I'm probably a bit sad but watched the game three times in its entirety, and my main points would cover a few overall aspects.
In the main it was a tale of two halves where we were excellent in the first half with dynamic displays from most of the players, just a couple of unnecessary overcooking during play when it would be better to have a go. I think it would have led to at least another goal.
Shane had a slip when it was better to stand his ground and block rather than tackle, leading to the pen....NEVER a pen....anyway.
However a good display from Bain saw no harm done.
Referee was poor especially regarding the shocking 27th min tackle on Ajeti, dismissed by the negligent referee..... and surprisingly Sutton's commentary. Almost a smashed left foot and metatarsals!
Watch it again if you can/dare it was a potential season ender. Should have been yellow card....or not surprising red.
Ajer ....off injured ..hopefully minor...looks like potential groin strain.
Ncham was decent this half with two stray passes.
Laxalt/Mo/ McGregor each 10/10.... inseparable
Lennon ..will be very pleased 9/10
Overall first half ...8.5/10.
Second half....
Lille came on to a better game with excellent subs and had us ragged for most of the half although we still had a few chances where we cut them open and maybe did better if we had a go rather than walking it in......maybe get a deflection or pen ourselves.
For me, by 55th minute we looked like we were in trouble and a goal was coming....very soon.
Ntcham slack with at least 4 passes in a 15 minute spell... I always liked the guy but he needed replaced.
...full of running, but passing was getting worse as the game went on.
It was obvious before an hour was played, subs were urgent even at 2 nil, the defence were wrong footed several times and without Laxalt......it would have been worse.
Lennon refused to freshen legs early enough and when he did it was too late.... 2-2.....
Things improved slightly...when Ncham came off with Welsh and Bitton putting in solid displays...levelling up the defensive balance.
Can't help thinking Griffiths would have revelled in the chances we had, especially the first half and a likely scorer at some point.
Soro showed a little bit of promise and must get more playing time.
2-2 it stayed ....
and for me Laxalt was MOTM.......just because without him all of Mo's great work would have been undone ....and a defeat was staring down at us.
Calum McGregor was a fraction behind him.........and put in the best performance of the rest out of our defence....
Lennon would have taken that result before we travelled...as would I...but am convinced had he made changes earlier we would have come home with all 3 points.
Lenny had a poorer half this time just because of his indecision to sub earlier and an unsure mix-up... clearly heard next to the camera mic when Oli was replaced.
It will convince others who doubt him and his many late substitutions in previous games, but....... by his own mouth yesterday he confirmed to them of his own frailties and un- sureity!
Top two players were;
Laxalt...9/10
Mcgregor...8.9/10
Duffy...6/10
Ntcham... 5.5/10
Lennon.....6/10
Celtic 7.5/10
Russian Referee...... 2.5/10....very poor performance.
...its only the way I see it.....after 3 viewings...
Overall.....I'm happy..playing against a very good team and away from home .... but wonder what could have been.
BUT and there always is one these days, we keep giving away set pieces , free kicks or corners and that's what teams play for against us I believe. Any of the aforementioned means were automatically in trouble as we cannot defend high balls into the box or fast and low balls into the box head height or lower that's a fact every Scottish side will try to exploit. Defending set or moving plays, we switch off, our best players often just for that second they switch off and we pay for that almost every game through penalties, free headers or bain who really impressed being exposed at the far post where he shouldn't be. Its a mentality thing right now I think another time we'd have seen the last 2 games out to victory. A draw is probably a fair score if painful to admit and just falling short but no-one can deny their quality in the 2nd 45. However I am well aware that as lenny said pre match they are a good team but we are a good team too. And the better side that we play the better that we play it brings the best out in us and its this experience European football is a necessity for us. To inspire us to stay and go beyond that level. Had frimpong passed rather than dillied I'm sure we'd have scored a 3rd as they could also have scored 3 . It was a super game of football that was great to watch. Now it's back to that no small matter of a 4th consecutive treble. Something I desperately want and the club and all connected to it will get such a lift from that. I read the finals in December?.perhaps someone might correct me on that. Lastly , they can go 9pts clear but weve been that far or further behind before and that can soon be returned to 3pts. No one gave us a hope tonight but we showed the world again write Glasgow Celtic off at your peril. HH (thanks for reading my latest novel)
