nov2006

Celtic FC striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink will miss next week's trip to FC København after being ruled out for up to three weeks with a hamstring injury.
The 28-year-old Netherlands forward has only played two UEFA Champions League fixtures following his summer transfer from PSV Eindhoven due to successive ankle knocks and his injury curse struck again before Sunday's 2-2 draw against Hibernian FC when he picked up the problem in training.

However, midfielder Thomas Gravesen is back after shaking off a thigh injury and looks set to travel to his homeland. Celtic have already qualified for the knockout stage but will want a win to confirm top spot in Group F.

McGeady ready for a thriller

IT IS a meeting between the Scottish Premierleague’s in-form sides and with both Celtic and Hibernian committed to an attacking gameplan, Aiden McGeady believes that the stage is set for a thriller at Easter Road this Sunday.

Meetings between the Glasgow and Edinburgh clubs are generally regarded as competitive and entertaining fixtures and this season’s earlier encounter, a dramatic 2-1 home victory for Celtic, was decided in the dying minutes by a goal from debut Bhoy Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

And with former Celtic midfielder John Collins having recently taken over as manager and continued his former Parkhead team-mate, Tony Mowbray’s passing philosophy, McGeady is ready for more of the same.

“The games against Hibs are always entertaining,” he commented, “and they have good side with some good young Scottish players coming through.

“This weekend I am sure that they will be on a high, as well as us, because they demolished Motherwell last week 6-1.

“I think they could mount a challenge (to finish among the top three) this season, if they become a bit more consistent.

“They have a good backbone to the team and the players who could go on and do that, they just need to get more consistency, that’s all.”

The continued rise in quality and standards at Easter Road has, in McGeady’s opinion, been mirrored by an overall improvement in the league as a whole.

As the midfielder explained, Celtic have been challenged in every fixture this season and they have only succeeded in building up their run of 11 consecutive SPL wins through sheer effort and ability.

“I think the standard is getting better,” McGeady commented, “you can clearly see that.

“Rangers aren’t as strong this season as we thought they would be and Hearts started the season pretty well, but they are better than the other teams.

“But teams like Falkirk come here with no fear and really give us a game, like they did in the cup a few weeks ago.

“It might be down to better coaches,” continued McGeady when pressed about the reasons for the rise in quality. “Teams come here and play the way they can play against us.

“I couldn’t put my finger on it, but the standard is definitely getting better. Falkirk came here and played good, passing football for example.

“Maybe we gave them too much time on the ball. But there are teams who are coming here and sometimes are playing the kind of football that we would like to be playing.”

Norwich manager Peter Grant has voiced his desire to lure Celtic striker Derek Riordan to Carrow Road - if the player becomes available.

The 23-year-old Scotland international has made just four appearances for the Hoops since moving from Hibernian in the summer.

Grant told the Daily Record: "I like him and I'd definitely be interested if Celtic said he was available.

"I haven't made official contact with Gordon Strachan but I really liked Derek at Hibs and came up to watch him a few times when Tony Mowbray was in charge at Easter Road."

He added: "The Hibs team shapes up the way I like Norwich to play and Riordan would fit in the way he did at Easter Road.

"I don't believe that Derek's become a bad player overnight because he can't get a game at Celtic Park. There are reasons to explain that away.

"If a manager has a team who are 15 points in front it might be that the player ahead of Derek in the queue for a game can't be left out.

"It doesn't mean Riordan's not worthy of a place in the side. It means the man who's already in the team's doing his job properly.

"Derek has great qualities and I'd have to be stupid not to be interested if Celtic wanted to enter into any kind of deal."

Celtic boss Gordon Strachan has admitted Alan Thompson looks set to leave the club in January.

Thompson had dropped well down the pecking order at Parkhead and has not played for Celtic this season.

The former Bolton and Aston Villa is keen to move on in search of regular first team action and Strachan is reluctantly ready to let him go.

"He needs football at this stage and, unfortunately, we cannot give him that because the players in his position are doing well.

