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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Gary Hooper missed a chance. Doesn’t make him a bad player.
Neil Lennon picked a team that lost. Doesn’t make him a bad manager.
And both will contribute a hell of a lot to Celtic in the future. Let’s give them our support.
Look at the angle of Stokies left foot as he goes down, that looks contrived to me.
Paul67
A fair enough assessment.
Not our finest hour, a combination of complacency and missed chances ……. still next week will be a different game, where we will run out comfortable winners.
For CL games next year, we need more experience in the middle of the park, I thought we were at sixes and sevens in the midfield today, with Joe anonymous and big Vic wanting too much time on the ball…….. static forwards did not help …
Still we can take the flag in the next week, so let this one go and look forward
Championselectcfc
A sickener.
I have said this before so it is not clever with hindsight,and that is James Forrest has not meaningfully contributed for a consistent period in any game for at least 6/7 games,likewise Hooper who has been off form.
Regarding our winning run,if I am not mistaken the much maligned Sammi appeared in all games, WHY CHANGE.
Wilson has re-appeared and our defence looks the worse for it,the winning combination was Rogne and Mulgrew,tinker with LB but not the areas which have settled.
I do not understand why NL has started to tinker with a proven format culminating in this embarassing debacle today.
That said Stokes prior to the Pen claim should have had a brace and should have taken the shot rather than round the keeper.
Crc
Ironically the only angle from which it looks to me like a penalty is the one Collum would have had. From behind the goal , in particular, the video supports your assessment.
Hh
From last blog
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 18 March, 2012 at 20:46 said:
STANDING UP FOR THE MAN WHO CARRIED HIS YOUNG FRIENDS DEAD BODY ON MONDAY AND FACED THE TWO MEN WHO SENT HIM A BOMB ON TUESDAY AND WHO HAS BROUGHT US THIS FAR.
………………………………………………………………..
Well said Awe Naw. I’ve just logged on and caught the last few pages of the last blog. To be honest I’m sad at what some bloggers have called a few of our players and especially our manager. Remember the week that he’s had for goodness sake – burying a very close friend and giving evidence at a trial of men charged with his attempted murder. Ho hum just an ordinary week that he should be able to take in his stride. I really don’t think so. I hope some people feel embarrased in the morning.
Regarding Sean Kelly’s father – an awful tragedy. It puts the loss of the game into perspective. Count me as one of the ones who are glad he saw his son win the cup before he died even if it was against the famous Glasgow Celtic. RIP.
Good night to all Celtic supporters. We’ll all feel better as soon as we’ve tied up the League Title.
every celtic supporter is entitled to their view because football is all about views and opinions.
we lost, during the game i was angery and pissed off, however, time is gone and its gone, we aint getting it back so we move on to the most important games which is the next one and so the on.
will this team improve? yes
will they win other things for celtic? yes
will they lose again wearing a celtic top? yes
is there enough quality in the squad? just about
is there to many fringe players? yes
did the manager pick the right team? who knows
CRC
Stokesy did dither, no dive though he was clipped IMO though he gave collum a chance to not give it
HH
I think Lenny made mistakes in his team selection and also in his poor use of his subs,,but that’s in the past, end of,,onward and upwards!!
On to next week,,on to Mordor :D
Hail hail
To be honest I can’t see how some posters can critisise team selectiion today. That’s the team I would have picked – my only difference would have been Sammi for Forrest. In my opinion we needed Ledley in midfield. Joe picked today to have his least effective peformance in a Celtic shirt. And until today he would have been my POTY. Go figure. To accomodate that Mulgrew to left back – don’t think Izzy is the player he was last year and Wilson into centre half. Today’s team selection should have been enough to win the game – but if application, hunger, determination, committement and above all – the willingness to work hard – are missing them team selection is irrelevant. It doesn’t matter a ball of blue – if you don’t match the opposition in those basic requirements you will not prosper. True – taking Rogne off and leaving Wilson on was strange. Manager’s choice. We had too many passengers today.
Finally – Gary Hooper. I really don’t understand the fuss about this footballer. That’s all.
53
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 18 March, 2012 at 20:46 said:
STANDING UP FOR THE MAN WHO CARRIED HIS YOUNG FRIENDS DEAD BODY ON MONDAY AND FACED THE TWO MEN WHO SENT HIM A BOMB ON TUESDAY AND WHO HAS BROUGHT US THIS FAR.
I’ll have some of them apples. Would also add:
AND THE MAN WHO CHOSE CELTIC FC OVER THE SAFETY OF HIS FAMILY.
We gubbb D U 4 nil why change?? Wilson never attacked the ball at the goal!! Killie took their chance amen.
Guys
Is the news about Liam Kelly’s father official?
Could someone post up the penalty decision clip or point me back to when it was posted. Thanks in advance
Missed the game today but when I heard the score I wasnt surprised really. I half expected a shock on the cards. Paul 67 also warned of an upset.
Well done Killie and well done to Kenny Sheils, the only manager in the spl to stick up for our Lenny during his bullets, bombs and assaults season.
Roll on the Ibrox backlash!
the long wait is over on 18 March, 2012 at 21:25 said:
I was goaline on from the other side, and thought it was a defo pen. Would like to see it again from that angle.Perhaps I need to stick on my green tinted specs to see better :-)
Long week ahead, but looking forward to next Sunday.
