As Good as it gets.

The Champion’s League music is always greeted by an unbelievable noise and the version of Walk On which follows is simply the best (not keen on that phrase but for once it applies). The fact that the crabbit Man U support tried their best to drown it out with boos made us sing all the harder. Fair Kop, not their favourite song. The singing was the best I’ve ever heard the whole game; mainly because we went ahead so early and for so long and also because of the drivel that was coming from the away end. The Mancs had clearly called on pretty boy Andrew Lloyd Webber to expand their repertoire; Champions of England. Champions of Europe. Champions of England. Champions of Europe. Champions of England. Champions of Europe. Champions of England. Champions of Europe. Champions of England. Champions of Europe. Champions of England. Champions of Europe. Chanted for about half a chuffin hour at a time with not even a tune. Champions of England. Champions of Europe. The Sellick fans would counter act with one from the Juke Box only to find when they’d finished - Champions of England. Champions of Europe. Champions of England. Champions of Europe. SHUT IT YA BOABIES!! Champions of England. Champions of Europe. Champions of England. Champions of Europe. I tried to join in but I couldnay mind the chorus.

On the pitch we were frickin awesome to a man. If I had to be critical, Robson was ropey in patches; lost possession a few times and some needless free kicks, but what couldn’t be questioned was his commitment. Cillian Sheridan did look a bit lost in parts of the game, but hard to criticise such a young guy who tried his heart out. There is also a debate on whether or not the equaliser was a goalkeeping error; I’ve still not seen it again on the telly, but my first reaction was that it was another Boruc blunder, of which he is making a worrying habit these days. That’s quite a few he’s pushed out onto a striker this season. Yes the ball was performing all sorts of ungodly movements but you’d still expect your keeper, when he has so much behind the ball to turn it round the post or at least ensure it’s not returning into traffic.

Caldwell and McManus were compared during the week to Miller and McLeish. On the current form (McManus seems to be returning back to his best) that is not a bad shout and with both relatively young players, it could be a partnership which serves Celtic for a good few years. They were outstanding again at the weekend against Motherwell, who played really well, looking to take advantage of any tiredness. Caldwell especially made some fantastic tackles and is the man making the early running for player of the season, which is an amazing turnaround from the shaky start he’s had to his Celtic career.

For the first time this season against Man U I thought our full backs performed as well. Hinkel having his best game in a Celtic jersey and Wilson coping well with the best player in the world. In fact the best player in the world was decidedly average, went in the huff from early on and was lucky to stay on the park for a kick at Scott Brown. If it had been a Celtic player booting the greasy Portugese whinger then he would have been red carded instantly, after we had to watch Ronaldo rolling over more times than the Euro millions lottery.

We were the better side in the first half but the second half was like the Alamo and total torture to watch. Because we didn’t have Hesselink, Samaras or even Killen, when the defence broke down a Man U attack - which they were doing with unexpected ease - there was nowhere to hit. Ordinarily you could just welly it up the park and let them scrap for it but with only Sheridan up front with any presence, it wasn’t ever going to be a fair contest against Vidic and Ferdinand. MacDonald was immense and has been for the last couple of weeks, really stepping up to the plate to cover for all the absentees. Though with 20 minutes to go he had very little left in the tank. Though his goal will live long in the memory.

Berbatov was on at half time which gave the Irish Man U fan I was sitting with a wee chubby as “Ee’s da best playor in da worlt”. But he did very little. Then the screw was really turned when Ferguson put on Rooney. Maybe he didn’t start the game as they wanted a decent team photie for once. He did make a huge difference. I’ve seen Rooney play in the flesh a few times but he really seems to have upped his game recently and playing the free role made him impossible to pin down. His new haircut’s nice as well. He’s got a coopin that really carries it. Seemingly the reason it’s like that is Colleen was at the doctor as she was suffering from piles and he told her it might help if she shaved her arse.

If you’d offered any Celtic fan a draw before the game, after the doing at Old Trafford, he’d have taken it. But when you’re in the lead with so little time to go, you get greedy and when the equaliser came it was heartbreaking. Whit the chuff was Ryan Giggs doing scoring with a header, 5 minutes to go. He’s about the same age as Davie Weir.

The performance definitely went a long way to winning back some credibility. When you get guys like Paul Ince making comments like men against boys, then it’s good to shut them up. It will be a shame when Blackburn get relegated. I didn’t hear anything like that said about Chelsea who were pumped by Roma. Alex Ferguson (why the blue strips?) was good after it; when asked about the atmosphere he said that is was incredible and he mentioned Ronaldo and Vidic saying it’s the best they’ve ever experienced. He then said that his players would love to play for fans like that. He realised that he’d over-stepped the mark and moved on swiftly. He’s spot on though. When Celtic supporters give their team backing like that, they are the best in the world. Many a pundit has looked at the paradox that is Celtic’s home and away Champion’s league form and been baffled but it’s patently obvious on nights like that. Andy Walker put it very well when he said that it isn’t the support intimidating the away team, but about them helping the Celtic players jump higher, run faster and never give in. Quite something to be a part of that.