Monday Round-Up: The Same Old Story

THE BIG STORY: Yet another international football tournament will take place without Scotland after a 2-2 draw with Slovenia ended our hopes of reaching next month’s World Cup play-offs.

Three Celts started - Craig Gordon, Kieran Tierney and Leigh Griffiths - and although Scotland took the lead with a superb first-half Leigh Griffiths strike the performance was never convincing it took a late Robert Snodgrass goal to rescue a point, which wasn’t enough as Slovakia defeated Malta to finish second in the group.

The worst aspect of the game was manager Gordon Strachan’s refusal to involve substitutes Callum McGregor or James Forrest, who would surely have turned the game in Scotland’s favour, but sadly they were left on the bench.

This really should be the end of Gordon Strachan’s time as Scotland manager but knowing the SFA he will end up signing a new contract. As for what Leigh Griffiths thought about the game, watch the video below, he seems to be backing the manager though.

OTHER NEWS: Once Celt will be at the World Cup though, as forgotten man Cristian Gamboa’s Costa Rica have qualified for the tournament, an achievement which he celebrated on Twitter.

In more international news, Jonny Hayes won’t be in the Ireland squad for tonight’s must-win game against Wales as he has returned to Celtic with a slight injury.

ON THIS DAY: In 1993, Celtic caretaker manager Frank Connor lead Celtic to a come from behind 2-1 win over Dundee at Celtic Park. Connor, in his first match in charge since the departure of Liam Brady and Joe Jordan, saw Dundee take the lead thanks to a Billy Dodds penalty but thankfully two headed goals from Gerry Creaney and Pat McGinlay won the game. Note: both before and during the game the Celtic fans kept up their ‘SACK THE BOARD’ campaign, which would eventually end in victory and the arrival of Fergus McCann.