I listened to the Celtic game on the radio last Saturday afternoon and was all smiles by half time thanks mainly to the goal-scoring prowess of John Hartson. A hat-trick by half time and people are saying he isn't good enough to play?!? They've obviously forgotten who the SPLs top scorer was last season. And, the Artmedia thing aside, three goals in your first two games is a good start should he want to retain that crown.
Anyway, 3 - 1 up at half time and we should have been cruising. But Motherwell are not a team to go down without a fight and the proved it again to our cost - again. They came back well and it would seem they deserved to take the lead, as much as that hurts to say. But what I didn't really appreciate from the radio commentary was that they came back into the game with three headed goals! And that, once again, underlines the defensive problems that have to be resolved. I'm sure Gordon Strachan can do that but probably not in time for tonights second leg against Artmedia Bratislava. So where does that leave us?
As Saturdays game showed, we can still score goals. Hartson is obviously on form and Craig Beattie is as determined as ever. Add an improving Shaun Maloney, ariel power combined with Alan Thomson's outstanding dead ball delivery, the pace of Aliadiere, and Stan Petrov's charges from midfield and we probably could score the 5 goals needed to force extra-time (or the 6 needed to win). However, I feel certain we will concede at least one goal tonight unless Artmedia are happy to defend in depth and in numbers. So, we are on the verge of a shockingly early European exit.
However, should any members of the team chance to read this, feel free to prove me wrong!!!
And by the way, would the clowns who have been calling for WGS to resign please take a very long walk along a very short plank!!! The wee man has only just started to reorganise things and deserves your support!!!