The Huddle Breakdown: Stats Packs

Celtic 3, Dunfermline Athletic 1 - 23rd May, 2026

Alan Morrison — Tue, 26 May 2026 18:01:24 GMT

The 2025/26 season came to an end in the lovely Hampden sunshine as Celtic lifted the Scottish Cup once more. It really is a perfect way to welcome in the summer.

On brand with this Celtic side, with no meaningful shot for 37 minutes between second and third goals, they made strangely hard work of it after a dominant opening.

Motherwell 2, Celtic 3 - 13th May, 2026

Alan Morrison — Mon, 25 May 2026 09:27:37 GMT

Playing catch up thus recording this match after the season is over.

Irrespective of wage bill, it is remarkable Celtic won this match given the quality of performance against an extremely well coached side.

The Reflex

Alan Morrison — Tue, 19 May 2026 10:05:51 GMT

“The reflex is a lonely child who’s waiting by the park

The reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark

And watching over lucky clover, isn’t that bizarre?

And every little thing the reflex does

Leaves you answered with a question mark”

A dramatic and tumultuous Scottish season climaxed at Celtic park with on brand late drama. A goal in the 87th minute from the irrepressible Daizen Maeda effectively clinched the title. No one entered the park.

As Hearts launched long ball after free kick after throw in towards the Celtic box, and their keeper joined the furore, Celtic sealed it with a jail break open net finish for the returning Callum Osmand. Thirty seconds remained on the clock.

Dozens of Celtic fans cavorted onto the park, reflecting celebratory scenes at football grounds up and down the kingdom as titles, promotions, play off spots, relegations are settled. It should not happen, the pitch is for the players and officials only. Some Hearts players were clearly being goaded. That should not happen and those individuals should be ashamed. I am sure video evidence will be being poured over to establish whether there were any actual physical assaults. Any perpetrators should be dealt with by club and police accordingly.

The referee ended it, as is his prerogative.

But once again, it isn’t the thing, it’s the reaction to the thing.

Celtic 3, The Rangers 1 - 10th May, 2026

Alan Morrison — Tue, 12 May 2026 17:45:32 GMT

As against Hibernian, Celtic altered the tempo in moments, and once in flow playing quick pass and move football, cut open their opponents for three terrific goals.

A characteristic tempo change then followed, the Celtic rallentando, as no shots followed Daizen Maeda’s wonder goal for the ages.

And it was tempo management and sheer work rate that was the differentiator.

Hibernian 1, Celtic 2 - 3rd May, 2026

Alan Morrison — Tue, 05 May 2026 20:57:21 GMT

It is analytically limiting to draw conclusions when Celtic face a 10 man opponent for 70 minutes.

That allowed overwhelming control and possession over Hibernian who were content to sit in banks of five and three across their box.

Producing high quality chances was at a premium and it took rare moments of quality to produce the two goals. Benjamin Nygren and the returning Alistair Johnston (what a difference he could make) injected pace and precision to provide Daizen Maeda the chance to finish like it’s 2022.

And Kelechi Iheanacho, who may become a cult hero, and provided the sort of calmness under pressure needed to secure a winner.

Celtic 3, Falkirk 1 - 25th April, 2026

Alan Morrison — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:06:19 GMT

More incongruity as Celtic continue to explore the outer margins of how few chances it is possible to create yet still win, whilst the Bhoy of the Match expended enormous energy on activities not normally associated with a forward.

Celtic 6, St Mirren 2 (After Extra Time) - 19th April, 2026

Alan Morrison — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:36:00 GMT

Getting to the Scottish Cup Final at the end of May is such a treat to look forward to, and Celtic achieved that with an incredible barrage of four goals in six minutes in extra time to overwhelm a St Mirren side in transition.

Having Neil Lennon’s Championship Dunfermline Athletic waiting in the final, since they’ve dispatched three SPFL Premier teams, heightens the anticipation.

And pretty much anything could happen!

Celtic 1, St Mirren 0 - 11th April, 2026

Alan Morrison — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:17:40 GMT

Catching up after a week away.

Celtic clung onto the title race with an early goal at home to a St Mirren remodelled by Craig McLeish into a ball hogging passing team.

Dundee 1, Celtic 2 - 5th April, 2026

Alan Morrison — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:24:53 GMT

Celtic got an early lead and added a dominant opening 45 minutes.

