A late goal by Kilmarnock substitute Dieter van Tornhout was enough to overcome Celtic in the Scottish Communities League Cup Final at Hampden this afternoon. Celtic’s record in League Cup finals since 1970 has been dismal, they have reached 21 finals in that time, winning only seven, and have contrived to lose to rank outsiders, including Partick Thistle, Hibs, Dundee, Aberdeen and Raith Rovers, but few victors will have gone into the final with form as indifferent as Killie’s.
Neil Lennon changed the Celtic formula, brining Kelvin Wilson into central defence and pushing Victor Wanyama into midfield but they never managed to dictate play for a sustained period. Both teams had great chances, Kilmarnock keeper, Cammy Bell, won man of the match, while his opposite number, Fraser Forster, was Celtic’s best performer.
Gary Hooper had a miserable day but was most culpable after intercepting a risky pass by Mahamadou Sissoko across the Kilmarnock box but, unmarked, with the ball at his feet 18 yards from goal, he snatched at his shot and Bell saved.
Kilmarnock looked nervous early on but after Dean Sheils’ shot went narrowly past 20 minutes in they settled and looked the equal of the favourites.
Scott Brown crossed well from the right for Stokes to head from 13 yards but Bell was there to end the danger again. Brown then had a fine shot tipped over by Bell.
Paul Heffernan then brought the best out of Fraser Forster as the Celtic keeper kept his team level.
Sheils looked sure to put Kilmarnock ahead minutes after the break when he fought free inside the box but with the goal opening before him he seemed to panic and could not connect properly with his shot. Sissoko threatened again with a header. The warning signs were there for Celtic.
Neil Lennon realised his formation was not working and decided to hook Thomas Rogne, who was playing well, but the tactical switch allowed Ki to move into midfield while Wanyama dropped back. Ki immediately brought a degree of composure to Celtic’s play but Kilmarnock were no less threatening.
Gary Hooper was eventually subbed for Geogrios Samaras as Celtic again changed the recipe. Samaras played left and James Forrest was asked to play behind Anthony Stokes but the change didn’t have the desired effect.
With seven minutes of the game remaining Lee Johnson got behind the Celtic defence on the left to cross while van Tornout drove towards the back post where he headed into the net to give Kilmarnock the lead.
Celtic chased an equaliser and Bell made an excellent double save to deny Samaras and Kris Commons. Anthony Stokes had a last minute claim for a penalty denied and was booked for his efforts.
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I like a number of posters was angry about the manner of the defeat and the predictable Collum (prove I’m not a Celtic fan) non-decision. I am still angry at the Collum’s decision AND the performance level of some of the players but let me say I do not think they are all duds based on one game.
This same group of players took Celtic on an unbelievable run from a time when we were struggling to win one match in a row and the animals had a 15 point lead and were being bummed up by the media to high heaven. They do not become bad players overnight, they can have poor form and they can in a one off match like a cup final, lose to an organized team who took their only genuine chance and who had a keeper who played the game of his life. It doesn’t matter if the shots were all straight at him, he had to save them and he did. He got lucky with a couple of those shots but you need luck in football. As Paul 67 told us, yesterday was Kilmarnock’s season and just like in the 70’s when Thistle beat Celtic in the league cup and Celtic then went to Firhill and battered them, I’d expect something similar in a few weeks at Rugby Park.
Ignore the commentators telling us how great it is Kilmarnock won, they are the same peepel who tell us that Scottish football is only about Celtic and Rangers day to day and then when it suits them, it’s great that honours are spread around. We know their motivations and they like the peepel they write for and talk for can only look forward to this in the near future – Celtic making a mess of a cup final as their team sits idly by watching and hoping Celtic lose. They are about to have a soul crushing few years and this is their last vestige of flexing their bile -filled hatred for us.
Neil Lennon has made mistakes and will make mistakes as a manager. It is only his second year in management after all and this young side will continue to improve. Neil has signed more good players than bad and for this team to have gone on the run they have without Izzaguirre and Kayal speaks volumes – there is more to come.
