Celtic FC: Here We Go Ten In A Row

Touch draw mate and great graphics

Scott I hope to be clear after match day 4

redvee35 Easiest draw I could ask for

You probably got drawn against the weakest teams of each pot! It'll still be a challenge, but one I fancy Celtic could earn at least a top 3 finish for.

THE month of August was a real busy month for the bhoys as seven matches were played through out the month. Luckily for them this August has been relatively cool leading to a much more relaxing atmosphere.

Somehow the weather contributed to a very positive month were Brendan Rodgers and company did not lose a single match. The only blemish was a scoreless draw against a very strong Dinamo Zagreb.

Midfielder Tom Rogic had a very good month and was a nominee for the player of the month. He contributed to every match he played and had an impact in every single one. On the Clyde 1 Football Show Rogic said this about the team,"I really don't know what has changed but this team is more cohesive as a total unit than in seasons past, maybe its the weather bur one thing for sure we are playing lights out."

Advancing through the Champions League the team has finally returned to the group stage for the first time since the 2013-14 season. We will be playing Leicester City, Olympiacos and FC Porto. Manager Brendan Rodgers had this to say about the draw,"I couldn't have asked for a better draw in my first year here, this club deserves a chance to make it past the group stage and here with Group D it is very possible."

Finally Brendan Rodgers was named the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership Manager for the month of August. This is his first Manager of the Month award.


Here is your spoiler free recap of August.

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The month started with the second leg of the third qualifying round against Rosenborg, this time at their place. With a 2-0 lead in the first leg the team did not need much to advance. All that was needed was one and the team scored six instead. Moussa Dembele and Tom Rogic collected two goals each, while Patrick Roberts and Stuart Armstrong scored as well.

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Following the victory in Norway it was time to return to Scotland as Premiership play began. The bhoys opened up their title defense with a 4-1 victory over Hearts in Edinburgh. Four goals would be scored this match including two by Tom Rogic. New signing Scott Sinclair scored his first ever league goal two minutes in. Moussa Dembele had the best day outr of the squad getting 9.2 rating and three assist. There would have been a clean sheet but Hearts got lucky with a goal in the dying minutes of the match.

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Next up for Celtic was the Second Round of the Betfred Cup in its new format. Traveling to the highlands Celtic would meet a very determined Ross County lead by Liam Boyce. Stuart Armstrong got the scoring going for the hoops in the twelfth minute. New fan favorite Moussa Dembele collected two goals while James Forrest finished off the scoring fifty-five minutes in. The draw for the quarter-final will see us host Hears on September 21st.

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Celtic would return to Parkhead in the Champions League Playoff round against Dinamo Zagreb. In a match that was heavily favored to the host neither side capitalized on any chances thus causing a scoreless draw. Goalkeeper Craig Gordon was the man of the match for several key saves that kept the visitors from scoring. The next leg would be a true test as it shifted to Croatia.

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Rodgers' crew continued their away run in the Premiership with a 5-2 victory over St. Johnstone in Perth. For Moussa Dembele it was another fabulous performance, collecting three goals and an assist. He would almost get a perfect match rating with a 9.6. Scott Sinclair and Stuart Armstrong each collected a goal each.

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The trip to Zagreb was the first test of the season as it is a very unwelcoming place for traveling teams. For Celtic the key to the match was to survive the play of the Dinamo midfield who were known for their aggressive style of attack. Celtic would overload the opposition early on giving Patrick Roberts the first goal of the match. He would then score soon there after and get the game out of reach for the Croatian side. Tom Rogic's goal in the fifty-fourth minute ended all hope for the home team. it was now time to return to the group stage.

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The final match of August was the league home opener against Aberdeen. In what was a very tight match both sides had many chances to score but were unlucky. It wasn't until the eighty-eight minute that Moussa Dembele scored the game winner.

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For the second month in a row Moussa Dembele is named the Dafabet Player of the month. He started all seven matches and had an impact in every sigle one. His most impressive matches came against Hearts where he had three assist and St. Johnstone where he scored a hat-trick. Tom Rogic was a very close second has his play contributed to the great month bur Moussa just had the slight edge.

