SANDMAN’S DEFINITIVE RATINGS: CELTIC @ SUNSHINE ON METH…

“This ain’t fun. But you watch me, I’ll get it done.” – Jackie Robinson.

THE FRIENDLY GHOST – 7.5/10 –  Plenty of invisible Lego bricks scooped up on Black Friday deals for him to build a wall with, and it remained solid until resistance crumbled with their penalty. Then the old man had to rely on his creaky bones. And did so magnificently with the Daniel Day Lewis ‘My Left Foot’ block to save the day, and the points. Big Joe was a surprise legend, Kasper is another proving the best keepers in a Leith Port siege are the experienced heids.

MELLOW YELLOW – 6/10 – Application is the kid’s forte, sometimes requiring tempered with a little bit of caution, lest he’s getting one from the MIB…Rode the turbulence of his half well, despite carrying the early yellow which ultimately had him sacrificed at the break before the MIBs could hit the vinegar strokes. Imagine their disappointment…

SCRATCHY – 6.5/10 – Definitely got the South American optimism gene. Very useful for attacking support and likes to play with the head up, and probably something up his nose; given his location, ideal…Always looking for the destructive forward pass, might even have killed the game himself when he crashed one against the post at the end of a move that would have been a goal of the season contender.

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🍀 Celtic cut the gap on league leaders Hearts to two points, with a game in hand, after a 2-1 win at Hibs ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/OkBcQ9kLRi

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) November 30, 2025

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🗣️ “At the time I thought it was going to go to VAR and be a penalty”
🗣️ “It doesn’t really matter who the manager is, we have a job to try and win”

Callum McGregor & Liam Scales on Celtic’s win, Hibs’ penalty & the Hoops’ search for a permanent manager ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/Rcwx4RNLiR

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) November 30, 2025

OF JUSTICE – 7/10 – The Barndarigg Beckenbauer got so comfortable in his zone that he even found time to mime a chicken impersonation for watching Hearts players. Unfortunately the MIBs took offence and awarded a penalty for…wingball? Nothing Liam could do about the nonsensical zombiery but plenty he did do for the ninety plus with classic Ginger Baresi positioning and timely ball-winning.

CRUSTY THE CLOWN – 7/10 – A bit quieter than of late as his run of consecutive games threatens to equal the number of days of the week your average Zombie is ragin’. Had his hands full with brawn and pace seeking disruption. But his stoical nature compliments (FELLOW LEFTY, BRENDAN!) Liam’s more risque approach and allows the two to blend well, especially under repeating pressure when reorganisation and focus demands in-the-moment flexibility.

CALMAC – 7/10 – Orchestrator, firestarter, security chief. A fatigued Calmac got the job over the line by half-time with bright and brisk midfield domination, pinning Hibs back in their cage after their rabid-dugs start to the match. Probably a little annoyed the game wasn’t done and dusted by the break, knowing the inevitable wear and tear may take its toll. But he held his head high and held his team together.

THE TERMINATOR – 8/10 MOTM – Boy’s growing balls. And heading them. Concurrent with Rotterdam, Arne stayed in the groove and maintained a perfect parallel with Calmac to seize the game by the throat for long enough to damage them fatally. Aside from scoring a spectacular winner with a brave stooping header from a beautifully-timed burst into the box, his (HOLDING MIDFIELDER, BRENDAN!) overall competitiveness gave us disruption, dynamism and just enough of an edge to take the three points.

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A roundup of the action from Easter Road 🕺 pic.twitter.com/HJxhwXsBLg

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) November 30, 2025

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HIGHLAND TOFFEE – 6/10 – Luking not bad in a similar way to Thursday. But today he faded when he might have helped seal a vital win, although the novelty of Luke wide rightand drifting at will does give us a series of different options and must be seen as a positive experiment.

HAKUNA HATATE – 7/10 – Another hero of the Netherlands managed to carry his spectacular return to form into this domestic challenge. Didn’t last as long as we may have hoped – blowing out his backside by the hour – but a re-engaged and enthusiastic Reo is gold.

