at Easter Road on Sunday.
Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes Celtic Fanzine & Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast
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