Champions League: Wednesday October 17th

Porto 3

Celtic 0

1:0 Clayton (1); 2:0 Silva (45); 3:0 Clayton (60)

Att: 30,303

Ref: Temmink (Holland)

Celtic: Douglas; Balde, Mjallby, Valgaeren; Agathe, Lambert, Lennon, Petrov (Sylla 66)), Thompson (Moravcik 55); hartson (Maloney 88), Larsson

Celtic wanted to be in any other Porto as a storm of goals saw the Hoops sink from top to third place in the group.

The Bhoys breezed out from kick off only to find themselves cast adrift as early as the first minute, when Clayton planted a header past Rab D and steered the good ship Celtic towards the rocks.

Any hopes of a fightback were soon scuppered as Valgaeren was constantly pulled wide by Capucho and the Sieve re-surfaced with all the grace of the crippled Kursk .

Celtic, were as effective as the Afghani air defence, firing off all over the place and looking as organised as a kids kick about.

Outfought, out classed and outplayed, a second on the 45 minute mark killed the game as a contest. Balde managed to clear a cross, but ineptly headed it directly out in front of goal. Silva did the rest.

OFM seemed to have keel-hauled a few of the flagging troops at half time, as the restart saw some self belief restored and Agathe begin to make ground down the right. All to no avail. No service to Larsson and no contribution from Hartson meant no goals for Celtic. Without Sutton and Petta, Porto's rearguard was relatively untroubled.Lubo was then drafted in for Thompson in an attempt to pressurise Porto, and the stalwart Lennon dropped back.

The third goal , a second for Clayton after 65 minutes, was inevitable and sickening when it came.

It was lucky to finish at three. Celtic did not manage a shot on target. The team looked tired and an organisational shambles for long periods of this game. The lack of relative depth in the squad was cruelly exposed Porto proved ust too experienced at this level. Celtic have to take this on the chin and realistically win their next two games to qualify. This is not too tall an order, but OFM has to get the tactics right and the teams confidence restored. If any one can do it, he is the man. First off though he must order a taxi for Hartson.