Celtic 1 – 0 Elfsborg

I think that Kelvin Wilson should be off the pith when the goal came and Celtic should be very happy with 1-0 at home to Elfsborg in the first leg of the Champions League qualification fixture. Swedish media personalities seem happy with the result, but I think an away goal is crucial in a game like this. Good result for Celtic. Descent result for Elfsborg who still have a chance at home on their artificial grass.

Elfsborg played well in the first half and Celtic had problems to find good opportunities. Of course they created some chances, but Anders Svensson also had a shoot in the crossbar. In the second half Elfsborg played it long way too much and never got time to rest with the ball. If you are the slightly weaker side you need to try to keep the ball for a while, but Elfsborg did not manage to do that. And finally got Celtic 1-0. I think it was a big tactical miss by the Elfsborg coaching staff and/or players to play the long ball every time.

Kelvin Wilson should have been sent off

BUT, for me Celtic should have played with ten men when the goal came. A couple of minutes earlier Kelvin Wilson deliberately hit Mohammed Bangura in the face. I’m not sure if the assistant referee missed the situation, it seems like he didn’t in the replays, but in ether case that was an obvious red card. For me it is totally unbelievable that a grown up man and a professional football player behaves like that.

If I was a coach or team-mate to Wilson I would be furious. He risks the club’s participation in the group stage of Champions League. I know, everything goes so fast and Wilson didn’t think properly in that situation, but a footballer should be trained to always behave in situations like that. Celtic were saved by the referees in that situation and were very lucky. Now they have the advantage when the second leg starts in a week from now.

Scottish media take a different point. Daily Record and Herald Scotland write

Bangura further irked the home fans when he went to ground after a harmless-looking tussle with Wilson on the touchline with Portuguese referee Manuel Se Douda unimpressed.

For me that viewpoint is totally unaccepted. The Scots should focus on the more that stupid behaviour by Kelvin Wilson than complaining that Mo Bangura fell to the ground easily. That is a red card everywhere except the British Islands.

Diving Celtic players

By the way. Overall I must say that the Celtic players dived incredibly much. The myth that British players never dive was once again revealed. As everybody else, British players look for opportunities to fall down easily and get advantages.