"Whether he will move in January, I do not know. Alan will know better than me the people who want to take him.

"It would not suit me to lose him in the January transfer window - it is not a problem to have him at the club.

Scottish Youth League
Tuesday, November 7, 2006
Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld

RANGERS…1
(Furman 48)
CELTIC…2
(Sheridan 20, Millar 56)

CELTIC Under-19s stretched their lead over Rangers at the top of the
Youth League to six points as goals from Cillian Sheridan and Mark
Millar secured a deserved derby win.

Sheridan opened the scoring for the Hoops with a wonderful finish from a
tight angle, before Gers midfielder Dean Furman equalised minutes after
the break.

However, Millar responded eight minutes later with what proved to be the
winner for the young Celts, many of whom were experiencing their first
Glasgow derby.

Prior to the match, Willie McStay had commented that he would learn a
lot about his young side from games of this nature. After a mature
display, full of ability, discipline and composure, the Hoops coach will
have left Broadwood Stadium wholly satisfied with the performance.

After missing Saturday’s 2-0 win over Kilmarnock, McStay welcomed back
key man Millar for this first derby clash of the season and the
midfielder almost caught out Rangers goalkeeper Grant Adam with Celtic’s
first corner.

Adam then pulled off a brave save at Paul Cahillane’s feet after a deft
flick from striker Sheridan had created an opening.

Celtic had the bulk of the pressure in the opening stages but Rangers
showed that they could pose a threat when Rory Loy tested Paul Skinner
from 20 yards. However, the Hoops goalkeeper dealt comfortably with the
shot.

While chances were scarce, Celtic continued to press their opponents in
every area of the pitch and got their reward in the 20th minute.

Sean Anderson broke out of defence and found Sheridan on the left-hand
side of the box. The 17-year-old, faced by Ross Perry, still had work to
do but he jinked to go inside before cutting back and slamming a
stunning left-foot drive into the top corner.

It was the youngster’s 11th goal of the season and would no doubt have
impressed the watching Gordon Strachan. Full of confidence, Sheridan
tried his luck again minutes later, but this time Perry got a block on
the shot.

Jason Marr then saw a downwards header gathered by Adam, before the
Rangers goalkeeper again denied Sheridan – this time from a tight angle.
At the opposite end, Skinner saved easily from Andrew Shinnie’s
close-range header.

Celtic suffered the worst possible start to the second period when
Rangers grabbed the equaliser in 48 minutes. Steven Lennon’s driven
cross evaded the Hoops defence and Furman lashed his left-foot effort
past the helpless Skinner.

It was a blow for McStay’s side, who had worked so hard for their lead,
but the response was immediate as they surged 2-1 ahead.

Captain Paul Caddis fed Sheridan, who turned past marker Perry. The
Rangers defender managed to get a foot to the ball, but could only
divert it into the path of Millar, whose half-volley flew past the
despairing dive of Adam.

The Hoops were now buzzing and Millar and Cahillane combined to give
Sheridan an opening. However, Adam stood up well to his fierce drive.

Rangers, though, were still looking threatening and Skinner had to be at
his best to deny substitute Stephen Stirling after good approach play on
the left flank.

With the Broadwood pitch being among the biggest in Scotland, the game
understandably stretched as the second half wore on. However, Celtic’s
ability to retain possession was impressive and one spell of passing
ended with Sheridan again testing Adam.

In defence for the Hoops, Caddis once again demonstrated his potential
at right-back, but he was ably assisted by Sean Anderson, Daniel
Lafferty and the outstanding Marr, whose reading of the game was superb.

Carey had a glorious chance to finish the game off for Celtic in the
83rd minute when he latched on to Lowing’s attempted back-pass. However,
with Adam rushing out, the forward found the side-netting and Celtic had
to settle for a 2-1 win.

