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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Vinibhoy
Correct about Ki. But he also allowed the Killie man to cross for the goal. You can’t win every game but he was just as culpable as Wilson.
.
MadMitch..
I Thinks Sammi Return to the Team and Form blows your Theory out the Water..
Sammi after Ross County was the First out the Door..
Summa
Snake,
never thought about the Mothers putting them into 3rd…….
There’s a connundrum for the ‘Haircut That Timre Forgot’, eh?
Feeling better already.
Cheers!
HH
Martin ONeill picked his favourites and those who didn’t let him down too often
Gordon Strachan pciked the “good team mates”
Tommy Burns was loyal to those who he had played with and he had is favourites.
They all won more than they lost as Celtic managers.
They all lost matches to inferior sides and they all lost to teams from lower leagues in cup competitions.
In the here and now we are disappointed and our hurt makes us think irrationally or too emotively. In time we can chalk it up to experience and know full well we’ll be back.
I wonder if Sammy will get his Da to go to the papers this week and have him make noises about his son looking to move on if he doesn’t get a start next week
And
Referees not giving penalties don’t cost you trebles,strikers not performing or taking chances on the day of cup finals do
bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Abuse, you dare to plead abuse, does the word hypocrite mean anything to you. All you’ve ever done on here is abuse and when you are taken to task for being a lazy poster verging on a lying poster by omission and/or innuendo – IN THE LEAST – then out comes your pathetic victim card and you play the –abuse – card. Every time you post you abuse my sensibilities but you don’t hear me bleat – who will rid me of this turbulent bleeder?
Don’t have a go at me, don’t you know I’m a victim.
I AM A VICTIM. You are a prisoner of your own joy vacuum. You are a victim of your greed.
Do me a favour mate… grow a pair, or better still put your money where your mouth is and buy an official Celtic View at least and tell everybody you know to do likewise, if we collectively sell about two billion of them we might get that CH you bleat after but are not prepared to contribute to the cost of signing; though you are quite happy to castigate others for not spending their money getting you what – you – want. (as long as somebody else pays for it – that reminds me of another group of football followers)
Oh aye you have a subscription to Setanta and you once bought a bumble bee from BHS, sorry I’m humbled.
Just thought I would get my retaliation in first, I’m up early for work.
At least we now know how to keep the huns off the blog!!
Lose a match.
My condolences, most importantly, to Liam Kelly and his family / friends and to Kilmarnock FC. The only consolation for them is that, as time heals the hurt, it will keep their deserved success on the park in proper perspective. In time I hope memories of that day will be a celebration for them of a father proud of his son’s sporting excellence.
I feel very proud of Kilmarnock today, as a Scotsman wishing Scottish football to thrive. Remembering the hubris we have all had to suffer over the last 25 years, the triumphalism and the distorting attempts to win at all costs. I hope, when our own minor hurts are healed, we see that yesterday was a timely glimpse as to what a new landscape for Scottish football could be like.
Having read back I would just like to say I am also proud of the vast majority of posters on here (no surprise) for their comments and perspective relating to the points above.
Back on the bike Neil.
HH
TLK
TLK
The hurt we feel is nothing compared to the Kelly family. Well put sir.
.
I Have Just been on a Feijenoord Forum..Larsson Was Pants..
I Have just been on a Chelsea Forum..Sutton was Pants..
I Have just been on a (Some French Team) Forum..Lubo was Pants..
I Have just been Back on the Chelsea Forum..Tore Andre Flo..Is a Superstar..
Hey this Could Work..Whats the Scouts Contact Details..
Summa
new article posted.
Gordon_J, 10:45
That’s the way I read it too. With Ki on we’ll keep the ball more, they’ll sit back and hope to hit us on the break… so keep Wilson on as he’s our fastest player to cover. But not having Rogne to cover him left us exposed
Mad Mitch @10.47
KW – never a CH and anyone who thinks this is harsh (iPox) example.
JF- off form but on for 90mins why ?
GH- off form but always had a chance
Sami and commons – on bench when front line having a bad day fo 70+ mins
Rogne or Wilson .Rogne or Wilson .Rogne or Wilson ?
If that was not a injury then Neil and co have went for favouritism over skill.
At the end of day Celtic got outplayed and out thought by an average killie side.End of
Jam67
OK, bad day all round with tactics being wrongly chosen. Learn from it, simple.
I’ll get slated but here goes anyway. We need a classy midfilder, Crosas springs to mind, 100% Celtic as well. Never thought I’d hear myself say it but Broony is the most creative midfielder we have!! Thought wee JF had a bad day and I’d have hoooked him for Big Sammi at half time or before as it was clear the formation was not connecting.
Shame about the loss of the treble but I do like Sheils, he’s a pretty straight sort of guy it seems to me, but with a bit of luck, we will have learned an awful lot yesterday, but we do so need a creative midfileder like LUBO.
I’ve heard a load of crap from my hun mates, how sad are they when the only pleasure they get is us being beaten by Killie. Sad or what!!!!
Hail Hail
KINGLuBO
Summa of Sammi…. on 19 March, 2012 at 11:06
Your summary reminded me of a converstaion my dad had with a Dutch guy in an airport – not long after the King of Kings joined Celtic. The Feyenoord supporter told my dad that Larsson was hopeless, but Blinker would be a sensation for us. Hmm.
Must be my imagination. But did Rogne get an injury and treatment shortly before he was substituted. I’m sure he did and I fully expect that is why he was subbed.
If I’m correct then that is good management as far as I’m concerned. If I’m wrong then Rogne’s substitution was an error of judgement.
MWD
Thomson to Adam
‘… I put it to him that if it is in fact true, then Rangers FC were cheating for years.
Is it cheating, I ask?’
“It is.
It is.”