TIC TALK

What is it with Celtic supporters and conspiracies? The past week has been full of them spouting off about how their 1-0 win over Blackburn in the UEFA Cup first leg hasn't been given the merit it deserves in the Scottish media.

Regular readers of this column will know that we take great pleasure in giving the media a good roasting when they deserve it. The last four words in the previous sentence are crucial though. In the case of Celtic v Blackburn, what do the press and TV stand accused of? Only of administering a verdict on Celtic's performance that was shared by almost everyone who watched the match.

Celtic were outplayed, outthought, outfought and outwitted. A typically sneaky poacher's strike from Henrik Larsson gave them a precious advantage for the second leg that few would claim they deserved.

That's not being anti-Celtic. It's not being part of some English/Orange/Masonic conspiracy. It's simply telling the truth. Celtic's midfield was diabolical. Lennon, Lambert, Thompson and Petrov were anonymous. Up front, Agathe saw plenty of the ball but did little other than to hump hopeful punts into the box. Ex-Rover Chris Sutton was right at home with his old team-mates. Virtually every time he passed the ball he found a Blackburn player.

Not every Celtic player had a poor game. Balde and Valgaeren were impressive in defence - they had to be. And Rab Douglas put in a fine shift when it was needed. John Hartson's arrival off the bench put some steel into the Celtic attack. Larsson was hardly in the game but in the end he got the only goal - one that could prove crucial come the return in Lancashire.

Let's get our position clear. This website wants Celtic to win. Scottish football NEEDS Celtic to win. For our champion side to be eliminated over two legs by a mid-ranking Premiership side would be a terrible result. Yes, the Parkhead team were lucky in Glasgow but if they can score at Ewood Park that should be enough to take them into the next round. In eight home games this season, Blackburn have won just twice. That said, they've only failed to score in two of these matches.

Since the two opponents who kept Souness's side from hitting the target are Sunderland and Aston Villa, surely its not asking too much of Celtic that they do at least as well as these Premiership strugglers?

And those Parkhead moaners would do well to reflect on this: Do they really think that scraping a lucky win over a team like Blackburn merits shouting from the rafters? Is that how low their sights are? If so, then God help them if they ever fulfil their ambition to play in the Premiership.