Di Canio's display fans only comfort

If, as he threatened earlier in the week, last night's match against PSV Eindhoven, in the third-fourth place play-off of the Irish International Club Tournament, was to be his last in a Celtic shirt Paolo Di Canio seemed intent on making it a memorable one for the thousands of supporters who spent the night pleading with him to stay at Parkhead.

Di Canio finished the evening with a medal (the first, one observer noted, of his Celtic career) but only for fourth place after Celtic drew 2-2 with the Dutch champions, having led 2-0, before losing 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out.

Morten Weighorst had put Celtic one up in the 38th minute of the first half, heading home Di Canio's inch perfect cross from the left and the lead was doubled three minutes later when PSV goalkeeper Ronald Wattereus's attempted clearance of Malky Mackay's shot rebounded off Chris van der Weerden in to his own net.

It was an undeserved lead for a side whose performance was, admittedly, an improvement on their display against Derry City but still some way short of suggesting the coming season will any less painful for their supporters.

A minute before half-time Belgian international Gilles de Bilde brought PSV back in to the game when he collected Igor Demo's perfectly threaded pass to slot the ball past Gordon Marshall. De Bilde levelled for the Dutch 10 minutes after the break, turning Jacke McNamara in the box and finishing superbly.

Di Canio almost capped a fine individual performance with a goal in the 63rd minute but was denied by a Wattereus save.

PSV scored from all five of their penalties but Wattereus saved Celtic's fourth, taken by substitute John Paul McBride.

Celtic coach Wim Jansen did not attend the post-match press conference, his place being taken by David Hay, the club's assistant general manager. When asked about Di Canio's future at the club Hay simply commented that the Italian has three years left on his contract and will not be leaving Parkhead. Celtic fans would like to believe him.