Celtic lined up this morning at St Mirren Park for their second pre-season game against Dukla Prague. Their first outing seeing them turn in an easy 2-0 victory but just before 13 minutes today the Celts found themselves 1-0 down.
Adam Matthews won’t be lining out in a Celtic shirt again after his move to Sunderland midweek. Lustig is more than capable replacement and is probably Ronny’s first choice but he spent most of last season on the sidelines through injury. Boyata lined up in the hoops for the second time and this time he was paired up with Charlie Mulgrew. Mulgrew pretty missed out the best part of last season through injury also so the backline are not exactly used to playing with each other. This became apparent in the 13th minute when Dukla went one up while the Celtic defence were having a nap.
It was Lustig who helped get Celtic level when of his many runs into the opposition half and on this occasion into the oppositions box resulted in a penalty after he was dragged down. Leigh Griffiths finished the second half of the season strong gladly slotted the ball home to draw the game at 1-1.
Just before half time Dukla went 2-1 up after they walked through the Celtic defenders and Hanousek managed to fire off two shots with the latter one beating Craig Gordon. Things could of went from bad to worse very quickly when Hanousek going for a hat trick bounced the ball off the Celtic cross bar.
Gary Mackay-Steven looked like a wonder buy last season and he only looks to grow as player this season as he managed to claw Celtic back right before half time when he got into the box and slotted home.
In the second half Hanousek got his hat-rick after Dukla were awarded a penalty when Mulgrew seemed to have tangled legs and bring down the Dukla forward. Hanousek took a perfect penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way and once again increasing his teams lead to 3-2. At least the game isn’t one of those boring preseason games and is packed with end to end action.
Poor defending again let Dukla go two goals up when a free header was easily slotted home to put the score at 4-2.
Big Virgil is always good for an anytime scorer although maybe the bookies have copped onto him after his goals last season. On the 82nd minute big Virgil headed Celtic to within a goal of scraping a draw. An 8 goal game is what Celtic fans would of wanted with 5 minutes left but unfortunately the 8th goal in the game went to Dukla leaving the score at 5-3.
Gordon, Lustig, Boyata, Mulgrew, Izaguirre, Brown, Rogic, Forrest, Johansen, Mackay-Steven, Griffiths
Subs: Fasan, Fisher, Ambrose, O’Connell, van Dijk, Tierney, Henderson, Lindsay, Nesbitt, Donnelly, Stoke, Scepovic, Thomson, Boerrigter, Hazard
