Celtic defy Utd to make history

So, Celtic are through to the knock-out stages of the Champions League, after a stunning victory over Man Utd at home. It's the first time in seven attempts that they have successfully negotiated the group stages of this competition, since the competition was created out of the old European Cup. Gordon Strachan may well go on to become of the greatest managers in Celtic's history. But after another night of high drama and frayed nerves, he has once again shown himself to be one of the luckiest.

When these two clubs met in the corresponding fixture at Old Trafford back in September, many in England rashly predicted a thrashing. Blinded by the riches of the Premiership, and Utd's recent history in Europe, they assumed the Scottish club would be unable to live with their hosts. Celtic did lose the game 3-2, but they left the field with some credit, having taken the game to their hosts. Now, in Glasgow, they needed a win - anything less, and their chances of qualification would be hanging by a thread.

The accepted approach for the underdog in this situation - and Celtic were the underdog - is to try and lull the opponent into a sense of complacency, by stressing how much stronger they are, and then attempt to surprise them on the park. Strachan did the opposite in his pre-match press conference, wrapping his club in the old Scottish perceptions of injustice and arrogance by claiming that the English "pat yourselves on the back too much", and that the gap between the Premiership and the SPL wasn't as big as people assume.

This was brave. By the end of the first half tonight, it also looked a little foolhardy. For the first 45 minutes, Celtic were all over the place, as Utd dominated possession and launched attack after attack. But once again, Strachan proved just how lucky he is. Despite getting his tactics and personnel desperately wrong, his side somehow got to the break without conceding a goal.

Strachan had made some fundamental errors in setting up his team. His first mistake was to select Evander Sno in such a high pressure game. Strachan might have been charmed by his strong performances in recent weeks in the SPL, but tonight the 19 year old looked hopelessly lost. He seemed to shy away from the ball, and when it did have it he either conceded possession or passed backwards. His other big mistake was a baffling formation that left his midfield outnumbered and overrun. Somehow, United couldn't quite make their superiority stick, although they might have had a penalty when Balde tugged at Rooney.

Two substitutions at half time turned the game. Jarosik came on for Sno, and Maloney replaced Zurawski as Celtic belatedly went 4-5-1 to match their opponents. He couldn't do much about the hapless Bobo Balde in defence, with Caldwell out and Kennedy still recovering from his long injury, but he seemed less shaky with Lennon and Gravesen in front of him. With the right footed Maloney on the left, and left-footed Nakamura on the right, Celtic now had lots of bodies competing in the middle of the park, and Utd found far less space to operate.

Then they got a fortuitous decision, Nakamura scored a wondruous free kick, Boruc saved Saha's penalty, and the game was won. Celtic deserve to celebrate this great win, but they also need to learn their lessons. Surely, their luck can't hold forever.