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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436 Comments- Pages:
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Bbh
Mate , not really interested in what your arguments about but calling a fellow poster out to the equivalent of “4 o clock at the bus stop” is a bit offside is it not ?
Hh.
QuadBhoy, sorted, thanks.
EKBhoy, yes, there is still some way to go.
The bould Hector’s bhoys, you appear to have used Celtic Quick News (and your latest blog name) to try to arrange a confrontation.
In eight years this is a first. If you want back on email me tomorrow.
We performed similar to recent weeks and look like the fear of losing is paramount.
Our movement today was non existent.
Our game plan seemed to be one of caution and having our hopes pinned on a moment of brilliance.
Most disappointing was after they scored we continued with the impotent sideways and backward passing.
Only Brown showed up.
Forrest started well but the switch to the left pretty much ended his involvement.
Hooper had a poor game but did not miss his chance.Keeper made a good save. And he had to come to deep to find service.
His partner Stokes is not a team player and today was totally selfish.
Our coaches need to simplify and learn possession is irrelevant if it’s all sideways and backwards.
celticrollercoaster says In Neil we trust on 18 March, 2012 at 21:30 said:
http://i43.tinypic.com/2vm8pzb.gif
————————————————————————————-
CRC, the more I watch this the more I’m convinced it is a penalty. Stokes has the ball under control, he knows the keeper is having a blinder, he feigns to shoot and the keeper dives as he takes the ball to his left he is brought down. I agree another angle may show it differently, but that’s how I see it, only my opinion but at the end of the day we should not be relying on refereeing decisions to win us a game, we should all know better than that.
…..obvious isn’t it……
HH
My money is on Jinkys statue ;-)
HH
mickbhoy1888 on 18 March, 2012 at 21:33 said:
celtic are aiming to win the league for the first time in three seasons, european football is secondary to that goal
we need to move out all the fringe players to afford a couple of quality ones, then we’ll see what european football brings
media people now saying the poor man has died.
So sad
Good to see so many fine CQNrs and their families today, you are all a credit to the blog and the club.
Disappointing day, but not the end of the world. Congratuations to Kenny Shiels and Kilmarnock, and for the 2nd weekend in a row Scottish football has shown that it can prosper without any contribution whatsoever from the country’s 2nd biggest team.
They won’t be missed.
Come Tuesday today’s result will be well behind us and it is onwards to Ibrox.
Prayers and thoughts with Liam Kelly and his family tonight .
gallagher on 18 March, 2012 at 21:39 said:
As I said, thought it was a stonewaller at the game, but the video has me thinking otherwise. I wish Stokesy had got his shot away earlier, but then he seemed to commit the keeper and was going round him, so maybe I am being to harsh with the dither comment and it was a dummy! Certainly Mrs CRC who is very fair, is not sure about whether it was a dive. Will watch it again on Sportscene. We had enough chances today, but thought the turning point was taking Rogne off, rather than Wilson. If this was tactical, then IMO wrong decision.
HH
CRC
Lenny got the team selection wrong today!! But I just love the guy. May I suggest that Celtic fans do not phone the phoneins 2 morro night. I was desperate to speak to keevins abt his conduct last week but he can wait!!
DO NOT PHONE!!!
Only logged on to say I was sorry to hear about Liam Kelly’s father dying at the game today. Very sad. Feel really bad for the boy.
Rico
Terrible news about Liam Kellys dad. Terrible. Puts it all into perspective.
CRC. / TLWIO
I have watched the link several times , and IMHO it is a penalty.
The key bit for me is when the defenders left knee connects with the top of Stokesy’s left foot, causing him to fall over. It’s worth remembering that when someone is flat out they are more likely trip with a slight, but well placed nudge, rather than a full scale push.
Whilst I am on the subject of Stokesy, a bit of advice when practicing free kicks
1) line up your dummy wall at 8 yards rather than 10, as this is more realistic
2) Use someone other than James Forrest and his wee brother for your makeshift wall
– both of the above will ensure you don’t repeatedly hit the midriff of the first defender in a real wall.
Whilst , I am having a cathartic moan, two other things
1) why take off Rogne – statistically we lose less goals when he is on the park?
2) does anyone else think the Kelvin Wilson looks like a guy who took up football after realising he wasn’t going to make it in some other sport such as table tennis , or lacrosse ?
Jude, the usual idiots will phone, and they will start in their usual way ‘celtic need rangers, scottish football needs rangers…’
these are the same idiots who still buy the daily record and the hunday mail, a paper that immediately signed up craig burley as soon as he had a spat with lenny.
Bet thing is just not to listen in.
Just watched crc’s slow motion replay after watching the BBC highlights. On the BBC highlights , the penalty claim is not very compelling but neither is a dive that obvious.
On crc’s replay there seems to be more contact with Stokes’s trailing foot but the ref does not get a slow motion replay.
Not enough evidence either way for me to call it a stonewaller or a definite dive. Have to accept it was not given and move on. Kenny Sheils comments about Celtic after the match show that his praise beforehand was not just “psychological warfare”. I know he has fallen out with a few other managers this year. Maybe he just favours football over the hammer-throwing styles they deploy.
Very sad news. Thoughts are with the Kelly family.
Awe Naw
Haha ;)
Paul
May I say another great magazine! And thank you for involving my piece again, much appreciated :)
HH
Well if I had the pick of winning today or next week I know what I would choose.