Celtic will be champions and we can still win a double. remember that. The team did not bottle it yesterday nor do I think they thought they only had to turn up, instead they faced a side with a capable manager and some good players who dug in and got the breaks they needed to win. I also think Celtic being 21 points clear doesn’t help sharpness. We’ve seen that kind of thing before and we’ll see it again.
The lack of effort and attitude from some players yesterday made me very angry. The front two were not at the races in the slightest and the early Hooper miss set the tone for him. Stokes made too many poor decisions and James Forrest was too greedy. The three of them were too greedy at times and this contributed to the loss. Ledley had his worst game in a Celtic shirt for me and Victor was too casual. Mathews looked out of sorts and Kelvin Wilson just looks too casual – he should have been hooked for Samaras and Rogne should have remained. All of this is easy to say with the benefit of hindsight but all of those players I’ve mentioned have taken us from the Dark days of October and November 3rd when we were 15 points down to 21 points in front or 11 in front if you give Rangers their 10 points back. They messed up the cup that Celtic in all forms weak or strong traditionally mess up and the greatest Celtic manager regularly lost this cup final. Perspective indeed.
Next weekend I do not think Celtic will win as a combination of the big lead, their last chance to beat us and boot us all over the park AND the referee who will be in “honest mistake mode” will see us fail to win no matter what team is put out by them. McCulloch will be sharpening his studs as I write this and deciding who he is going to assault this time (as he did in December). The team they put out last weekend full of young “players” booted United off the park at every turn and so I expect nothing other than the same this weekend full carte blanche to do so from the referee.
Regardless, Celtic fans should go there and sing our songs and laugh at Rangers and their Quiz show Captain manager – Rangers til July, you’re Rangers til July…. Having a party, Ice cream and Jelly and if they are winning let them know that it amounts to a nice day out for them and that is it. Their winning run is at an end and their future will be that of regular defeats to the other sides home and away. I would love to win the game and the title there but if not then so be it. It is better to win it at home anyway.
Neil Lennon and the players have done so much that it is hard to criticize them and some of the comments about Neil last night from some posters were beyond the pale (don’t know if they were all from regulars or not but they didn’t sit well).
We lost a football match. It happens. Live with it. We can win the treble next year or in the future.
Count yourself lucky that you are a Celtic fan and be magnanimous in defeat.
My heart goes out to the Kelly family but at least the man saw his boy win something and give him one last happy moment in his life. An absolute tragedy which reminds us that football is only a game – a game that means a hell of a lot but a game nonetheless.
We are Celtic supporters and we’ll be back doing what we do best. I think playing a charity match against Kilmarnock would be a great gesture. That is who we are and what we do best.
Hail Hail.
Quonno,of course,im sure Lenny and his team will sit down and examine what went wrong..Some like Paddy some dont,same with Sammi,Wilson and Forrest..Lenny goes with who he likes,and for that reason he has did pretty well.He made mistakes and will make more,O’neil did,big Jock did,Stracken also but they were sucessful.Lenny is 2 seasons into his first managment job,one of the biggest in football,For me he is doing a good job in what have been at times difficult..
KevJungle 19 March, 2012 at 10:10 said:
It wasn’t intended to be scummy
But, if the glass-house that you live in leads you to think that way then, thats your look-out! IMO!
So you saying that Lenny can no longer live in this country after the death of Paul McBride and that I’ve to wait and see what is going to happen to him is not a scummy thing to say?
Aye OK then.
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon – Well said that man! It didn’t work out for us yesterday but I think most Celtic fans would agree under Neil Lennon’s stewardship we are a club going in the right direction.
Bobby Evans Superstar on 19 March, 2012 at 10:07 said:
However, I thought the team, collectively, was poor yesterday – too many misplaced passes, slack defending and lack of movement off the ball. Looked to me that several players thought they just had to step on the park to be presented with the trophy
Been sitting trying to summise how I feel about yesterday and you have just written it down to a tee.
Il not criticise Lennon for the team selection, I think thats the team everyone around me would have picked. Stokes, Forrest and Hoops had been the main men to help us get to the final so deserved to start.
