“It was men against boys out there,” Blackburn captain – ‘Naw it wisnae’ | OneFootball

On this day in 2002 Graeme Souness brought his Blackburn Rovers side north of the border to take on Celtic in a UEFA Cup ‘Battle of Britain’ tie with the first leg at Celtic Park…

Celtic fans encourage their team during the UEFA Cup Second Round First Leg match between Celtic and Blackburn Rovers on October 31, 2002 played at Celtic Park. Celtic won the match 1-0. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Arrogance has always come naturally to Souness, the former Rangers FC manager, and it’s fair to say that he fancied his chances and so did his team, which incidentally is fair, enough. Martin O’Neill was in the Celtic dugout that night and his team selections was as follows:

Henrik Larsson of Celtic in action during the UEFA Cup, Second Round, First Leg match between Celtic and Blackburn Rovers at Celtic Park on October 31, 2002. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Douglas, Agathe (Sylla 81), Balde, Laursen, Valgaeren, Petrov, Lennon, Lambert (Hartson 76), Thompson, Larsson and Sutton. The unused Celtic substitutes were  Gould, Fernandez, Maloney, Guppy and Crainey.

And the Blackburn team was:

Friedel, Neill, Short, Johansson, Taylor, Thompson, Flitcroft, Tugay, Duff, Ostenstad, Yorke. Subs: Dunn, Cole, Jansen, Grabbi, Kelly, Gillespie, Douglas.

Henrik Larsson of Celtic scores the first goal during the UEFA Cup, Second Round, First Leg match between Celtic and Blackburn Rovers at Celtic Park on October 31, 2002. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Blackburn certainly looked like a decent side and had plenty of possession on a night where Celtic were far from their best. But the only goal of the game came with just five minutes left to play and it came from Celtic talisman Henrik Larsson, netting his 21 goal in European competitions to beat the Scottish record previously held by Ally McCoist.

Celtic players celebrate after scoring a goal during the UEFA Cup Second Round First Leg match between Celtic and Blackburn Rovers on October 31, 2002 played at Celtic Park. Celtic won the match 1-0. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

A 1-0 away defeat was far from being a terrible result for Blackburn and they could take confidence from performing so well inside the intimidating arena at Celtic Park on a big European night. They however lost the tie after the final whistle at Celtic Park when they gave the Celtic team the perfect motivation to go to Lancashire a few weeks later and make Blackburn Rovers eat their words.

Celtic players celebrate after scoring a goal during the UEFA Cup Second Round First Leg match between Celtic and Blackburn Rovers on October 31, 2002 played at Celtic Park. Celtic won the match 1-0. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Here are the quotes that are available on The Celtic Wiki alongside much more on this match.

“The gaffer said it was men against boys out there,” Blackburn captain Gary Flitcroft on Celtic after the game at Celtic Park.

Blackburn Rovers manager Graeme Souness and Celtic manager Martin O’Neill after the UEFA Cup, Second Round, First Leg match between Celtic and Blackburn Rovers at Celtic Park on October 31, 2002. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

“If Celtic score one then we can score three. Hopefully by 10pm tonight people will be saying ‘Bloody hell, that Blackburn are a good side’” Graeme Souness said prior to the second leg.

Henrik Larsson of Celtic scores the first goal during the Blackburn Rovers v Glasgow Celtic UEFA Cup second round, second leg match at Ewood Park on November 14, 2002. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Arrogance and over confidence aplenty. The men against boys line annoyed the Celtic players so much that Henrik Larsson actually swore on live television after him and the former Blackburn title winner Chris Sutton both scored Celtic’s emphatic 2-0 win at Ewood Park.

Henrik Larsson of Celtic celebrates scoring the first goal during the UEFA Cup second round second leg match between Blackburn Rovers and Celtic held on November 14, 2002 at Ewood Park. Celtic won the match 2-0, winning the tie 3-0 on aggregate. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

What a brilliant night that was for the travelling support!

He who laughs last…