Dembele was named the SPFL Player of the Month as well as the SPFL Young Player of the Month.

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September begins with an international break where most of the players will be out representing their countries. The break ends on September 7th.

The first match of the month will feature the first Old Firm Derby of the Premiership since the 2011-12 season. It is set for a 12:30 kickoff on September 10th at Celtic Park.

After the Old Firm Celtic will face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium to kick off the group stage on the 13th. Following Champions League the bhoys will face off against Inverness in league play five days later. After that the Quarter-Final of the Betfred Cup will take place against Hearts on September 21st, starting a three match home stand. The final Premiership match of the month sees Kilmarnock come to Parkhead on September 24th. Finally four days later Celtic host Olympiacos in Champions League play.

Great month mate, Dembele is on fire! Fancy you to qualify from your Champions League group as well, nice to see Paddy Roberts among the goals too!

A perfect start, you couldn't ask for anything better to be fair! Also loving the McLaughlin feature

Great to see Moussa score. I had faith. Let's hope you can keep your run going

BackPostHeader Paddy has been a great player so far. I am hoping that I can keep him on loan for another season.

ScottT Dude is a quality sports journalist

redvee35 It will continue for a long time

Celtic v Rangers: Old Firm preview,
TV times, referee
details, odds and more

THE return of Rangers to the Scottish Premiership means they will meet fierce rivals Celtic in the league for the first time since 2012 on Saturday (12pm) - here’s everything you need to know about the game.

Rangers and Celtic will meet for the 402nd time on Saturday

Key statistics

It took Rangers a year longer than they had hoped to recover from their demotion to the fourth tier of Scottish football with three promotions in four years.

And the Gers have had a decent return to the Premiership with two wins a draw and a loss. The loss came from a 3-0 shutout from Dundee FC during the middle of August.

Rangers are unbeaten at Ibrox in the league since February 2015 but their record at Celtic Park is considerably less desirable.

They have not won there since October 24 2010, which was also their last victory at Parkhead, when a Kenny Miller double and a Glenn Loovens saw the visitors overturn a 1-0 half-time deficit to win 3-1.

The Hoops meanwhile have a 100% record in the league so far this year. In Champions League they had a good run to the group stage with victories over Crusaders, Rosenborg and Dinamo Zagreb. Their draw in the group stage was even better as they have the easiest group in clubs such as Olympiacos, Porto and Leicester City.

And they will hope to maintain their home ground’s fortress-like reputation - they have only lost there in the league three times in the last three seasons.

Head-to-head record
All competitions: Played 401, Celtic 145, Rangers 159, drawn 97

Odds (best available)

Celtic 4/5, Rangers 3/1, draw 2/1

First goalscorer (selected): Tom Rogic 7/2, Moussa Dembele 5/1, Scott Sinclair 9/1, Kenny Miller 19/2, Harry Forrester 12/1, Joseph Dodoo 13/1, Barrie McKay 16/1

What the managers say

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "It's games that I have watched, games that I have listened to all my life, so to actually be involved in pole position in the game is going to be exciting, especially being the first game at home."

"Every derby is different."

“I have been involved in a Swansea-Cardiff derby, which was very intense, I have been involved in the Liverpool-Everton derby, which were huge games, Liverpool-Manchester United were big games."

Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha: "We have to enjoy it, and if you don't enjoy these games, then our recruitment is wrong in terms of having the wrong type of players coming to the club, and they shouldn't be playing football."

"If you can look back in years to come and say you were involved in this sort of game, especially one where there hasn't been a league Old Firm game for a few years now, that's great, and the interest is obvious throughout the UK and globally too."

"Players have to enjoy it and go into the game relishing the challenge - respecting it - but enjoying it and looking forward to it.”

Match officials

Referee: Willie Collum

Assistant referees: Frank Connor and Douglas Ross

Fourth official: Kevin Clancy

TV
Sky Sports

Good luck mate, the big one!

ScottT Oh yes it was a big one

Andy Walker: Welcome, one and all, to Celtic Park! Once again, it is me, Andy Walker, and with me here is my partner Ian Crocker. We are happy to present to you the first Old Firm match of the season.