However I agree he left it too late to change it.
Celtic havent been great for a few weeks and its taken the proverbial rocket from Lennon at half time to focus and motivate them. We were all waiting for it to happen yesterday but it never materialised.
dont agree with the decision to take off Hoops, put Sammy left and Forrest behind one man up front. Forrest was playing extremely poorly himself, I would have hooked him first.
Hoops for the bench on Sunday 100%. The last time he looked so lethargic a spell on the sidelines made his season for him. Lets do it again and then find out why we have to do it in the first place.
All in all, to summarise il go back to your paragraph.
Thats quite painful to take
kitalba on 19 March, 2012 at 10:05 said:
I remember getting GUBBED 4 – 1 by Thistle in the cup.
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I was there too – total disbelief in what I was watching that day, but results like that mke footbal worth watching (not for us that day though). If I remember correctly, we gave them a real doing shortly afterwards – that’s what we need to do on 7th April. Before that of course we need to get our heads in gear for this weekend.,
Kevin
What difference does it matter to the outcome what I (and others) say after the game. The facts are this. We created more chances yesterday than we have in our past 3 games and only for some great saves from the keeper we’d have scored 2 or 3.
A bit of luck with the ref giving the penalty could have seen us going to extra-time and then who knows what would have happened. Our last LC win came in extra time against Rangers, 2 good goals sealed the game after a pretty uninspiring first 90 mins.
Mort
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon on 19 March, 2012 at 10:11
Well said
Algarvian on 19 March, 2012 at 10:02 said:
I would play Dan, Glen or even the young guy who played in europe before Kelvin, he is just rank rotten, pedestrian etc etc
Neil you should have never taken Thomas off and left that donkey on the pitch (and thats based on all the times I have seen him not just yesterday)
ALGARVIAN 1002
There’s a lot of competition for that one.
Including,btw,the peerless Paul Elliott in HIS first season…….
KevJungle – “Lennons Lions Get Ready To ROAR!!!” on 19 March, 2012 at 08:24 said:
Thanks to CQN’s lady of the night
Margaret McGill.
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Shades of Kojo & The Singing Detective in this comment, who many suspect are one and the same.
Are you really Peggy in drag?
Gordon J
I feel if we go out a sign a couple of 28- 30 year olds for next season the team would grow at a far greater rate than signing a few more youngsters that we can sell on later for good money. In fact I believe a couple of old heads would raise the value of the younger players far quicker if that is what the board are interested in.
This team in the CL would get eaten alive, we need to get people in the team with a been there ,seen it, done it, bought the t-shirt attitude!
Whats going on with Izzaguirre? Is he still struggling to get back to match fitness? Wasn´t even on the bench yesterday.
league cup 1971 Celtic 1 Partick Thistle 4
Mort on 19 March, 2012 at 10:19 said:
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I know this won’t go down too well but
don’t you think that Neil should have taken a leaf from, ‘sir walter’ yesterday and, parked the bus ? Just like he should have done in – Uttrecht etc… ?
Get the game won and, then put on the dinner suits IMO.
Hail Hail
DUSHANBE BHILLY BHOY on 19 March, 2012 at 10:22 said:
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Now theres a question.
Hail Hail
Morning bhoys,
Very disapointing day yesterday.
No composure in the final third at all. Cammy Bell played well but everything was hit straight at him except the Stokes header which was a wonder save.
Defo a penalty at the end but Stokesy should have scored before being tackled from behind.
Only positive that I can see from yesterday is with clubs like Killie and Dundee Utd beating the top two it shows that this cuold be a competitive league next season and one which does’t necessarily need the huns.
Also, I really like Kenny Sheils. He spoke very highly of Celtic after the game at a time when he could have just basked in the glory.
Lets hope the board see yesterdays defeat and our latest lacklustre performances as a reason to strengthen in the summer.
