A place where clips of Celtic, past and present, can find a home. Feel free to contact the blog at celtic_clips@yahoo.co.uk with anything you think is appropriate.
Having thrashed Dundee United the previous week in the league, Wim Jansen's side were firm favourites to lift the first trophy of the season when the sides met again in the League Cup Final at Ibrox. 90 minutes later, the Perm had his hands on his first silverware as Celtic manager, thanks to a comfortable 3-0 win.
The opening goal comes from the head of Marc Rieper in the 20th minute; the Dane rising to guide a Weighorst cross into the top corner with a delightful header. Only 3 minutes later and the lead was doubled - Henrik Larsson scoring with a deflected drive. Craig Burley added a third in the second half and the celebrations began. It was only the second trophy won by the club in 8 and a half seasons.
Having salvaged a point with the last head of the ball in the Old Firm game, Celtic bounced back from their sticky spell with a comfortable win over League Cup Final opponents Dundee United - just 8 days before the final itself. Two goals apiece for both Andy Thom and Henrik Larsson secure both the points, and the psychological advantage going into the final.
Celtic travelled to East End Park to face mid-table Dunfermline as the new league leaders. With the first Old Firm game of the season on the horizon, another win was vital. Despite dominating possession, Celtic struggled to break down a well organised Dunfermline side. The breakthrough, when it came, arrived from the boot of the much maligned Regi Blinker - with a big bit of help from Mr Deflection. The win was secured with only 4 minutes left when Henrik Larsson burst into the box, eluded a couple of defenders, and calmly slid the ball into the back of the net.
Despite the win, Hearts jumped back to the top of the league on goals scored, having thrashed Aberdeen 4-1 at Pittodrie. Yet going into the Old Firm game at Ibrox the following week, Wim Jansen's side were full of confidence. Unbeaten in 14 matches, including 8 straight league wins, there was a real belief that this was a Celtic team that could finally shake off that Rangers jinx that had haunted the club for the best part of a decade. Unfortunately it was not to be.
Next up for Celtic would be mid-table St Johnstone at Celtic Park. Despite a nervy opening, Celtic snapped up all 3 points thanks to 4 minutes burst of activity in the first half. The first goal came from the boot of Henrik Larsson - the swede playing a headed 1-2 with a defender before lifting the ball over Alan Main in the St Johnstone goal. Three minutes later and it was 2-0, Simon Donnelly sticking away another penalty after Stephane Mahe had been felled in the box.
By the time the final whistle sounded Celtic were top of the league - while the Hoops were sweeping up another 3 points, Rangers were losing at Tannadice. We began to believe.
Four days after booking their place in the League Cup Final, Celtic travelled to Edinburgh to take on League leaders Hearts at Tynecastle. It was to be Celtic's first major test in the league and, by the end of the 90 minutes, the signs were good.
Recent signing, Danish International defender Marc Reiper, gives Celtic a 15th minute lead with a well taken strike from the penalty spot. The lead is doubled by the increasingly influential Henrik Larsson just six minutes later. Celtic were coasting. Hearts pull a goal back in the second half through Colin Cameron, but Jansen's side see out the victory, and lift themselves above the Tynecastle side into second place in the league.
Having started so poorly, Celtic's season had been well and truly turned around by the middle of October. Jansen's team were sitting in 3rd place in the league, 2 points behind Rangers and 3 behind Hearts, with a game in hand over the leaders.
In the League Cup, victories over Berwick, St Johnstone and Motherwell had set up a semi final meeting at Ibrox with Dunfermline - the last team to beat Celtic, who's unbeaten run now stretched across 10 games and two months. It would be 11 games by the end of the 90 minutes, Craig Burley scoring the only goal of the game with just 20 minutes remaining. Dundee Utd waited in the final, but two Old Firm games were also on the horizon, along with a trip to Tynecastle to play the league leaders. Celtic's season was about to entre a crucial stage.
Having seen off the Austrians of Tirol in the previous round, Celtic were drawn against Liverpool in the first round proper. Despite being written off by those knowledgeable chaps in the press - both north and south of the border - the tie turned out to be a remarkably tight affair, with Celtic a bit unfortunate not to progress into the next round over the two legs.
The first tie was played in front of a packed Celtic Park, and those in attendance witnessed a cracking end to end game that could have went either way. Liverpool opened the scoring early, with a young Michael Owen showing the kind of pace that his hammys can no longer handle to latch onto a through ball and slip the ball past Gould in the Celtic goal.
It was the unlikely figure of Jackie McNamara who got Celtic back into the game in the second half with a stunning goal that left James in the Liverpool goal rooted to the spot. Celtic then stunned the visitors by taking the lead - Simon Donnelly converting a penalty after Henrik Larsson tripped up over a blade of grass in the box. Let's just give him the benefit of the doubt on this one.
But, just as it seemed the Hoops would hang on for the win, Liverpool grabbed what was probably a deserved equaliser with only seconds remaining - Steve McManaman scoring after a long mazy run that had started at the edge of his own box.
All in the all the result was probably a fair reflection on a game that saw both teams playing some great attacking football. The return leg, by contrast, was a dreary lifeless 0-0 draw. The result was enough to put the English side through to the next round, but Celtic more than matched their more illustrious opponents over the 180 minutes.
Having thrashed third division Berwick Rangers 7-0 in the 3rd round, Celtic were handed a tricky journey to Perth to face St Johnstone in the 4th Round. Wim Jansen's side went into the tie under severe pressure - defeat in the opening two league games had left them rooted to the bottom of the table. A nervy goalless 90 minutes ensued, followed by an equally nervous 30 minutes of extra time in which Celtic grabbed the single goal that would send them through to the Quarter Finals - the goal coming via a Simon Donnelly penalty.
It wasn't pretty, but the result proved to be something of a watershed moment - the new look Hoops would remain unbeaten for the best part of three months.
