Spartak 1 Celtic 1

Was watching the pre-match build up, setanta kept on showing a camera angle from the back end of beyond in the stadium. This camera angle was showing water being poured onto the park, it looked like the famous scene when the English fans were water cannoned in a Belgian square during Euro 2000.

I asked maeself why this was happening and within 15 mins in was obvious why. A strange bounce took a simple clearance oot the way of Lee Naylor and went oot for a corner and John Kennedy was caught oot wie a ball spinning and bouncing unnaturally. The game was set and watched in an unreal setting wie the artificial park making the game look like a pre-season game.

To tell you the truth the game was a bit of a farce wie the park alluding too not a decent full blooded tackle being committed by both set of players. That may have worked for us but all the same oor manager was a bit dubious wie regards to the Russians actions. Both teams looked unsure on the surface but you could tell the Russians were used to playing on the carpet.

But, the game was scrappy and apart from a goal chopped off for the Muscovite's in 10mins there was not much fitbaw being played. But then the best beard grower in Scotland suddenly became that player we had paid over a million for.

Paul Hartley became the Paul Hartley of Hearts wie a lung bursting run in front of the full back to get on the end of a- motm for me- Scott McDonald cross. His heider bulged the net and i can call him oor Zico again.

After that we controlled we looked comfortable, we kept the ball for mair then 2 seconds, a feat that makes oor managers claim that Spartak were better than Benfica after the match a bit hard to believe, but, again, Celtic made us have a watch behind the couch second half.

The equaliser and their superior match fitness was always going to make the second half one way traffic and oor instance that we sat as deep as a great white of Cornwall didnae help matters. Still we limited them to 2 chances, one a poor heider and the other a great save, that made up for the goal that he lost, by Brown, was their lot.

Then we had we lived the dream moment. Aiden on for the injured Hesselink, sprung onto a Hartley through ball, now when he slipped the ball through to Brown, i was off ma seat, the ball was going in, i was convinced, but, the park played it's part, the ball spun and stopped, it didnae run on as Brown expected and the goalie smothered.

Skoosh says he felt he was offside and didnae want to pick up another booking by kicking the ball away, i'm willing to blame the pitch.

Will we live to regret that moment? This tie is not over by any means. Spartak are capable of scoring at CP just as we are capable of scoring. Make no mistake we are not in that hat for the pirates bullion chest of 10m filthy lucre yet..but i feel better aboot ma team tonight.

That's all a fan can ask along wie some highlights by oor japanese friends.

Forza