Celtic’s unforgettable New Year’s Day fightback

The Celtic Star

·1. Januar 2025

Celtic’s unforgettable New Year’s Day fightback

Broken Hearts – Celtic’s dramatic and unforgettable New Year’s Day 2006 fightback at Tynecastle…

Stephen McManus celebrates after scoring for Celtic at Typecastle in the dramatic 3-2 win on New Year’s Day 2006. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Celtic broke Hearts on the first day of 2006. Table topping Celtic headed to Tynecastle to take on a decent Hearts side who were breathing down our necks in second place.

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With a mere four points between the sides it was all to play for and the Gorgie side as always would prove a formidable opponent in their hostile home surroundings of Tynecastle. Gordon Strachan was aiming to win the title in his first season in charge and a win at our nearest rivals would go a long way to achieving that goal.

Hearts raced into a 2-0 lead

It didn’t exactly go to plan as the home side raced into a two goal lead in the first eight minutes buoyed on by a fanatical home support, and it looked very ominous for Strachan and his players who looked like they were nursing a massive Hogmanay hangover.

John Hartosn celebrates after Stephen McManus scores for Celtic at Typecastle in the dramatic 3-2 win on New Year’s Day 2006. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Fortunately we managed to make it to half time only two goals behind, and it was time to regroup and focus on mounting a second half comeback.

Celtic suffered another set back

Celtic then suffered a set back just five minutes into the second half when Stan Petrov had to go off injured as our chances of getting something out of the match took a slight setback. His replacement Stephen Pearson however gave us a ray of hope just five minutes after entering the fray as he got on to the end of a Shaun Maloney cross to bundle the ball into the net to half the deficit. This goal gave Celtic a much needed confidence booster going into the last half an hour of the game.

Celtic searched for an equaliser

Celtic searched for an equaliser but couldn’t breach the stubborn Hearts defence, although we gained a massive advantage with just 15 minutes remaining when Jambos defender Takis Fyssas was giving his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

Stephen McManus scores for Celtic at Typecastle in the dramatic 3-2 win on New Year’s Day 2006. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Stephen McManus headed in the equaliser…then scored the winner

Celtic went for the jugular against the ten men Gorgie side and it paid dividends when skipper Stephen McManus headed in an equaliser with just three minutes remaining as the Hoops looked to have salvaged a vital point in a game that looked all but out of their reach.

Things would get even better three minutes later with the game entering added time when that man McManus again popped up again to fire a late winner and send the Celtic supporters behind the goal into a state of euphoria as we clinched a dramatic victory literally from the jaws of defeat.

It was a dramatic but perfect start to the New Year as we increased our lead at the top of the table, a position we would remain in for the remainder of the season.

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