LORD KATSUMOTO – 7/10 – And so too is a similarly revitalised Daizen. At home, for practice, he has his kids wear mini-goalie outfits and terrorises them by leaping out of cupboards unaware. It worked on Thursday and it worked again as our Kamikaze jack-in-the-box (Mitsubishi…) zeroed-in on their pink calamity to instigate the opening goal. Tireless and priceless.

YING – 7/10 – MON’s praise and confidence-boosting has certainly worked on the Korean kid’s input; dangerous every time we found him in space, and set up the winner.Maybe consider adjusting his proposed route down the M6 to something more local?

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SUBS –

TONY THE TIGER – 6.5/10 – The most reliable brickie in the world to throw into a fight and hold the fort.

KATIE – 6/10 – Defensively, his presence strengthened our resolve for the closing period.

NEGAN – 5.5/10 – Quiet as Rotterdam but without the spectacular moment. Game was not suited to his style by the time he appeared and defensive dig isn’t his best asset.

TUTANKHAMUN – N/A – A time wasting exercise. Hopefully not reflective of his Celtic career…

SAINT BERNARDO – N/A – Fast becoming an enigma, but good to see he’s not forgotten.

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🗣️ “We’ll all agree that recruitment is absolutely vital…”

Martin O’Neill on Celtic’s strategy ahead of January transfer window ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/k3oTSK5l5w

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) November 30, 2025

FATHER MARTIN AND SAMWISE GANGEE – 7.5/10 – The encores continue – watch this space Wednesday by all accounts. So the domestic away curtain-call produces a show-stopping precious win in Edina and the luck of the Irish holds for the venerable boss to relish a final success at a venue that’s troubled his past. Not the most consummate display he’d be looking for but after the trials of Thursday and short recovery time, still one that will feel as good as Feyenoord.

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🗣️ “I feel we should’ve got something from the game”

David Gray on Hibs’ 2-1 defeat to Celtic ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/ibXsYdDMxA

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) November 30, 2025

MIBBERY – 6.5/10 -n“That’s a duck, no’ a chicken – penalty.” Remarkable contrast in interpretations of the hand/arm ball rules between Easter Road and mordor. Remarkable…

OVERALL – 7.5/10 – Thursday fun turned Sunday trepidation with a stupid-o-clock visit to smack alley. And a laggy Hoops had to find the reserves of energy to compete with a buoyant home side hot-wired off the Sunday morning crack pipes for a testing opening spell. But the two quick goals were enough in the end as the Bhoys staggered over the finish of a dramatic and rewarding week.

It was a contest where the result mattered most, and we took the prize. Not a lot of recuperation time now before a quartet of games that could define the season; farewells and welcomes and expectations hyped up like weans when that first door on the advent calendar opens tomorrow morning. We’ve already got the list waiting. Over to you, Satan.

Or even Santa…

Go Away Now

Sandman

GREEN FRIDAY SALE AT CELTIC STAR BOOKS NOW ON!

Green Friday Sale Now on at Celtic Star Books, all books other than David Potter’s Celtic in the Eighties, are now HALF PRICE! Great Christmas Shopping bargains, choose from Celtic in the Thirties, volumes One and Two, Harry Hood – Twice as Good, Bould Bhoys – Glory to Their Name – The Story of Celtic’s First Title Win,  Invincible, Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style, Majic Stan and the King of Japan – Gordon Strachan’s first season at Celtic and there are also a few remaining copies of Alec McNair – Celtic’s Icicle.

All these books shown below are now HALF PRICE at only a TENNER each and please note that you will only be charged postage on the first book in your order, so order two or more and get FREE postage on the second book onwards.

Shop now at Celticstarbooks.com and support the great historical writing from our authors on The Celtic Star. High quality hardback books and the best Celtic writers all in one place. Also if you are ordering any of Matt Corr’s books he’ll be happy to add a personal dedication, just ask in notes when ordering and Matt will do the rest!

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