On another fantastic European night at electric Celtic Park, the passion and steel from Martin O’Neill men was there in buckets once again. After a torrid first half against an excellent Villarreal side, the hoops emerged in the second half like a team possessed – again convincing the footballing world of our slogan….WE SHALL NEVER BE DEFEATED!

After the unbelievable ecstasy enjoyed after Barcelona, this match was always going to be somewhat of an anticlimax. No matter what Martin and the players tried to convey to the fans through the media, the general opinion walking up to the ground before kick-off was 2 or 3 nil, nothing much to trouble us. As an eternal optimist I found myself agreeing but deep down I knew this team had a lot more depth to their play than to just rely on the big name fancy dans of Riqelme and Anderson.

And so it came to pass. Villarreal set their stall out perfectly in the first half- their tactics were superb. Stick tight to the forwards and don’t allow them to turn. Close the midfield down and push them back. Don’t allow space in behind the full backs and deliver fast one touch counter-attacking football when possession was regained. In the second half though, they never accounted for the grit, determination and downright desire that MON instils in every single one his players.

It was another great nights craic for the BSCSC team. Four made the early start from Belfast on Thursday morning – irregular travel arrangements denying a few more. For myself, it began in true Scottish tradition! On the bus from Glenrothes got chatting to a fellow tim across the aisle who duly conjured a bottle of tonic wine from the ‘secret’ inside jacket pocket. Let it be known here, it was not your run of the mill Buckfast vintage, but a cheaper nastier version from ‘Santogen’ of all people. (Don’t they make children’s vitamins!!!) Suffice to say I didn’t let him suffer the whole bottle on is own!

From the bus, I made it up to the ever-reliable Haughians where Julio Iglaias was performing his usual stunning melodies. The lads had gathered the briefs and all that was left to do was to tackle the red stripe and warm the vocal chords for later. Apparently the pipe band have been ‘released from their contract’ for in-fighting and their impromptu drum solo’s will be sorely missed!

Once in our seats the atmosphere was again breathtaking, and ‘You’ll never walk alone’ never fails to make you feel like your floating above your seat with a small tear in your eye. Superb. The match kicked off to a volley of Hail Hail and kept going till the 9^th minute when 7ft 7 Bobo Bale was out jumped by 5ft 7 Josico for the crucial away goal. This was by no means a fluke as the lemon yellows annulled our attacks with ease and swift counters involving Riquelme each time could have made the scoreline a lot worse. Petrov had our best chances of the half, one a header placed over the bar and the second finely tipped round the post form the impressive Reina in goal. Here saw the pattern beginning from the man in black as he failed to see the keepers touch and signalled a goal kick much to the fury of the 60,000 and Martin wasn’t to pleased either! So a shaky first half drew to a close with murmurs through the stands of ‘these boys can play a bit you know’. Uncertainty crept in but the belief never faltered.

The beginning of the second half nearly saw us dead and buried. Riquelme again the instigator, fed Anderson who bore down on goal only denied by the feet of prodigal goalie with a splendid save. Up the Celtic end next and it all kicked off. The indefensible Greek referee disallowed a goal from Henrik Larsson for handball after he charged down Reina attempted clearance. Henrik wheeled away in his trademark fashion to celebrate only to be denied inexplicably. I have since watched the replay and maintain the goal should have stood. The FIFA directive to referee’s on the subject is ‘A freekick shall be awarded if the player handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)’ How anyone could mean to deliberately hand the ball into the net in that situation is well beyond me!

Its not sour grapes as we are far from knocked out – but the referee’s have to adhere to the rules if they ever want the players to.

This enraged One Joe Sweeney so much that their were cries of Judas, ya Bstart Judas, its your night Judas – 2004 years ago!! I believe there is also an official letter of complaint to follow from the pen of the Catholic Terrorist!

A short time later, the equaliser came that the second half performance merited. A cross from the tireless Agathe found Larsson just out jumping Pearson and the goalie to glance into the net. 1-1 Fantastico!!!!

The players put everything into the search for the winner but Villereal defended stoutly, not least Reina blocking and catching every high ball. Liam Miller came on with ten minutes left and looked really lively, and with Thompson’s rash challenge putting him out of contention for next weeks return, surely Liam is due a starting berth?

The players left the pitch to choruses of WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED and never we shall.

MOM Henrik Larsson