It seems remarkable that a season of so much emotion and excitement is finally over. It seems even more astounding that we have ultimately finished up empty handed after promising so much.

 

Moreover, it’s absolutely mind blowing that such a poor side is going to walk away with a treble, but that’s another story.

 

We all knew it was asking a bit too much yesterday, yet it was impossible to stop that sneaking hope in the back of your mind telling you we just might do it. In the end it wasn’t to be as Dunfermline , I’m assured, put 101% effort into their game but just needed that wee bit of luck. I’m told Calderwood, Nichol, Nicholson, Wilson etc were absolutely devastated at the result as they sipped on their champagne.

 

Let’s be honest though, it wasn’t lost yesterday. We have no-one to blame but ourselves. You’re always going to drop the odd point at some stage of the season but we’ve had too many sloppy performances away from home and in the end they’ve cost us dear.

 

Personally speaking, I feel the 3-3 Old Firm game has been the decisive factor. We pummelled them that day and should have won by five or six. 

 

Instead we gifted them three goals and a point when a heavy defeat could have turned them on McLeish’s back and blew them right out of the water.

 

Yet despite yesterday’s efforts ultimately being in vain the effort and courage shown by the players was fantastic considering their midweek exploits. 

 

To win at Kilmarnock by four goals at any stage of the season is a great achievement and we couldn’t have asked for any more from most of the team.

 

Losing Maloney so early was a blow but we continued to press forward and the early goal we sought came after 16 minutes. Thompson swung in a trademark inch perfect cross and Sutton swooped low to head past Marshall .

 

We spurned a number of genuine opportunities to add to the lead but it was essential to get at least one more before the interval. It came with only two minutes of the first half remaining and again Sutton was the scorer. 

 

Thompson’s cross again found him in the box and he bundled the ball over the line from close range.

 

We came out after the break knowing we really needed a few more and continued to stream forward. We were given the perfect opportunity to add to the tally when Dillon hauled down Sutton in the box and again the responsibility fell to Thompson. 

 

He coolly blasted home and sent us top and we all started to believe we could maybe just do it.

 

One more goal could have opened the floodgates but Larsson and Lambert both came close yet couldn’t quite find the killer touch.

 

With 10 minutes remaining we were given another lifeline when Marshall felled Thompson in the box. On this occasion, however, he blasted high over the bar and we all realised then it just wasn’t meant to be.

 

Petrov scored minutes later with a cool finish but it was practically decided by this stage. Broto pulled off another wonder save in the dying moments which should guarantee him a new contract and cement him as our number keeper for the start of next season.

 

The final whistle came and again we were hurt but proud, as had been the case in the searing heat on Wednesday night.

 

One more conspiracy theory, however, before the team gets the credit they deserve. Can anyone enlighten me why a team with nothing to play for in an end of season match felt the need to kick Celtic off the park? 

 

Also, can someone explain the logic in a team three or four goals down playing with ten men behind the ball?

 

Forget all about them and their bigoted warped fans, however, because all we should feel is pity. I’m sure there’s some explanation for cheering in delight when your team is four down but I haven’t quite found it yet.

 

The season as a whole, however, has been one of the most thrilling rides we have ever experienced. Changes will have to be made and some players will have to be moved on or fazed out of the first team. 

 

The board must also be their to give Martin the funds he has generated for the club to allow him to move us forward.

 

Yet although changes will be made, this group of players should be lauded and thanked for where they have taken us this season. 

 

This European run has provided some unbelievable trips and memories which will probably never be surpassed while in the end we only lost out on the title by one goal.

 

They might celebrate just now but they also know it could be their last for a while. With Numan, Amoruso etc being replaced by the likes of Malcom and Thompson their future looks a little bleak so don’t be too disheartened.

 

It will all just make that bit sweeter when the title comes home next year.

 

KILMARNOCK : Marshall, Fowler, Dindeleux, McLaughlin, Dillon, Locke (McDonald 45), Mahood, Fulton (Hay 81), Canero, Boyd (Di Giacomo 60), McSwegan.

Subs Not Used: Stewart, Murray.

BOOKED: Marshall, Mahood, McSwegan, McLaughlin.

 

CELTIC: Broto, Mjallby, Balde, Varga, Agathe (Smith 74), Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Maloney (Lambert 13), Larsson, Sutton.

Subs Not Used: Douglas, McNamara, Crainey.

BOOKED: Sutton, Thompson, Broto, Lennon, Mjallby.

GOALS: Sutton (16, 43), Thompson (54 pen), Petrov (83).

 

ATTENDANCE: 16,722

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Alan Thompson

REFEREE: Kenny Clark

Having spent the last few days reflecting on what happened in the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday night, I’m still finding it impossible to convert the exact route the emotional roller coaster took us on into words.