Ian Crocker: Glad to be here. I am excited as this match will feature a very strong Celtic side and a decent Rangers side who are back in the Premiership.

Andy Walker: Now on to the line ups

CELTIC (4-2-3-1): Gordon, Gamboa, Touré,Lustig, Tierney, Brown, Rogic, Roberts, Armstrong, Sinclair and Dembele

RANGERS (4-1-41 DM Wide): Foderingham, Tavernier, Jorge, Wilson, Wallace, Rossiter, Hyndman, Toral, Mckay, Kranjcar and Garner


Andy Walker: Celtic as always have a very strong line up with the likes of Dembele, Rogic and Roberts get the start.

Ian Crocker: Rangers on the other hand start the likes of Jorge, Wallace and Hyndman who is the latest American to feature in an old firm match.

Andy Walker: It looks like the pre game festivities are over and it is now kick off!!! The first Old Firm in the Premiership since 2012 starts now!

1' Rangers kick the match off

2'GOAL Celtic quickly intercept the ball and Scott Sinclair knocks the ball off his chest and passes to Tierney who then looks for a cross that hits Patrick Roberts who makes a diving header for a GOAL!!!!! Celtic get the early lead and it is 1-0.

10' Rangers Lee Wallace makes a diving tackle on Moussa Dembele almost hurting him. Scott Brown proceeds to get in the face of Wallace and some pushing and shoving ensures. Only warnings are given.

15'GOAL Armstrong attempts a pass towards Sinclair but is ened by by James Tavernier on a beautiful slide tackle. Moussa Dembele takes the loose ball and applied a clinical finish. Celtic are now up 2-0!

20'GOAL Christian Gamboa takes a Rangers pass and feeds it to Patrick Robrts who then lobs it to Tom Rogic then passes to Sinclair who flicks to Dembele for his second goal of the day!! It is starting to look bleaker and bleaker by the minute for Rangers fans.

27'GOAL Tierney sets up a corner and swings it to Roberts but hits the woodwork, sinclair takes the rebound and in turn passes to an open Roberts, who scores his second of the night.

35' Stuart brings down McKay and a free kick is called. How was there no card??? Tavernier lines up the free kick but missed wide right. That is another wasted chance for the visiting club.

44'GOAL Lee Wallace plays it to Joe Garner who effortlessly weaves past Celtic defenders to slide in a beautiful finish. Rangers score their first of the match.

45' The referee blows a whistle signaling the end of the half. Celtic are leading 4-1. Do Rangers have a plan for the next half???

45' We return for the second half and Celtic get things underway.

54' Rangers and Celtic both make substitutions, Teddy Bishop comes in for Hyndman and Bitton replaces Rogic who was struggling.

57'GOAL Gamboa intercepts a pass between Josh Windass and Jon Toral. Gamboa players it towards Armstrong and on the counter knocks it to Roberts. Tempo slows down as Dembele is feed with a volley that goes in the net!!! Moussa Dembel scores his third goal of the match and Celtic lead 5-1.

58' Rangers kick it off and launch their own counter. Cletic have to make up a ton of ground as Garner goes for his second but Craig Gordon with the diving save.

84' A collision between Mikael Lustig and Barrie McKay causes the Celtic player a huge opened would on his head and is forced on the side line. Celtic are forced to play with 10 on the field.

90' FULL TIME Celtic defeat Rangers by a score of 5-1 in the first Old Firm meeting of the season. It was a great day for Moussa Dembele as he collected his second hat-trick of the league this season.

10 September 2016| Football

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Moussa Dembele scored a hat-trick as Celtic hammered Rangers in their first league derby for four years..

It was a day to create a legend and Moussa Dembele certainly did. The young Frenchman's three goals has propelled him into Old Firm History.

Patrick Roberts got the game off to a fast start as he scored in the second minute. He would later score a second twenty-seven minutes in.

Rangers did have an answer though. Striker Joe Garner made a small impact in the game as he scored their only goal, a minute before the whistle blew for half time.