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Jason Marr

RANGERS (4-4-2) Adam; Lowing, Gallagher (Little 87), Perry, Kinniburgh;
Furman (Woods 78), Emslie, Shinnie, Donald Stirling 53); Loy, Lennon
Subs: Weir, McLachlan, Woods, Van den Broeck

CELTIC (4-4-2) Skinner; Caddis, Marr, Anderson, Lafferty; Carey,
Hepburn, Millar, Cahillane; Sheridan, Cawley (Connell 75)
Subs: Fairley, McEwan, Kiely, Graham, Ross, Foley

Sheridan double puts Celts top

Scottish Youth League
Saturday, November 4, 2006
Kilwinning Sports Club

KILMARNOCK…0
CELTIC…2
(Sheridan 22, 85)

CILLIAN SHERIDAN continued his prolific scoring run with a double as Celtic Under-19s kept their title challenge on track by picking up three vital points.

The Irish striker, who scored twice on his reserve debut against Motherwell last week, took his Under-19 tally to 10 goals in just eight games since signing for the club in July.

With title rivals Rangers losing 3-2 to Motherwell on Saturday, the win allowed the Celts to move to the top of the youth league table ahead of today's derby clash at Broadwood Stadium.

Celtic, without the injured Mark Millar, entered this game on a high following last week’s 3-0 win over Motherwell. However, Kilmarnock were intent on taking something from the match and started the game with an attacking 4-3-3 formation.

Indeed, the home side made a bright start but the Hoops had a good penalty claim turned down after five minutes.

Sheridan fired a shot towards goal from six yards and Killie’s Jamie Donnelly appeared to handle the ball. However, the referee turned down Celtic’s appeals.

Despite chances being few and far between, Willie McStay’s side were working hard and were rewarded with the opener in 22 minutes.

Under pressure from the Celtic attack, Killie right-back Sean McGhee was forced to pass the ball back to goalkeeper Peter Logan. However, with Sheridan closing in, the No.1 struck his clearance off the Irish teenager and into the back of the net.

It was perhaps a fortuitous way to open the scoring but the Hoops probably deserved their lead and almost added a second minutes before the break, when Sheridan again had the ball in the net. This time, however, he was deemed offside.

As the second period progressed, the game started to stretch and Celtic were looking sharper in an attacking sense. Sheridan was proving a menace to the Killie rearguard and his 20-yard drive produced a fine save from Logan.

Paul Cahillane also came close but the home side, to their credit, refused to buckle and Celtic were finding it hard to kill the game off.

Kilmarnock’s Daniel McKay was also causing Celtic problems at the other end in an impressive individual display. However, the Hoops finally grabbed the clincher with five minutes remaining.

Skipper Paul Caddis made great progress on the right flank and from his cross, Sheridan controlled the ball with his right foot and spun before slamming a perfect left-foot drive past the helpless Logan to seal the win.

Coach McStay was delighted to see his side move to the top of the league table but insists there is still a lot of work to be done with his starlets, including the in-form Sheridan.

He said: “It was a hard-fought game on Saturday, a bit stop-start, but you have to give Kilmarnock credit for their work-rate and effort.

“We’ve come a long way and we’re improving but there is still a long way to go for this side. This is a young side for Under-19 level and they have a lot of developing to do – but the signs are encouraging.

“We’re pleased with Cillian and his progress is steady, but we will be working hard to make him better. He has the knack of scoring goals but we’re looking to develop his all-round game, like we are with all the boys.”

KILMARNOCK (4-3-3) Logan; McGhee, Nolan, Donnelly, Wright; McInnes, Anson, Noble; Trialist, McKay, Flannigan
Subs: McPherson, Brown, Kelly, Forrester
CELTIC (4-4-2) Skinner; Caddis, Marr, Anderson, Lafferty; Connell (Graham 85), Hepburn, Carey, Cahillane; Sheridan (Kiely 85), Cawley
Subs: Jones, McEwan, Foley, Tidser, Nolan

Celtic Under-19s face Rangers this afternoon, Tuesday, November 7 at Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld (kick-off: 2pm)

Vennegoor of Hesselink out