 

I’ve read just about every report and post match reaction I could find yet none of them can successfully describe what happened to us in the scorching Andalucian heat. 

 

Only those of us with Celtic truly in our hearts can possibly understand the anguish and mixture of emotions we were forced to endure.

 

Never before have I experienced so many contrasting and conflicting feelings in such a short space of time.

 

There was immense excitement when we walked in and saw the sea of green and white which engulfed much of the stadium, my first glimpse around the stands is a memory which will live with me forever.

 

Then there were the butterflies doing back flips in our stomachs as the teams emerged from the tunnel and the huddle sent an almighty roar round three quarters of the ground.

 

The game began with Porto dominant as we struggled to settle and, to be honest, I was starting to fear the worst. 

 

They showed they were capable of some breathtaking stuff going forward and even in the early stages their pace and movement up front was causing serious problems.

 

Valgaeren, not for the first time in Europe , was struggling badly with their flowing attacks and even Balde had a real aerial tussle on his hands with the impressive Capucho.

 

Although the first half saw us on the back foot for sustained periods, on the whole we did well to keep our shape and limited the occasions when they were allowed in behind our defence. 

 

When they did find a way through Douglas was looking steady and was coping well with anything that was coming at him.

 

We did manage to create a few half chances with Agathe finding some space and Larsson looking lively but, despite his theatrics whenever the ball came near him, Baia was never seriously troubled.

 

Then despair struck on the stroke of half time, just when we were all starting to relax a little. Alenichev was given the freedom of the box yet Douglas did well to block. The rebound, however, fell to Derlei who blasted the ball into the back of the net.

 

The half time whistle followed moments later and the pressure was now on Martin to get the players lifted again and back out pushing for an equaliser. Whatever he said was, as per usual, inspirational and within minutes of the restart we were back in the game.

 

Despite the interruption of the half time streaker we came out all guns blazing and within two minutes Agathe had burst down the right to send a magnificent cross deep into the box for Larsson. 

 

His leap and header were both perfectly timed and he sent the ball beyond Baia and into the far corner of the net. 80,000 bhoys and ghirls in Seville , along with millions more worldwide went crazy as the dream was revived.

 

This joy, however, was short-lived when they struck back only seven minutes later. Deco carved the defence open, allowing Alenichev to fire past Douglas .

 

Despair turned to delight again only three minutes later and inevitably it was the King of Kings who was dragging us back in to the game. Thompson’s corner found him unmarked in the box and he powered another fine header home for the equaliser.

 

The remainder of the second half was fairly even while the heat seemed to be taking it’s toll as both sides struggled to gain any serious momentum going forward.

 

The final whistle came and extra time looked like being an ordeal as a number of our players were already dead on their feet.

 

We were still competing well, however, until we received a fatal blow after 95 minutes. A mistimed lunge from Balde brought his second yellow and he was given his marching orders, almost completely removing any chance we had of pressing for a winner. 

 

Sutton, who was struggling seriously, was dropped deeper and Larsson was left alone in attack as we seemed to be hanging on.

 

The introduction of Maloney galvanised the attack and he was causing a number of problems for their tiring defenders but he couldn’t quite find the breakthrough or the break of the ball we needed in front of goal.

 

Then with only five minutes remaining and penalties looking inevitable the killer blow was struck.

 

Douglas fumbled Ferreira’s strike into the path of Derlei who composed himself before blasting the vital goal into the back of the net.

 

The final whistle followed shortly after and many of the players slumped to the ground in a feeling of utter dejection that could be matched in the stands or in front of TV screens throughout the world.

 

At this stage, personally speaking, the emotion was overwhelming as I couldn’t decide what I thought.

 

I was hurt and disappointed to the extreme at coming so close yet missing out on glory. I was in Seville for a good time of course, but the most important thing was winning and no amount of Cruzcampo or singing and dancing could ever replace that.

 

Then there was the anger at the antics of the Porto players. They were cheats, pure and simple. Quite why they felt the need to be when many of them had such undeniable ability is a mystery but they deserve no congratulations from us. 

 

The cheek of them trying to applaud our supporters was only surpassed by their over acting and over celebrating.

 

Yet despite the animosity towards their antics, one man could have stopped it all and changed the whole complexion of the game. 

 

If Lubos Michel is any sort of honourable or decent man he will have to live with that performance for the rest of his life.

 

When every person throughout the world watching that game could see the cheating of the Portuguese he chose to ignore it. 

 

I say chose because even Hugh Dallas couldn’t have let them away with that and Michel is either utterly incompetent or a cheat. Either way he should never referee again.

 

There was also the feeling of disappointment that some of the players had let themselves down as well as the team. Douglas should have held the shot for the final goal and Valgaeren was fortunate he had to go off injured because he was having a nightmare.

