Originally published at: O'Riley verdict, Hatate sparkles; 3 things we learned as Celtic beat Hearts
Admit it; you had every right to be a bit nervous as Celtic headed out to Tynecastle to face Hearts tonight. We had to play a new midfield pairing, some of our best players are absent, and well, it’s Hearts. There’s always controversy, heart-in-mouth moments and plenty of discussion for days afterwards. We just needed…
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Jesus that second half, sweating at times. We need to kill teams off and that means 90 minutes, hatates goal wad a screamer, O’Reilly was immense, I felt McCarthy and Soro coming on sheared us up but we need to finish teams off, noy allowing teams back into the game when they showed nothing in the first half
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A lot of our troubles second half were entirely self inflicted IMHO. There’s a time to play it short from the back and time when not too. We still need to learn the difference. First half excellent, O’Riley fantastic, felt he and Hatate were just excellent. Also both knackered by the hour mark but that’s understandable. Bitton excellent Captains performance. Jota at times unplayable and Gio brave and hard working with a really clever finish. Overall 3 brilliant points.
Hail Hail
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Nice review. I’m glad we got through with no additional injuries.
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I agree AJ64, thought Bitton played really well but like you said we could easily take a bit off pressure off at certain points by chucking the ball up to giakoumakis, he’s plenty big and strong enough with his hold up play and with our midfield runners there’s possibilties and chances to be created from that. Oriley was very tidy on the ball, looks like a great deal for us going off that display, forrest needs to turn up a bit more and Taylor, my god Taylors passing was infuriating to watch. Genuinely though scales would have started this one because of their physicality but may be used at weekend instead. Overall glad we got the 3 points, wish we would just stop letting teams have a sniff when we have been so dominant in the first 45, onwards and upwards lads COYBIG 
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Totally agree re Jamesy (match rustiness ?) and Taylor. I think Scales will start at the weekend. But
Hail Hail.
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Celtic 2 Hearts /beaton select 1 great result for the Football side . the whinging Hearts staff were waiting in the tunnel at half time to let brother John know he was letting down the cause.
then when he saw his team were drawing at ibrox he upt his game, offside goal, soft penalty and some dodgy consistent fouls let go while Celtic players get booked.
Despite the nervous end we actually started the second half well and should have got a third.
as in many matches when a 2-0 lead is cut it becomes a dog fight and we did well to will
we have at last found a Lubo type player in Hatate and O Rilley was like a young Rogic type
with a bench which could have included the players missing we could have freshened it after 60 minutes and won comfortably but at least the players available worked hard tonight we done.
Not knocking Startfelt performance tonight but he must stop this stupid blatant pushing he does in every match tonights was just before Hearts offside goal.
I…have…a…lot…of…time…for…Ange…but…one…of…very…few…criticisms…i…have…is…that…he…waits…rather…too,…long…to…make…substitutions,…,resulting…in…teams…putting…us…under…too…much…pressure…in…the…2nd…half…Still…think…they…should…extend…his…contract…by…a…lot…though!!!
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