Ajax 1—Celtic 0

As expected the third seeds in the group, playing at home, beat the fourth seeds. It was a bity, terrible game, particularly in the first half, which suited Celtic. They went in at half-time 0-0, which is the point we were hoping for. Using the Celtic calculator we’d have taken that point and beaten AC Milan at home to qualify for the next round. Now the Celtic calculator needs to take in new permutations that include just about everything, including goal average, and a massive slice of pot- luck for even a Europa League spot. Most of the football Celtic played was backwards towards Fraser Foster. He’d shell it up front towards Samarras and occasionally hit Stokes, but more often an Ajax defender would get in the way and they’d start probing from the midfield and down the flanks. Most of the first-half danger came from Celtic defenders giving away free kicks just outside the box. But Samarras did pop up to give away a free-kick and so did Commons. Our forward players were also camped on the edge of the box, which tells you everything you need to know. Samarras, in particular, needs to play well for Celtic to win or indeed get a draw.   Neither he nor Commons had a good game. The Ajax goal after half time was a sweet passing one-touch interchange, at the edge of the box, which created a gap. Lasse Schone  beat Forester and found the net and it was game on. Only it wasn’t. The pivotal moment in the game was a two against one in the last third of the field. James Forest could have passed to Stokes, or taken the Ajax defender on and into the penalty box and have scored.  He hit the defender with the ball, which sums up his contribution. Celtic’s best player was Lustig. Izaguirre also done ok. The two central defenders get pass marks. Foster made a couple of good saves, saves you’d expect him to make. He’d no chance with the goal, but if he’s going to play for England, he’d need to do better than let a ball float over his head at a corner, to be headed off the line by Izzy. And he’d need to be quicker off his line. This is nit-picking. The midfield and forward line. Oh dear me. Not good enough. But the same players will have to do it against—Ross County.