Match Day 2

Celtic 5, St Johnstone 2 (by Johnny Steen)
Celtic managed a comfortable 5-2 victory over St Johnstone and scored some finely worked goals into the bargain. This effectively was Tony Mowbray’s first win at Celtic Park after losing to Dinamo Moscow and Arsenal. Aiden McGeady’s performance was so impressive that Saints boss, Derek McInnes, said afterwards that he ‘wished [McGeady] were Scottish’. In fact, Celtic only have three Scots in the side; Caldwell, Brown and Maloney. It was Maloney who was the real tormentor of Saints carving open their defence down the left hand side before crossing for Fortuné to score from 12 yards. Then an excellent move down the right involving Hinkel and McGeady culminated in a fine cross for Maloney to head home from close range. Just as things looked straightforward for Celtic, Gary Caldwell misjudged a headed backpass to Boruc. Collin Samuel latched on to the ball, bore in on goal and then stroked a great right foot drive low past Boruc. Caldwell has been exposed quite a few times in recent weeks (Norway in Oslo and Arsenal last week) and this third error met with groans from the Celtic crowd. Nonetheless, Samuel still had a lot to do to score and on many other occasions any centre half in the country might just have got away with the error.
Celtic had the match won early in the second half with two goals in a minute. First, Maloney with a neat run and shot and then Fortuné finished a McGeady move. The fifth goal was largely as a result of poor awareness by Saints. Danny Fox was allowed to collect a corner on the edge of the box and was given all the time in the world to cross over for McDonald to score. There was still time for one more sublime piece of football and it came from St Johnstone’s ex-Chelsea player Jody Morris. He danced through a couple of Celtic defenders in the box before stretching a leg out to toe poke past Boruc.

Hearts 1, Rangers 2 (by Mick Statto)
We like our numbers here at OFF and must thank Kevin Thomson for providing an interesting statistic. Last week he entered the fray with 13 minutes of the match against Falkirk to go. This week, he left the match with 13 minutes gone! A lunging tackle by Thomson on Hearts’ Ian Black was met with a straight red card from referee Craig Thomson. The game was played at a hectic pace as Hearts tried to set aside their European disappointment against the ten men of Rangers. It was Hearts who took the lead in the first half with what was an uncharacteristic blunder by Rangers’ goalkeeper, McGregor. The Austrian, Witteveen, shot low and hard from about 12 yards. McGregor had the shot covered and got both hands to it but did not secure the ball which squirmed over the line as he tried in vain to scramble back.
Walter Smith took Fleck off at half time and replaced him with Steven Smith. Smith provides great crosses from set pieces and it was one of his free kicks that brought Rangers level. The free kick was whipped in to the penalty spot area of the goalmouth at tremendous pace and Lee McCulloch glanced the ball past Blanogh in the Hearts goal. Rangers sensed that they could win the game and Smith made yet another timely substitution. On 88 minutes and 41 seconds Kris Boyd entered the field. On 89 minutes and 41 seconds Kris Boyd had blasted a penalty into the right hand corner of the net to secure the three points. It was also Boyd's first goal at Tynecastle as a Rangers' player. It is not as simple as that though. The penalty award was dubious in that many thought Bouzid’s infringement of Naismith was just outside the box. However, television on this occasion was inconclusive. This was a fine victory for Rangers and one many of their fans may not have foreseen at half time. SPL table