 

Petrov was non existent but I’ve said enough about him before and don’t want to become guilty of constantly moaning about any individual. 

 

Sutton didn’t look anywhere near fit and never managed to properly impose himself on the game.

 

Yet despite that criticism there was also great pride and gratitude for every single one of the players. 

 

The have been absolutely immense in getting us to the final and could have become immortal if maybe luck had favoured them slightly more.

 

There should also be considerable gratitude for the fact that we have all had the joy of seeing Henrik Larsson in a Celtic jersey. This performance firmly cemented him as an absolute legend and it’s a disgrace that he finished on the losing side after such a wonderful display.

 

So while we all have so many memories of a wonderful European journey through every round and a trip of a lifetime to Seville , now is the time to unite as one and stand up together. 

 

We do not deserve to finish this season trophy less and there is absolutely no question whatsoever that we are the best team in Scotland .

 

It will require a superhuman effort and a lot of luck but there is no point in writing the post mortems on the season when a league is there for the taking. I urge everyone going to Rugby Park tomorrow to forget them completely. 

 

Leave your radios at home and concentrate on pushing Celtic over the line. We are more than capable of destroying them tomorrow and if we are all behind the team then we just might do it.

 

CELTIC: Douglas, Balde, Mjallby, Valgaeren (Laursen 64), Agathe, Lennon, Lambert (McNamara 76), Petrov (Maloney 104), Thompson, Sutton, Larsson.

Subs Not Used: Hedman, Sylla, Fernandez, Smith.

BOOKED: Valgaeren, Lennon, Balde, Petrov.

SENT OFF: Balde (95).

GOALS: Larsson (47, 57).

 

PORTO : Vitor Baia, Ferreira, Nuno Valente, Jorge Costa (Pedro Emanuel 71), Ricardo Carvalho, Costinha (Ricardo Costa 9), Alenichev, Maniche, Deco, Capucho (Marco Ferreira 98), Derlei.

Subs Not Used: Nuno, Cesar Peixoto, Clayton, Tiago

BOOKED: Nuno Valente, Derlei, Maniche, Marco Ferreira.

SENT OFF: Nuno Valente (120).

GOALS: Derlei (45), Alenichev (54), Derlei (115).

 

ATTENDANCE: 52,972

WEBSITE MAN OF THE MATCH: Henrik Larsson.

REFEREE: Lubos Michel ( Slovakia ).

 

After a nervy win over Hearts at the weekend, the last home game of the season had to bring a fair number of goals to give us any real chance of winning the league. 

 

With goal difference almost inevitably set to be the decisive factor, we really need to pile pressure on them and ideally go into the last game of the season ahead by a goal or two.

 

Scoring six was the perfect answer but two sloppy defensive moments could cost us dear when the prizes are being handed out. 

 

Without the suspended Sutton and injured Hartson, the responsibility of assisting Henrik again fell on the young shoulders of Shaun Maloney and yet again he was more than up to the task.

 

While personally being a big fan of both Sutton and Hartson, no-one can deny the freshness and mobility Maloney brings to the attack whenever he plays. 

 

His movement unsettles any defence and he also shows remarkable composure for someone so young.

 

When we play with a big guy up front we automatically revert to long ball mode and fire balls on to Sutton or Hartson’s head for 90 minutes. 

 

We know that’s not going to work with Maloney and Larsson up front so we suddenly decide to play some football.

 

Against Dundee we played some of our best attacking football of the season and the fact is if we had Sutton or Hartson up front the game would more than likely have turned in to an aerial battle between Wilkie and our attack.

 

In the three recent games when Larsson and Maloney have featured in attack we have scored 14 goals. You have to wonder, if we’d been playing football like that for the whole season, would we have had our title party weeks ago?

 

Nevertheless, this score has given us a slim chance and the match was a joy to watch from start to finish. After a few half chances for both sides we took the lead after 14 minutes after some good work from Larsson. He raced on to Thompson’s through ball before rounding Speroni and blasting high in to the net.

 

An early goal looked like the perfect base to build a considerable lead but Dundee shocked the whole stadium by pulling level 12 minutes later. Novo embarrassed Valgaeren on the touchline before squaring to Barry Smith who fired through Mjallby’s legs and past Broto.

 

The reply was immediate and our lead was restored only a minute later when Thompson’s stooped to head past Speroni from Mjallby’s cross.

 

The Englishman, who was sensational from start to finish, grabbed another three minutes later when he met Agathe’s cross to fire home with his right foot.

 

We continued to create chances and Petrov and Larsson both had chances which could have given us a more handsome lead at the interval.

 

We continued to dominate after the restart and extended the lead after 52 minutes. Maloney dispossessed Lee ‘Krusty the clown’ Wilkie before calmly slotting past the keeper.

 

The