Celtic are through to the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup after a comfortable 4-0 win over Raith Rovers.
A first-half screamer from Liam Scales, as well as second-half goals from Giorgos Giakoumakis, Daizen Maeda and Nir Bitton ensured the Bhoys sailed through.
However, there was a bit of discontent about some of the football Ange Postecoglou’s much-rotated team played, especially before the interval. It was all a bit sloppy at times.
Nonetheless, it was job done with no damage to Celtic’s momentum. The manager has managed to rest key players and see his side through another round in another competition.
What were three of the big talking points coming out of the match?
Ange’s first half anger
Postecoglou was not a happy man on the touchline in that first half. In fact, he could be seen – and heard- barking instructions and feedback to his players in a very forthright way.
In one sequence of play which saw the Celtic defence tepidly pass the ball between themselves and back to Joe Hart, he was furious and made it quite clear to everyone at Celtic Park and watching on television.
“Yeah, he gets angry. He gets angry when you don’t follow the principles,” his former captain Matt Smith told 67 Hail Hail earlier this week.
Postecoglou wants his defence and team in general to play with a forward-thinking mindset and bravery. That wasn’t what we witnessed before half-time, despite Liam Scales’ brilliant goal.
These are the demands the manager sets regardless of whether the team holds a lead or not. They must always follow the Postecoglou way.
The Jota effect
Undeniably, Jota’s substitution into the game in the 55th minute changed the game. Celtic were more incisive and urgent, really testing the Raith Rovers defence.
It was the winger’s breakaway from a sublime Reo Hatate pass that allow Giorgos Giakoumakis to score the second killer goal that effectively ended the contest.
After his injury, he’s definitely now approaching his peak ability again and I can’t wait to see him test himself against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night.
He’ll have the stage to put on quite a show and the smart money will be on him receiving rave reviews again.
What a thrill it would be to sign him up on a permanent basis. He’s an entertainer but most importantly he’s effective.
Mikey Johnston’s upsetting injury
Today looked like a big chance for Mikey Johnston to push himself back into Ange Postecoglou’s plans on an ongoing basis but, unfortunately, he picked up another injury.
It looked like an ankle problem that sent him up the tunnel in the second half and it wasn’t nice to see him upset on the touchline – knowing what it means.
The winger just can’t seem to make a run of it in the Celtic team. I say that with no judgement. I actually think there’s a lot of unnecessary anger surrounding the homegrown talent.
Yes, he may not be the answer for Celtic but he’s not doing any of this out of badness and hopefully the club can support him through another disappointing day for him.
In other news, “I’ve kept in contact with him”; What Rodgers told Ange during Celtic Park visit.
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