Kit I don’t care if that rugby league game is to pay to bury rfc for good
It is wrong to split players up from
Different races within a country
It’s wrong, and I pity you not being able to see that
Commentators make racist comments and get away with it
The sport is awefull and rotten to the core with racists
Amazing how we all Laff at huns for not asking questions, but certain Celtic fans abuse other Celtic fans who dare to ask questions
Mmmm
The Honest Mistake loves being first on 19 March, 2012 at 10:17 said:
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The establishment were on a short leash when, Paul McBride was snapping at their heels. IMO.
THAT’s all I’m saying.
Hail Hail
Vinibhoy
Very good point about Kenny Sheils. He spoke well of Celic yesterday. I wonder if some of our players were listening to him before the game.
Couple of well made points there snake, but for me although we maybe didn’t do enough to win the cup in 90 minutes I don’t think killie did any better, on the day, they got a bit of luck and we didn’t.
I see Kenny Clark has said it was no penalty- this probably sums up in one sentence a lot of the problems that the Scottish game has faced in recent seasons, a refusal by the running bodies to believe that they are anything else but perfect.
Re lennys after match comments where he mentioned that the ref got it wrong. Well the ref did get it wrong. Just like he got it wrong last season at tannadice. Lennys comments yesterday were similar to the comments of last season, when he started his run of bans. I somehow think that the SPL/SFA don’t have the appetite for a fight this time around though.
Is Lenny above criticism? of course not, neither was Henrik, but we all knew that henrik had a few points in the bank where we owed him, I think that lenny too has a few points in the bank and is also due a break. It’s hard for me to think of a manager who deserves the treble more than him.
In the big picture, the league is about two victories away from being clinched, I would gladly sacrifice both cups every season if I could take the title, IMO the two cups are merely an icing on the title, without the league, the two cups are only a poor consolation and that’s just on the pitch. Off the pitch we will see much more to be happy about than angry
Paul,
what did I tell you last week about Rogne ?
Teams don’t score against us when the young man plays.
Celtic managers – MON apart have previous for ignoring the improtance of a strong central defence. Wilson seems to think that he is Rio Ferdinand, no idea why ?
Chopping central defenders is a massive mistake.
I read all of the Hooper stuff and agree he had a poor game , but for me Stokes was a lot worse – one free kick goal does not make you a specialist. – He is like a wee boy in a playground “let me take it ” Childish.
I wonder how many pundits will consider the Cup less of an achievment for Killie like our league was being labelled ?
Seville67
Kev Jungle
Drop it!
Mmmm —
Lovely sunny day ,way down south.
Birds chirping , lizards lounging and butterflies fluttering . Hundreds of Black Winged Stilts [ migrating northwards] slept here overnight and departed at dawn — Lovely to see —spring is coming ..
Yesterday was strange —– I spent last week trying to fight off the feeling that Killie were a stitch on to win —- Hooper’s early miss confirmed my fears.. A poor ,poor performance.
Kevin Wilson —- ? small sample- but – my home and away for 50 plus years Notts Forest supporting pal told me that Wilson was very occasionally good but mostly dire. I remain to be convinced that he is not 100 % the latter..
Big game next weekend . They will be up for it .!
SydneyTim
I never took you for a fool befgore but now I know you are one. After all this time you still have not taken the opportunity to read what that game is all about.
In case you were pissed at the time, there were ‘black and white’ players on both sides, did you not notice?
Did you not take the time to research the trophy?
Did you not take the time to find out how the game came about and where the money is spent?
Only a fool would not have done that. After all this time.
Still gutted by the result,not so much for the cup but its a vital part of a treble. Lenny has to take a large degree of the criticism as does the cheat Gollum. But Ki and Wilson were both culpable for the goal. Ki, I thought, improved us immensley when introduced but he lost his man who provided the assist.
We do need some (quality) experience in the team – in an ideal world I’d sell off 7 or 8 squad players (when you look at the number of forgotten men and loan players and add in the Polish boy when he comes its actually ridiculous) and bring in 2 or 3 quality and experienced players in their place.
Snake,
All good points.
I too doubt we’ll get a win at Asbestox, too much riding on it for Thems to cope.
Win Lose or Draw we’ll be styled the bad guys.
