Lucky number is 7 for Celtic

By: Matt | February 28th, 2009

Celtic announced their return to form today by putting a whopping seven goals in ninety minutes against a 10 men St. Mirren team. The dominating victory keeps Celtic even with Rangers on points in the SPL race, after Rangers squeaked by James McCarthy and Hamilton today, but puts Celtic within striking distance of Rangers in the goal differential category, now only 4 goals behind from a lead that was 10 before the matches today started. Shunsuke Nakamura got the goal fest started in the 16th minute with a shot that Buddies keeper Chris Smith should have stopped. The howler by Smith was just the start of his own keeper hell today. Soon after, his defense was reduced after defender Jack Ross took Scott McDonald down in the box. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink missed the subsequent penalty, but Celtic would not falter even after the missed opportunity. Naka got his second goal of the game in the 35th minute after a good run with the ball by Andres Hinkel and a good cross by the German found Naka who clinically put it out of Smith’s reach and the Bhoys went to the dressing room up 2-0.

There have been videos floating around of Marc Crosas sending a rocket of a volley into the net during a recent reserves game, but the Catalonian proved that he could do it in the first team also after getting the start today. After Aiden McGeady worked the ball in well, in came to Crosas 20 yards outside the box. Crosas fired the ball which diped and twisted and eventually found its way into the net. Scott Brown got into the goal scoring action just four minutes later when he struck the ball through Smith’s legs and into the goal. Nakamura got his hatrick and Celtic’s fifth goal of the match when he produced another one of his trademark brilliant freekicks just two minutes after Brown’s goal. Scott Brown would double his goal total in the 68th minute after released him forward and the Scottish midfielder finished the ball in the bottom right corner. As if St. Mirren’s day could not get any worse, the seventh and final goal was an own goal by Buddies defender John Potter, on what would have been a nice header had it not been into his own net. The final whistle blew mercifully and Celtic finished the match in fine fashion.

Obviously, this was just the type of match Celtic were looking for after their struggles the past weeks. I think Gordon Strachan got the team selection right and should have no reason to change it up. Marc Crosas was brilliant today, with brilliant passing and a brilliant finish for his goal. Shunsuke Nakamura looked every part the “old” Naka creating numerous chances, finishing them, and putting home a free kick just for good measure. Scott Brown, Aiden McGeady, and Andreas Hinkel all had great games as well. The only negative to take from the game was that none of the goals were scored by a Celtic striker. Scott McDonald and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink continued to struggle to find the net, with the latter having a particularly bad game missing the penalty and generally looking helpless. It is still a good sign that Celtic were able to win so comfortably and hopefully today was an announcement to the rest of the SPL that Celtic are back and will be taking their fourth league title.

TAL
Videos of the goals, thanks to 101 Great Goals
Crosas strike
Brown’s 1st Goal
Naka’s three goals
Brown’s 2nd Goal

Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor (O’Dea 21), Nakamura, Crosas, Scott Brown, McGeady, McDonald (Samaras 69), Vennegoor of Hesselink (Hutchinson 77).

St Mirren: Smith, Ross, Potter, Haining, Camara, Murray (McGinn 60), Dorman (Barron 53), Mason, Brady, Thomson, Mehmet (Dargo 70).

Goals: Nakamura 16, 35, Crosas 51, Scott Brown 55, Nakamura 58, Scott Brown 68, Potter 76 og.