The most striking (no pun intended) failures of Celtic’s campaign is the woeful finishing in front of goal combined with our overall lack of quality in the forward areas…
Daizen Maeda opens the scoring during Celtic’s 6-2 Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Mirren at Hampden on Sunday 19 April 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou
That’s down to our lack of quality offensively, something that has led to us dropping too many valuable points throughout the entirety of this turbulent campaign.
On Sunday at Hampden however, that all changed particular in the extra time period when we scored an impressive four goals in just six minutes, and were unlucky not to add more to that tally, as we put on an impressive display of attacking football in a dominant extra-time showing.
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That was all down to the front three of Daizen Maeda, Kelechi Iheanacho and of course James Forrest. All three players combined their experience, and quality to punish a tiring St Mirren defence, and made us look a much more competent, confident and quality side.
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For me, and I’d expect most other supporters to think the same, this should be our regular front three (fitness permitting) heading into the last six games of the campaign. Yes there will be rotation and I accept that Yang has been one of our best performers in recent times. He will get plenty of minutes as Jamesy is perhaps not a 90 minutes performer anymore (don’t tell Sandman I said that!)
Maeda, Iheanacho and Forrest – It’s trio that will give you goals, strength, trickery and valuable experience in the final third of the park so what’s not to like? Sunday proved that they all worked well together, and had a great understanding of each other, which proved to the difference in us reaching yet another Scottish Cup final.
Yang at Tannadice. Dundee Utd v Celtic. Sunday 22 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou
It might seem unfair on the likes of Yang and Sebastian Tounekti, who have provided their fair share of goal and assists, but their main problem has been their lack of consistency.
Both will be great impact players to call upon, and provided us with much needed added depth going into the title run in, but for me the front three that finished Sunday’s semi final win should be a regular fixture from now on in.
Sebastian Tounekti of Celtic celebrates his team’s second goal scored by teammate Reo Hatate (not pictured) during the Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox on March 01, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)
I reckon though that Martin O’Neill will go with Maeda, Iheanacho and Yang on Saturday with the South Korean getting an hour before Jamesy is introduced.
The Rangers go first on Saturday with a 3pm kick-off against Motherwell at Ibrox, Then it’s Celtic’s turn with a 5.30pm Saturday afternoon kick-off against Falkirk at Celtic Park. Hearts are last to play out of the three title contenders and it’s a Glasgow Derby against Hibs at Easter Road, starting at 4.30pm on Sunday afternoon.
Hearts manager Derek McInnes celebrates after the Scottish Premiership match between theRangers and Hearts at Ibrox on September 13, 2025. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)
If the Rangers win they’ll go top two points ahead of Hearts. If Celtic we’ll be level on points with Hearts when their match at Easter Road kicks-off. Hibs fans will be desperate to stop Hearts winning the title, Derek McInnes’ side has been shaky on the road recently so they’re likely be the team with the real pressure this weekend, unless there’s a surprise or two in Glasgow the day before.
Bring it on! Goals, goals and more Celtic goals…
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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