Celtic returned to competitive action on early Saturday evening after a three-week winter break hiatus.
It was back to winning ways as the Hoops registered an incredible 32nd consecutive domestic cup victory as we continue our quest for a quadruple treble.
But to be honest the performance was much of the same of what we had become accustomed to in December. That being generally dictating play and creating chances but still lacking the sort of vibrant and decisive form we’d seen earlier in the season. Oh and we remain profligate in front of goal.
With the arrival of £3.5 million Polish striker Patryk Klimala last week much talk has surrounded the future of Leigh Griffiths but he was actually a surprise starter playing upfront with Odsonne Edouard as Celtic went with a rare front two pairing.
Also in from the start were Greg Taylor at left-back as well as Olivier Ntcham and Tom Rogic in the middle with Ryan Chrisite both injured and suspended, Boli Bolingoli on the bench and James Forrest rested.
Taylor impressed and Rogic is generally a Rolls Royce in the middle of the park though Ntcham continues to underwhelm and play within himself.
Griffiths marked his return with a goal on 12 mins after the ball broke kindly to him after some decent interplay between Rogic and Edouard.
At the back Jozo Simunovic made his return from a long term injury and replaced the injured Nir Bitton who came off in the opening minutes and who himself was in for the rested Kristofer Ajer, The big Croat though looked well off the pace and indeed a moment of madness on his part led to Thistle almost scoring an equaliser later on in the first half through Kenny Miller though the former Celtic and Rangers striker’s effort came back off the bar.
Celtic were denied a stonewall penalty not long before that when Jeremie Frimpong was blatantly shoved to the deck from James Penrice but the referee and linesman bizarrely thought nothing of it.
In the second half, a lovely dinked free-kick from Griffiths caught the Thistle defence unaware and allowed Edouard to take it down sublimely before lashing a shot at goal that was touch onto the bar by the home sides keeper Scott Fox.
McGregor had an effort go just wide also before making amends when he cracked a shot from the edge of the box that deflected off of Thomas O’Ware and wrong-footed Fox to give the Celts a 2-0 lead with 12 mins remaining.
There was some late drama though when some slack play by Jullien let in Thistle sub Dario Zanatta who rounded Fraser Forster but failed to convert and tumbled to the ground in despair. However, referee, Alan Muir called foul claiming Frimpong had caused the striker’s spill even though he blatantly hadn’t. Indeed even Zanatta looked pretty perplexed by it.
Stuart Bannigan stepped up to convert in what was the final kick of the ball.
So not the greatest display but a win none the less and that means Celtic progress to the 5th round where League One side Clyde lay in wait in what will be our first meeting with the ‘Bully Wee’ since our disastrous Scottish Cup exit to them back in 2006. That was the day Roy Keane made his debut for us and Du Wei made his solitary appearance in a Celtic jersey. More on that nearer the time. Much more. The game is scheduled for the weekend of the 8th of February.
On Wednesday we are back on league duty as we visit Kilmarnock.
They are under the stewardship of Alex Dyer who was initially the assistant to Steve Clarke before he moved onto the Scotland managers role. Dyer remains his number two at international level also.
They trounced League Two’s Queen’s Park 6-0 at home on Saturday in the cup with Chris Burke providing an incredible six assists but on league form they were struggling badly up until the break.
Having won five of their first ten league games which saw them climb to third in the league – which is where they finished of course last season after an incredible campaign – they have endured a pretty dramatic dip in form that has seen them win only one of the last eleven and drop down to seventh spot.
They parted company with previous manager Angelo Alessio on December 17th and not only have they not won a league game for two months but they’ve lost the last five straight with no goals scored and seven conceded.
With Scotland cap Stuart Findlay back from injury and Greg Kiltie recalled from a loan spell as well as new strikers added over the winter window such as Nicke Kabamba and Harry Bunn they’ll be hoping for better fortunes in the second half of the season.
There’s no doubt this is a tough ground to go to with Celtic having lost 2-1 and scraped through a 1-0 win in their two league visits there last season but every point is a prisoner right now as we continue our neck and neck race at the top with Rangers.
The Govan side are at home to lowly St.Mirren on the same night and could pitch up a big score so we really need to be at it and with four of our next five league games all on the road we’ll need to get used to away venues quickly as it’ll all be taking place in the space of only seventeen days in a spell that could be pivotal to the title race.
With Ismaila Soro set to be unveiled as our second winter recruitment in the coming days and other arrivals rumoured it’s a busy old time in Glasgow’s East End but it’s the wins that are vital and hopefully we can secure one in just over 48hrs to stay top and preserve our slender lead.
I’ll predict 2-1.
....Always A Tim! 