Many apologies to Celtic supporters for using a headline which will bring back painful memories of THAT night against Caledonian Thistle. This afternoon they filled as many seats as they were allowed for the friendly in the Sun against old boy, David Moyes's West Ham.
Were West Ham that good, or were Celtic that bad? The answer probably lies somewhere in the middle. The fixture was part of Celtic's preparations for their crunch midweek Champions League qualifier against FC Midtjylland, but the game didn't go as planned at Parkhead.
Celtic put on a show for the first 20 minutes, Hoops skipper Callum McGregor curled in an early opener to give the home crowd a lift, but Michail Antonio absolutely bullied Celtic's young defenders, scoring a quick-fire brace before earning the penalty, captain for the day Mark Noble netted from the spot.
Celtic started the second half brightly, just as they had in the first, Ryan Christie pulled a goal back for Ange Postecoglou's side five minutes after the break courtesy of a dreadful mistake by Darren Randolph who had replaced Fabianski for the second half. It was however just a temporary blip, as Said Benrahma replied with a picture perfect goal that saw him put both goalkeeper and defender on their backsides before slotting home. Jarrod Bowen then followed Benrahma's goal with a finish of absolute beauty having been given a superb pass by the Algerian International.
Celtic then made 10 substitutions, David Moyes waited before Jarrod Bowen was replaced by substitute Armstrong Okoflex, signed from Celtic this summer, he scored against his old club with five minutes remaining, as if to rub salt in Celtic's wounds, he hardly celebrated. One fly in the ointment for Moyes was that he was forced to bring on Issa Diop to replace Angelo Ogbonna, who worryingly limped off injured, just before McGregor was gifted the ball by Manuel Lanzini , promptly guiding a shot from the edge of the box past Lukasz Fabianski.
West Ham : Fabianski (Randolph 46), Fredericks, Dawson (Alves 77), Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble, Lanzini (Coventry 66), Bowen (Holland 87), Fornals (Forson 87) Benrahma (Oko-Flex 77), Antonio (Johnson 72)
Goals: Antonio 23, 32, Benrahma 54, Bowen 74, Oko-Flex 85
The Celtic players looked shocked by the end, their minds clearly on the huge game they face in midweek. As the commentators said at the end of the game, their (Celtic) fans can only dream of the amount of money West Ham have spent on players.
The gulf between the Scottish Premier League and The Barclays Premier League was clearly shown today, it did also illustrate that while things are far, far from perfect at West Ham, they could be an awful lot worse, just take a look at Celtic's fall from grace and Rangers as well, back in the day both Glasgow clubs could attract players like Gazza and Henrik Larsson, not forgetting Hammers own, Paolo Dicanio! Be careful what you wish for. - Ed
Comments
Was lucky to be there for the
Was lucky to be there for the game, feared the worst but by the end was elated! Early days and some rustiness showed, Randy does not inspire me in goal and I felt Fabs had he had more game time he would have stopped MacGregors shot (albeit a good strike).
When we got moving we looked good on the ball and truth be known we could have had 9! Ant before he scored, Bowen 1st half and Benrahma after he netted had a similar opportunity, but a decent work out. Nobes booed early doors but applauded when he left the field. Coventry should make his big break this year and personally overall I thought we made Celtic look poor. The game was all about fitness and I thought Benny and Jarrod looked really sharp as did Antonio, downside having to keep it zipped every time we scored!
I thought it was a good game
I thought it was a good game and a great workout for both sides. The first goal was taken very nicely by McGregor following a mistake with the throw in. Edwouard had a big opportunity missed as did we with Bowen and it looked like an entertaining afternoon ahead. But once we got on level terms the class gap became the Grand Canyon as it did against Reading! The Prem League thanks to Skysports money will always be too much for the Scottish teams.
I think 6-2 says more about Celtic than West Ham, it bodes well for us, the preseasons are looking impressive and thats without the Euro boys who I guess return shortly.