Deja vu at Ibrox for Celtic, as the home fans disgrace themselves in front of the world and absent American eyes…

I walked away from yesterday’s Glasgow Derby feeling somewhat dejected that all Celtic managed was a point.

I suppose I wouldn’t have felt so bad if Daizen Maeda hadn’t done what he did at the end.

Up to that point, I was content to take the point.

As in reality, it was all we deserved from a damp squib of game.

I turned to my mate Liam at half-time in our CSC , and said at that time that the best I could see us getting out of the contest was a draw.

And so it transpired.

But it could have been all three points at the death.

Would we have deserved it?

On the balance of play, I’d be inclined to say no.

A draw seemed a fair result for Celtic, given the circumstances.

But when Daizen Maeda raced clear in the dying seconds of injury time, I couldn’t believe how spectacularly he messed up a gilt edged chance.

Johnny Kenny saw his Paul Byrne moment about to be handed to him on a plate, all Daizen Maeda had to do was square the ball to him.

Having banged in 33 goals already this season, Maeda felt he had it in his locker to pull it off himself.

However, based on the way he played yesterday, which wasn’t his greatest derby performance, the end result was inevitable.

Liam Kelly had been sticking out feet and hands every which way yesterday, and he did so again when it counted most.

Johnny Kenny was in disbelief at Maeda’s decision making.

As was I.

But I can’t flaw Maeda overall, he’s had an amazing season for Celtic, and very much deserved his Player of the year award yesterday evening.

So I won’t be holding it against him.

I’m sure Johnny Kenny won’t either.

Will he?

The fact that Brendan Rodgers was snubbed for the Manager of the year award is a flat out disgrace, but that’s a story that’s been well covered by James over on The Celtic Blog.

It’ll be something we discuss on the Trinity Tims Podcast this evening as well.

As for the game itself overall?

It started with a distinct feeling of Deja vu.

Just the same as the last three games against them.

Liam Scales was his usual bomb scare self in the first ten minutes or so.

He was also bullied far too easily off the ball for the Ibrox side’s opening goal.

I could go into the fact that Brendan Rodgers bafflingly approached the game in the same fashion he has in the last three.

But I’m not going to.

I’m not going to, because in the broader scheme of things, this game was meaningless.

Our side was wracked with injuries, finishing the game with Johnny Kenny up front pretty much sums that up.

The losses of Jota, Kuhn and Alistair Johnston for Celtic had a huge impact.

All three are game changers.

Jota, with his trickery, Kuhn and Johnston with their excellent link up play on the right side.

That was sorely missed yesterday.

While Anthony “Brickie” Ralston worked hard throughout the tie, James Forrest seemed incapable of making any meaningful decisions throughout his time on the pitch.

He didn’t know when to release the ball, he didn’t seem to know when to make a run, and he consistently ran into the Ibrox defence.

I could say that Rodgers’ persistence in lining up the same way over and over again against the Ibrox side is worrying.

But could he really have done much differently yesterday considering how hamstrung he was with injuries?

Would there have been any real point in altering things drastically?

So yes, while the opening exchanges in the game seemed like Deja vu, as it wore on, this game panned out pretty much as I expected it would, given we had little available to us on the bench to make any real impact.

Adam Idah, did however, show his critics once again that he is a big game player.

And he consistently scores goals when it matters.

There is no doubting now that he will probably finish the season with 20 goals or more.

In the end, we got pretty much what we deserved from the game.

We have more important things to focus on this month.

Like a Scottish Cup final and the final piece in the treble.

I have no doubt that Brendan Rodgers is aiming to have as many players fit for the final as he can.

So it’s clear to see he had half an eye on that yesterday.

As for Ibrox being it’s usual cesspit of hatred?

Well, they went all out to impress upon their prospective owners what they’re going to have to contend with if they securing a controlling interest in the club.

The Billy Boys was belted out with great gusto.

No minority singing this one yesterday.

All 48,000 were in the thick of it.

We wait with bated breath to see what sanctions the SFA will impose on them after such behaviour.

As for that TIFO?

Well, if the SFA says nothing about that, then I suppose we can rely on them to say something about the buckfast bottle thrown at Viljami Sinisalo?

No doubt the Sun will have a big story on that incident when the culprit is eventually caught and sentenced appropriately.

Just like they had a big story about the Celtic fan who launched missiles at Captain Disappointed last season.

With regard to the TIFO?

The artiste or artists who pulled that one together managed to make Graeme Souness look like a stroke victim.

I suppose we should be used to TIFO’s at this stage about killing us?

They do, after all, sing about being up to their knees in our blood.

Strangely enough, their prospective new owners were nowhere to be seen yesterday.

One wonders why that is?

Was it because they wanted to disassociate themselves from the expected bigotfest?

Or was it because they’re having second thoughts about acquiring such a vile insitution?

Especially considering Cavenagh is an Irish-American and most likely Catholic?

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we?

One thing is for sure, yesterday’s contest will not live long in the memory.

Especially not for footballing reasons anyway.

The question is, will the behaviour of the home fans yesterday endure in the memory?

And will there be anything done about it?

I wouldn’t hold my breath.

The Ibrox hierarchy, on the other hand, were clearly shitting themselves as a result of it.

Due to the fact immediate condemnation was forthcoming.

Done, of course, to placate the man who they hope will buy them out.

If the onion bears think “Seasons of beatings are to be continued”, then they’re very much correct on that score.

We’ll happily oblige them on that front.

I said the other day I thought we needed a better challenge.

After yesterday, I’d be quite happy to continuing ritually beating the Ibrox side, over and over again.

You know?

Deja vu for them?

Season, after season, after season.

Makes me feel all warm inside.

Join us this evening @18.30 for our live Trinity Tims podcast, where we’ll discuss the derby in depth along with other pressing issues.