Anyway, i’d far prefer it if we bhoycotted that midden and instead did our celebrating in the comfort of Celtic Park.
HH
Kelvin Wilson is rubbish but I knew that before Kilmarnock Scored yesterday.. However he wasn’t solely responsible …Ki did his usually lazy track back that allowed the cross to go in to the box that exposed Wilson.
Too many had a bad day at the office but more treble opportunities lie ahead .
This season was always about title..
bankiebhoy1 on 19 March, 2012 at 10:35 said:
Snake
Win Lose or Draw we’ll be styled the bad guys.
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Who’ll call us the b ad guys ?
Hail Hail
HH
Snake Plissken on 19 March, 2012 at 10:15 said:
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excellent post mate
I thought Ki improved us massively yesterday but a more experienced player would have tripped the player that got away from him and taken a yellow.
I would guess that Rogne was taken off rather than Wilson because the latter has more pace. Lenny clearly decided to go for it in the closing minutes rather than play more cautiously and wait for extra time. I think that keeping Wilson on was to guard against a break.
bankiebhoy1
A part of me would prefer Motherwell to win next week so that it cannot be a title decider and they’ll be in front of Rangers then regardless of the result the Motherwell/Rangers match the following week becomes more interesting – we can win the league without having kicked a ball.
The level of trouble that is going to happen after that match next week doesn’t bear thinking about.
I hope we win or at best avoid defeat but the Motherwell game the day before determines it as the clincher or not. They’ve never lost 4 games at home in a row in their history – it would be a hell of a thing if we did win and make history but I do feel they’ll get every decision under the sun next week to make sure they get something to talk about – lets face it, they’re not going to get much else to shout about for a while.
First I have to say well done to Killie.
How many times in the lst 10 minutes did they flood forward when they had the ball, the goal came as no surprise they made chances before it and they finished the stronger.
As regarding us – deja vu all over again – we were poor and the cracks first spotted a couple of weeks ago just got bigger.
AS – needs to grow up, he is currently a man child.
More than anyone on the team he needs a strong captain.
GH – played well in patches but they all came as a surprise.
His game / confidence / touch has collapsed.
Does he have his mind on other things?
KW – rabbit in the headlights again.
Just how many CBs are we going to buy before we get it right?
VW – did a job but it was not the one that was needed.
We got done over in the MF, they played well and we sat back too much.
JL / AM – have they ever played well after a Welsh game (egg chasing)?
I couldn’t wait for the WC to end in Oct as it seemed to affect their play.
JF – looked very flat, possibly all a bit much for him.
He should not have made it past HT.
NL – he has the managerial trait I hate.
Doesn’t pick a team based on positions, he picks a team based on who he likes and then tries to make the people fit the positions.
One substitution – three positional changes – No!
Consequently gutted, it was RC all over again.
You have to ask where we’re the squad drinking on Sunday / Monday?
At least the ‘Sleekit’s won’t get away with the “scoddish foooball needs ranjurs” argument……..I’m sure that very point is being made as the tabloids reflect on Killie’s victory!?
Aye.
Apples will grow again
MadMitch on 19 March, 2012 at 10:47 said:
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Neil Lennon won’t be the 1st Celtic manager who’s team selection is based on, cronyism. IMO.
Hail Hail
Kevin
don’t you think that Neil should have taken a leaf from, ‘sir walter’ yesterday and, parked the bus ?
Nearly spat my coffee out all over the computer.
Are you seriously suggesting that we should have “parked the bus” yesterday against Kilmarnock!!! Seriously!!!
I’ve read some guff on here, but that takes the biscuit.
In fact I was even going to congratulate Kilmarnock for not doing that and for attempting to play football which they did really well especially if you compare their performance with that of Dunfermline a couple of weeks ago.
I wish more teams would attack more against us, they might just see an improvement rather then just sitting back hoping they don’t get beat by too much. We will beat most teams playing open football but for the development of scottish football, if more teams had the same philosophy as Kenny Shiels’ Kilmarnock, Scottish football would be much better and it would help to improve our team too.
Mort