HH
CRC
http://i43.tinypic.com/2vm8pzb.gif
Gordon J,
Correct. We are looking to the future……This Team….
This League
and all its shameful connotations….
A future with Thems rightfully relegated to an appropriate league position.
HH
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 18 March, 2012 at 20:46
Well said Awe_Naw.
The bould Hector’s bhoys….. Tá ár lá anois on 18 March, 2012 at 21:28 said:
Let it be noted that bankiebhoy shirked from the challenge.
Coward
share
——–
What I’m noting is that that type of spat belongs in a school playground and not on a Celtic website…
Very sorry to hear about the Kilmarnock player’s father. That’s very sad news.
I think Kilmarnock played well and that it was a good game. I think Celtic’s best spell was when Ki came on and our opponents could not get the ball out of their half for about half an hour. It’s very hard to keep up that amount of pressure on the ball for too long, so it was no real surprise that Kilmarnock came back into it and when their chance came they took it well. Fair play.
Celtic were unlucky not to score before the penalty incident. I cannot believe we didn’t get that decision. If a Celtic defender had made the challenge Nelson made we would have despaired. It was a terrible challenge. The implication from Willie Collum’s decision was the Stokes preferred to dive for a penalty than to shoot for goal. No way. No way on earth. The defender made a desperate challenge in extremis, brought Stokes down and deserved to be punished.
What happened re SEan Kellys dad?
stephbhoy on 18 March, 2012 at 21:26 said:
You forgot to ask one other question
Are this team good enough to compete in Europe ?
Answer: More chance of the Huns posting a £100 million profit next year
Apologies to Liam Kelly for getting his name wrong (Sean) in my previous post.
Jude
I believe he suffered a heart attack at time up. Liam ran off the park and up the tunnel. News is coming in that he has passed away.
Some of the criticism of Neil is a bit OTT, ffs its the first game his team have lost for 4 months!! We have no divine right to win every game we play and now and then we’ll suffer a shock like this.
Yes Neil got the team wrong today, leaving Sammy on the bench was a puzzler; and he seems unwilling to drop Hooper or Forrest regardless of their continuing poor form. But for a goalie who had the best game of his career so far we would have won that by 2 or 3 without playing anywhere near our best: the law of averages would suggest you’re bound to lose a game or two in 30 odd games it was just unfortunate that it was today, far too many of the players (and if we’re being honest with ourselves, us) thought we ‘d win comfortably. Apart from Brown, Mulgrew, Forster & Rogne none of that team looked really up for it which was criminal.
I like to look on the positive side though; Killie winning the cup might just see them go get the result against motherwell next week that we need if we want to win the title at Mount Doom!
But we need a vast improvement for next week, that much is obvious. I daresay the players will be getting grilled at training this week!!
My 5 year old son summed things up well, he said he was angry, when I asked why, he said the referee didn’t play fair. Now not for one minute am I blaming gollum for our defeat but I thought it was interesting to share a 5 year old’s observation.
Gutted that Conor went to his first final at Hampden and saw Celtic fail to win the cup but heartened that he will see us raise the league trophy soon and that he will be at paradise to see the league flag later this year.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Kelly family.
God bless the Celtic and keep the faith.
bankiebhoy shirked the tackle??? Whos bankie bhoy??
Jude2005,Liam Kellys father had heart attack after the game,and is now being reported dead.{unconfirmed}
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 18 March, 2012 at 20:46 said:
STANDING UP FOR THE MAN WHO CARRIED HIS YOUNG FRIENDS DEAD BODY ON MONDAY AND FACED THE TWO MEN WHO SENT HIM A BOMB ON TUESDAY AND WHO HAS BROUGHT US THIS FAR.
AwNaw…Above comment …Respect to you sir..
EKBhoy on 18 March, 2012 at 21:24 said:
cant say i agree with that, we have kayal to return to midfiield and he is the one who sets flow of the games, we are weaker without him and press less when he is not in our team.
we need a powerful forward who can attack the ball in the air and ground, we need izzy running down the left and we need a settled centreback pairing
we need players to be picked on merit, no room for golden bhoys, every player must earn their place, see alex ferguson for details
finially we do not need not panic
sneddoni – you got me to a tee – I couldn’t deal with sammi a couple of years ago
tnt
Ta. Very sad.
Celtic_First on 18 March, 2012 at 21:32 said:
A well respected Celtic forward who has played at the highest level alluded to the fact that Stokes dived and I am going to listen to his opinion rather than that of delusional bloggers
Get over it we deserved nothing today
After watching them ‘win’ 3IAR, I will happily win the league, and a league cup double would be outstanding achievement for our young team.
League next week, the cup in may, happy days.
Killie gave us a good game today. On another day we’d have scored 2 or 3, just wasn’t our day. A few players under performed, particularly in the second half. Wanyama and Matthews must do better and our strikers need to score when gifted chances. Anyway,
Onwards and upwards.
Hail hail
Thanks Bhoys very sad
mici67
good luck tomorrow
celticrollercoaster says In Neil we trust on 18 March, 2012 at 21:30
Thanks i was in the south stand and couldn’t see too well. Just because Stokes took his time/invited the challenge is no reason not to give the penalty, certainly looks like one to me.
HH