Celtic "Rave On": Celtic 3 Beano's 0

" That's a heider....ya bawags....Hesslestink, ma arse"

The 3rd Round of the Scottish Cup always conjures up the same previews. The minions get interviewed aboot prospective shocks and the big boys talk aboot giving the lower league teams “respect”.

This year the previews, involving the Hoops, showed the colorful celebrations that graced Hampden last season. Neil Lennon and Co dancing around to “Fiesta” while the Hoopy hoards shuffled awe embarrassed at Joe Doumbe’s scalfed winner and a poor performance. Still, oor name is on the trophy that has a special place in oor clubs history.

So, of course this competition wie us being the holders is extra special. It also has become auld skool wie nae sponsor to grace or disgrace the old trophy. I dunno whether it’s a sad reflection on the standing of the Scottish game that when even the Conference can get a sponsor- Blue Square- hiya to anyone from Blue Square that will read this, coz I know they will..space for adverts…much cheapness- or whether it adds to the romance.

The big screen kept flicking up a message that the Scottish Cup was brought to you by the SFA. The announcer at CP spewed a massive monologue aboot “every school boy dreaming of scoring the wining goal in the Scottish Cup Final”- how true, lost count how many times I have reenacted Frank Macca’s winning goal in the 1988 cup final, must stop I’m 32 now and the nee’bours must think I’m daft running around ma garden screaming- as if he was trying to build up the occasion.

He didnae need to try as the band of around 1000 Beano’s were doing their best to add a bit of atmosphere. They had red and white checked flags; one lad had a Barcelona flag and sang songs that I remember from the auld Annfield in the 80’s. The classic “Rave On Stirling Albion” still gets an airing from the support. This song was devised, well stole, from the Buddy Holly classic and adapted by a Stirling busker who used to attend Annfield complete wie guitar.

They still had the small team, small toon mentality songs…but “Rave On” is a one off. They also enjoyed a wee bit of banter wie the “Holy Goalie”- who produced a world class stop from a quality cross, one of many that the Albion put in during the game- who cup a hand to his ear in a sort of “what are you saying” type fashion. Well, he was bored and cauld.

Now, I reckon the attendance was around 40,000. The club has put the official attendance at 27,932. Since we had to give the Beano’s half the gate money I think the ghost of Kelly and White is alive and well in the bunker of the PLC.

The 27,932 gave the minute applause for Uncle Phil the raucous, roof lifting respect it deserved. Half way through the cry of “there is only one Phil O’Donnell” was drifting over the East End. The big screens were showing goals from Phil in the Hoops- a screamer at Tynie, which I remember fondly coz we had wee yellow learning to swim float type things handed oot to stop oor arses getting wet on the bucket seats- can you guess what happened to these floats? -, it also reminded me just how much POD was a bright light during the season at Hampden in THAT top- and the Jungle Bhoys banner hung mournfully over the Jock Stein stand.

The game started like any other game at CP, against a team wie “shutupshoap antifiba sma’timejimjeffriesmentality” tactics- not that we can complain, it’s oor joab to break that doon, I only complain if WE play it- and once again the Hoops allow teams to settle wie the pace of oor play.

Remember when teams used to get blown away in the first twenty minutes at CP? Now they get the chance to bed in, find their feet and, help ma boab, getting notions of stealing a result. We still create chances but the pace we create them at is what annoys the “consumer” who want us 3-0 up by 25 mins so they can go home- saw two Dortmund fans, one, a wean, wie a natty bumble bee hat on, sitting in front of me looking around bemused when the place emptied wie 75mins on the clock, I can safely assume that at the Westfalion stadium this does not happen.

The Dortmund fans maybe were having a look at Andreas Hinkel. Seeing what they would have got if he had signed for them- but then he was a money grabbing so and so willing to go to a lesser league for mair money- and they would have seen a sound performance from a rusty player.

The player himself agreed, "I haven't played the last few weeks and I think I need more games to get my rhythm and to play better. But where did all the fans go after the third goal” he mused, counting his first win bonus, in the post match press conference.

He added balance to the right hand side of the park and look mair natural at right back than Gary Caldwell would do in the buff. Not that I want to see Gary Calderbuer in the buff. He looks decent going forward, has a physical presence but requires games and the standard of opposition was lower than the usual fair. Judgment needs to be reserved for a number of weeks. He will be afforded that from the stands as- 1, he is not from Hibs and 2, his name is noo Gary.

The returning Naka, showed all the signs of a player just returning after a number of months oot. Still produced a Dagleish like finish from the edge of the box, a classic finish one where everyone- even the stick thin tight wearing school boy that the Albion tried to pass of as a goalie- knew where the baw was going but no-one could stop the shot. Link to the goal is at 101 Great Goals- see “hands of friendship”

We have missed Naka. When Aiden disnny cut the mustard we have struggled to create. Naka still gives us another ootlet- early signs also that him and Andy will get on well doon the right- and another threat. While he is lightweight and sometimes the game passes him by- a reason he should be played in the middle- his importance canny be denied. He must play when fit. Feck this horses for courses dropping him when we play against hammer throwers.

It was a joab done, type performance. I thought we played well- against an ootfit that at one point had 8 players on the edge of their box- created chances and were professional in the way we went aboot oor business.

Few mair goals and the upping of the pace widnae have went amiss but we canny have everything. Still questions need to be asked. What does Donati exactly bring except the ability to find space then play stray passes and is Scott Brown just Steven Pearson wieoot the ginger hair?

Oor first choice pairing of Mickildini and Calderbuer looked suspect- mind you the Albion created little and the chances that they did have came from undefendable “quality” baws into the box- and Lee Naylor was poor. Lack of subs playing time also means it was hard to judge what Killen and O’Brien could bring to the table.

Oor manager says it was “job well done” and it wisnny an “Not an easy game for us or Stirling” before adding “I once beat Macclesfield 7-0 when I was wie Coventry and I told the players I didnae want that to happen today……I wanted the Albion players to be proud.no no, we took it easy, off course team three can play sexy fitba’ we could have scored 125 if we wanted....but we didnae”

The next round sees us wie a tough away tie whoever we get. Opinion on the way home says we want Airdrie. We huvnae played them for a while and their “support” will be sure to give us a warm welcome!!! A welcome so warm it will make Tynie seem like a nursery school picnic…of course I will be going if a ticket is forthcoming…