Must think of my cousin who has not missed a Killie game for over 20 years! He’ll be in the pub now drinking a bucket, good luck to you son
Fan-at-tic
I saw this in Europe this year also we improved as the expectation dwindled. I put it down to us improving as time went on but when the expectation is high we falter. The less chance we had of going through the better we played. I put it entirely down to a lack of experience and below average centre backs. We need to buy experience. Too impatient to wait for it if we want a European prescence next Season
HH
No 7
If you’re still on – was it you who said that you used to play for St. Bridget’s PS and that your initials are GM?
Here’s one for all Celtic fans and mickbhoy1888. KTF
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DocFcF1Xs50
well, lesson learned.
Swally could do worse than look a video of the game – killie quick to break, first defender turned into attacking midfield quickly, got two people on jf whenever they could and two players on the front post all the time, mostly they looked like they enjoyed expressing themselves.
on a wider note, thanks cqn, a leeds fan tried the ‘it wouldn’t be the same without rangers thing’ and then a comparison of the situation with leeds’ history today. His arguments didn’t last long.
We’re going to win the league
we’re going to win the league
Ee i meaddio
We’re going to win the the league
CCB
Mrs TLWIO is in the room with the sky plus – ill look again later.
Agree re Rogne – no idea why he was taken off and don’t think he did either – he don’t look too happy.
For me Wilson has too many occasions where he seems to tune out momentarily. Can’t understand why he don’t attack that cross. Rogne would have.
But there you go – finding it impossible to be anything but happy about Celtic these days. Even tonight.
Just one of those days nothing more. A few players below par and an opposition keeper having a great game. Know how barca must have felt when they met david marshall and john kennedy. On another day 5 of them would have gone in.
Rip Mr Kelly.
A tragedy for the family
night bhoys…
sober weekend for me…
Feel very sorry for the Killie players after the incident, they, Kenny Sheils and Liam Kelly should be celebrating but they’re not. Can’t find confirmation of Kelly’s fathers death, but if he has, I’m glad the last thing he saw was his son winning a cup.
Hail Hail
The Ghood will prevail on 18 March, 2012 at 21:50 said:
i buy the record and i dont think celtic need rangers, i dont think scottish football needs rangers and i dont think planet earth needs rangers. stop being so judgemental about readers of that paper simple fact is about 5 of 55 pages are covering sport.
as a human being i have my own thoughts, feelings and opinions when it comes to understanding any subject area, i dont simply read something and accept it as fact
Shocked to hear about Liam Kelly’s dad.
He was one of the Killie players who played to his potential today.
Prayers and thoughts are with his family
W C saw a penalty when he had his back to the play. Gave thems 3 penalties when it was later proved only one was. He has lots and lots of previous against us. No doubt he will continue this in the future.
Fanatic
don’t really fancy Stokes
Bad attitude. , appears huffy ,lazy and very selfish
Not for me
Hooper on today’s form looks like a Scunthorpe player …. Dreadful performance
Clashcitybhoy on 18 March, 2012 at 21:50 said:
pen-still not sure.
Rogne-agree
Wilson-agree
2 out of 3 not bad. Surely that means it time we meet up for a beer?
HH
CRC
CRC….
any other team, that’s a penalty in my opinion…….
Stokesy goes down a bit more theatrically than required but he is clipped in the box.
HH
Re penalty claim…Stone waller…
Just seen the BBC highlights which let you see at leisure things that happen fast, and often far away, when you’re at the game.
At the time I thought Ki looked slow to react to the ball played in behind Matthews and I was right, he could/should have done more to close down the guy crossing the ball. What I WASN’T aware of, at the time, was the lack of reaction by big Kelvin Wilson which gave the Belgian a free header! Rogne a better option?
I’m realistic in my views on football and much of what I think/feel about today has been said by others. We’ve had a tremendous run, it had to end sometime and Kilmarnock did at least play some decent football. In 9 out of 10 games the ‘penalty’ would be given, but Gollum, who makes some bad decisions in high profile games in Europe as well as here, also seems to want to show that being a known Tim will NEVER be held against him in terms of giving Celtic big decisions.
Now regroup, start another run, and support this young, exciting team. And our thoughts must, of course, be with the Kelly family this night.
CRC at 21:47
Ist time i’ve really seen it and i think it is a pen but will also watch it on sportscene.
I wasn’t happy with the personel and formation from the start but what do i know :)
HH
The manager got it wrong.Lenny must take responsibility,and i hope that he will.
This is the thing though – it’s all about loyalty – certain players…Matthews,Jamesy,Hopper etc. have been off the boil for weeks now,everybody knows that.But the fact is this…the same players got the club to that final today,to a league title…and think about it…Lenny probably thought that he owed them a starting place.And it’s all well and fine for us,sitting back and watching it unfold – but we don’t work with these individuals on a personal level…we don’t know them.It’s easy for us to say,drop this,and play that.
He is a young manager,and they are young footballers.The only thing that I wish for now,is that he learns to be more ruthless.
As for dropping big Samaras,that will forever remain a mystery.Kelvin Wilson? I will never understand why he was selected.Paddy McCourt? That game was crying out for his presence.
On a more positive note though – of the three competitions – if we were gonna lose one of them,then this is the one i would rather have lost.
Sorry for the rant Bhoys,im gonna pour myself a double.
KTF.