The first corner faced resulted in bouncing ball chaos, and what this season has been typical negative variance with a handball.

But Celtic recovered to win, adding hugely to stresses elsewhere.

Dundee United 2, Celtic 0 - 22nd March, 2026

Alan Morrison — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:31:21 GMT

Celtic has played the two polar opposite sides in the “style of play” spectrum in Motherwell and Dundee United over the last two weeks. The unifying feature of those matches is that both opponents were allowed to play the game they wanted and Celtic reacted around that.

This seems to be the defining feature of Martin O’Neill’s Celtic.

Celtic 3, Motherwell 1 - 14th March, 2026

Alan Morrison — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:03:08 GMT

The Champions continue to battle for wins as the pressure within each match increases.

Motherwell were very pleasing to watch, and are a very well coached side, albeit with a thin squad.

The Rangers 0, Celtic 0 (Celtic win 4-2 on penalties) - 8th March, 2026

Alan Morrison — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:25:35 GMT

There is much to be said about the short comings of this Celtic side, and many of them were on display at Ibrox in a remarkable Scottish Cup tie.

Celtic had no efforts on goal. None.

Yet prevailed on penalties in the ultimate smash and grab.

Abject defeat brought the historically common response from an angry home crowd.

Aberdeen 1, Celtic 2 - 4th March, 2026

Alan Morrison — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 11:53:14 GMT

We’ll need to accept there is some form of terrible beauty in continuing to perform like this and win. Football as “difficult” art, perhaps.

The Rangers 2, Celtic 2 - 1st March, 2026

Alan Morrison — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 16:22:42 GMT

In one sense we learned nothing new about this Celtic side.

It is a rag tag arrangement of loanees, imminent retirees, back ups and could be’s.

But we learned they have the stomach for a fight, another comeback, and perhaps the mental fortitude for what will be a crazy season’s end.

We also learned more about the incredible recovery job Danny Rohl has performed for the home side.

VfB Stuttgart 0, Celtic 1 - 26th February, 2026

Alan Morrison — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 20:53:25 GMT

A landmark first win on German soil, but ultimately all for nought.

Celtic 1, Hibernian 2 - 22nd February, 2026

Alan Morrison — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:09:05 GMT

Whilst mathematically, and based on the capabilities of the challengers, there is every chance of Celtic success this season, performances such as this will deflate many.

Celtic 1, VfB Stuttgart 4 - 19th February, 2026

Alan Morrison — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 17:43:04 GMT

I calculate a metric called Final Third Effectiveness.

It reflects a teams ability to get shots or corners or otherwise retain possession in the final third versus simply losing the ball.

In European football the average for opponents is 30%.

Stuttgart’s score is the highest I’ve recorded by any opponent and was 57%.

In football vernacular, you’d say “we didn’t make them work very hard for their goals”.

Kilmarnock 2, Celtic 3 - 15th February, 2026

Alan Morrison — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 16:39:07 GMT

There is nothing wrong with scoring last minute winners. A healthy habit to have. It certainly triggers all the right people, as the youngsters say. But it would be great if it was on the back of dominant, controlled performances!

The main conundrum prior to this match was replacing the stricken Arne Engels, the latest in a long line of soft tissue victims. Hoping Reo Hatate and Benjamin Nygren could provide the discipline, positioning and athleticism to plug central midfield and support a horribly isolated Callum McGregor, was forlorn.

Celtic 2, Livingston 1 - 11th February, 2026

Alan Morrison — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 17:31:13 GMT

With the opposition keeper making nine save, and racking up over 3 xG, one shouldn’t feel guilty about such victories.

But by Christ it would be nice to have a few “run of the mill” ones.

A storming start, early goal all seemed to set it up for a comfortable evening.

However, with the variance monster running loose across the league, that is unlikely to be the case for the foreseeable.

Celtic 2, Dundee 1 (AET) - 7th February, 2026

Alan Morrison — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 20:37:14 GMT

Firstly credit due to Dundee who came to play a high pressing game, to pass out from the back, and to deploy two wingers to pin Celtic back. They belied their league form with an expansive performance.

Celtic made changes, and in midfield in particular, lacked creativity and forward drive.

A reminder that the only place to get Celtic domestic Cup data is here.