In an even more impressive feat neither side was carded. Despite a few challenges and rough play referee Willie Collum let them play. It was very physical though as Mikael Lustig suffered a bruised head. He is out for four to five days.

Victory lifts Brendan Rodgers' Scottish Premiership leaders - and reigning champions - five points clear of their city rivals, who started the day in fifth place, with a game in hand.

Pedro Caixinha's visitors, who won the Championship title last season, rarely looked like rescuing even a point once Dembele, the summer arrival from Fulham having one of the best seasons in club history fifteen minutes in.

The French striker thus became the first player to score a hat-trick in an Old Firm league derby for 50 years.

This dominant performance sets Celtic up nicely for Tuesday's opening Champions League group game against Leicester City.

Dembele steps up

Having been thought to be the number two behind Leigh Griffiths, Dembele quickly turned heads and cemented his spot as the number one striker. His break out came in the early stages of the Champions League.

Dembele was utterly magnificent. An interception lead to the first goal, while a well placed cross by Scott Sinclair lead to number two and finally a very strong counter and volley lead to the final goal.

A Celtic star was born, but he completed the hat-trick just to reinforce the legend, the first by a Celtic player in an Old Firm league match since Stevie Chalmers half a century ago.



Rangers' self-inflicted wounds

The first Old Firm of the Premiership in four years dynamic was a major part of the build-up. The first significant clash between the pair of them this season was won, critically by an over powered Celtic team lead by Brendan Rodgers.

Several errors on their part caused such a gap in the scoreline. They just could not keep up with the Rodgers Counter and when Celtic let up on the pedal a bit Rangers were able to score their only goal.

On the coaching front Pedro Caixinha was outclassed by Brendan Rodgers by a long shot. Caixinha even admitted to it after the match was over, surly that will win over the hearts of Rangers supporters.

Psychologically, they were gone by then, on and off the pitch. Out-classed - and how Celtic Park basked in it.

A yawning gulf


Celtic had many chances to add to their goal tally. Foderingham saved several that could have easily gone in. He was lucky that it was only five goals there were able to go past him.

The ever present Scott Sinclair went off to a rousing ovation after a performance that might have solidified his status among the Celtic faithful. Kris Commons came in to replace him as he made his season debut after being out with a long term injury.

The next time these two will meet in the Premiership will be on New Years Eve at Ibrox.

What a game, well in mate.

Brendan Rodgers on 13 Sept 23:23
Brendan reflects on the 3-1 loss to Liecester City.

"This is your first loss as a manager since joining Celtic earlier this year, what do you think about it and what can you learn from it?

"Well yeah all good things do come to an end and this being our first loss kicks us back to reality somewhat. I think we will learn from our mistakes and improve on something the next time we face Leicester."

"Brendan could you give us your thoughts on tonight's performance and what do you think went wrong?"

"Sure, obviously we were underdogs from the start and the guys knew that.
We played the best that we could and fought hard, but it wasn't enough as Leicester had the better day. I am proud of their willingness to fight though. Leicester is a great club and is one to be respected so I just feel they had a better day and we played sloppy at times. We missed a ton of key passes and that was a factor of the bad game."

"Celtic had a ton of discipline problems today, can you please comment about what caused it."

"You really got to ask the players that because I really can't express my full opinion. They played their usual physical game and there was nothing that has me concerned."

"How big of a loss was it not having Mikael Lustig in the line up?"

"Yeah it was a big loss and I made an error with the team sheet as I didn't get a player from the development team in time as he hadn't pass the concussion protocol the morning of the match. I had to shift around the defense and a few player had to be moved in an unfamiliar position, I feel we might have done better if this wasn't an issue and Didn't make the mistake."

"Moussa Dembele had an amazing goal, can you comment on him?"

"Moussa did great as always. He makes tons of great plays and is one of the best talents out there. Without that goal we might be in fourth instead."

"Finally, your next match in Champions League is against Olympiacos who lost to Porto earlier today. Tell us how you are going to approach the match?

"To be honest this is going to be a winnable game, they (Olympiacos) are a pretty good side but I think we might just be a bit stronger. The thing is we need to learn from the mistakes of today and go out with a professional game plan. Thank you all and have a nice day!"