December really was an action-packed month for Celtic.
It was also highly productive as we proved we were serious title contenders.
And so to how it all began on Thursday, December 2nd with a tight 1-0 over a spirited Hearts team.
Under the disco lights, it produced a fantastic atmosphere and Kyogo gave us a deserved lead on 33 mins which proved the decisive moment both on and off the pitch as Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd became obsessed that it was clear offside despite TV replays proving inconclusive.
Boydy now appears to be on a crusade for VAR something which he will likely regret should it ever be introduced considering the number of dodgy decisions his self proclaimed establishment club have received down through the years.
There was no doubt at Tannadice the following Sunday as Celtic swept aside Dundee Utd thanks to first-half strikes from Tom Rogic and David Turnbull – the first of which was a goal of the season contender – followed by a sweet finish by Liam Scales in the 2nd half to deliver a comfortable 3-0 win.
Then Celtic tied up their Europa League campaign with a 3-2 win over Seria A cracks Real Betis via a 3-2 win.
In an end to end game, with both sides fielding weakened teams what was supposed to be a dead rubber proved anything but.
Stephen Welsh headed us into an early 3rd-minute lead and both sides passed up chances galore before a crazy nine-minute second-half period where Betis equalised only for sub-Ewan Henderson to restore our lead three mins later on the 72-minute mark which itself only last for three minutes as Borja Iglesias made it 2-2.
David Turnbull dispatched the winning penalty on 79 mins after Liel Abada had been downed in the box and Mikey Johnstone should have put it out of sight minutes after that when through one on one with the keeper but fluffed his lines.
So 3-2 it finished and a very respectable 9 points haul which most seasons would be enough to see you through but alas a parachute into the last 32 of the new Conference League would have to do.
Back to league business and Tom Rogic helped a depleted Celtic side shorn of a recognised striker because of injuries via a well-worked goal from a set-piece on halftime versus Motherwell at Celtic Park the following Sunday.
And three days after that it was the late-late show at the Global Energy Stadium as Ross County equalised a Liel Abada first-half opener via a Jack Baldwin goal close to the hour mark and appeared to have denied us a vital win before Tony Ralston came up trumps with a headed winner seven minutes into injury time which sent the away support wild.
We then moved on to the League Cup final against Hibs in a game that is covered by a separate article. Needless to say………………….won.
It was looking like it could be the perfect Christmas as the Celtic winning machine clicked into gear on every front only for it all to come shuddering to a halt thanks to Jim Goodwin’s injury-hit St.Mirren who defended for their lives en route to a 0-0 draw that saw them camp in their own box at their own stadium for 90 mins as a tired Celtic side failed to find a moment of inspiration.
You couldn’t fault the Buddies for their approach considering both the gulf in resources and their injury list but at the same time, our boys looked dead on their feet which was understandable considering their efforts in the past few weeks as the game came thick and fast.
This meant that we went into Christmas day with a bit of a headache made even worse by the announcement that all games would be played behind effectively closed doors – or 500 fans to give it the official attendance restrictions – for the foreseeable future, something which sent the blue hordes into raptures.
Thankfully common sense prevailed and it was decided that the winter break would be brought forward meaning our Boxing Day encounter with struggling St.Johnstone would be our last game for nearly a month.
It proved a decent send-off as a first-half double from goal machine Liel Abada put us on easy street before Chris Kane pulled one back only for Nir Bitton to seal the points with a classy finish on 82 minutes.
So that brought the curtain down on 2021 a year best forgotten by and large but which gives rise to what could be a great 2022.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and here’s hoping.
....Always A Tim! 