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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MWD 0639
It really is a wee belter,innit?
THE THREE PASSENGERS
Hooper, Forrest, Stokes.
Lazy, constantly complaining.
Embarrassing.
Good morning friends from adry and fairly bright East Kilbride.
Life goes on.
Jobo
I think Celtic have to seriously consider objecting to Collum refereeing any more of our games. Barely a match passes without at least one incredibly bad decision going against us.
Clearly, he is conflicted. Like many men from an RC/Celtic background who are trying to make their way up the SFA structure, he struggles with the sense that he doesn’t quite fit in, he struggles with the suspicion that he will instinctively favour us rather than them, and therefore his solution is to horrendously over-compensate.
Peter Houston (Dundee Utd manager and Scotland assistant) strikes me as similar. Routinely having a pop at Celtic and praising the appalling performance of RFC’s fans on Saturday.
Summi. Been enjoying it as much as the next person :)
Fell off the train at 7am this morning
Disappointed that Neil did not get the center half that was promised him, means forced to player Like Kelvin Wilson
EPL lol. Think Neil is right about some of our squad being good enough for EPL
But Kelvin Wilson would struggle in
League 2
What some of us are forgetting is that we have no god given right to win football matches.This is sport these things happen or we would watch it.
We were on a run of 26 games unbeaten going for 27, that is a fantastic record when you consider that the team is made up of kids. A seasoned couple of professionals who are used to winning trophies is all that is missing in the team at the moment. They cost money and we do not have any, so results like today are more likely to happen.
So please, all the glory hunters, think about what you are typing.
Neil got it a wee bit wrong yesterday. I forgive him. The players were off the boil. I forgive them.(Hoopper is worrying me at the moment).
Killie got everything spot on, a goal keeper who was fantastic on the day, a manager who plays football the way it should be played, who also seems a decent man to boot.
I was hurting after the game but will it make me a weaker or a stronger Celtic man. I choose stronger.
Remember a man died watching his son win yesterday, so please perspective.
Keep the faith
Mtt
RIP Mr Kelly
Forget the football for a couple of minutes to spare a thought for the family of
Jack Kelly..
He went to hampden to see his son play in a major cup final and didn’t return home.
God bless .RIP Mr Kelly..
SYDNEY TIM 0732
Are you sure you weren’t pushed by one of your many friends on here?
How you doing,buddy? Getting ready to hunker down for that bitter NSW winter?
I feel for you………
For Syndey Tim
Jarosław Fojut (born October 17, 1987) is a Polish footballer who plays as a centre back for Ekstraklasa club Śląsk Wrocław.
Hail Hail
2010 Never Again
RIP Mr Kelly your son done you proud
Wrong team and substitutions too late yesterday.
Sammy should have started. Wilson is a poor player. Forest has been off form for a while. Seems obvious.
Anybody know who will be cameo left back against huns?
“Kelvin Wilson, unconvincing throughout, lost the Kilmarnock substitute at the cross and was so immobile he could have been booked for loitering without intent.”
Sadly, the above comment from Hughie McDonald in The Herald sums up Kelvin Wilson in every game I have seen him.
Then again similar could be said of Charlie Mulgrew last season so here’s hoping for next season but for now let’s return to Mulgrew/Rogne as the preferred partnership.
Morning all from gay Paree, last week’s sunshine has disappeared…
Firstly, sincere condolences to the Kelly family. What should have been one of their happiest days, turned into tradgedy. RIP Mr Kelly.
Secondly, yesterday’s result was disappointing: on another day the score would have been three of four-one. Can’t deny KFC their win, however, as every one of them plyaed out their skins and were ably managed by Kenny Shiels. They came toplay football and can only be commended on their win.
We have a very fine young team, and disappointments like yesterday will only serve to galvanize them and make them stronger.
If nothing else, it will be a massive wake-up call ahead of next weekend’s game.
Not only for the players but for Lenny who needs to get his line-up and tactics spot on. It will be no place for the weak hearted, and only 100% will be good enough.
I am confident we can do it.
Hopefully we can also go on to win the Cup as well: we are two tough visits at Hampden from doing that, and that too is going to need everybody at the top of their game.
Hail Hail
Sixtae
Thank-Goodness it’s a bank holiday here today…………
Yesterday is consigned to history and all that went with it.
We now look forward.Neil will need all our Support.
Thoughts with the Kelly family………
Still none the wiser as to why Rogne was subbed, young Forrest is miles away from being a top class player and in my opinion he never will due to lack of positional play when we’re not in possession, our full backs especially Mathews are constantly exposed. Driving forward the bhoy certainly has something but we don’t see it often enough.
Disappointed on leaving the ground but soon disappeared on hearing the news of Mr Kelly and subsequent sad and most untimely death.
A tragic weekend in football certainly gives perspective.
Margaret McGill on 19 March, 2012 at 01:25 said:
Not a good day. Look at at this way. If you consider finals appearances up until this one Celtic’s success rate was 50% in both Scottish league Cup finals and European Cup finals.
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Perpective at it’s brilliant best :¬)))
Thanks to CQN’s lady of the night
Margaret McGill.
Hail! Hail!
Oh and
Good Morning
CQNer’s.
Thoughts are with Liam Kelly & his family. Tragic news.
It should have been a great & proud day for the Family. YNWA
I still feel this morning that, Neil f@cked it up for us by not playing Sammi!
Why change the formula of a winning team, just to suit the opposition ?
Big Jock’s formula was always….
We’re Celtic
You can worry about US!
Thinking cap-on time for Neil! IMO!
Hail! Hail!
Seen a few reruns of the penalty incident last night and especially the view from behind the nets.
It seems to me that Stokes played this perfectly. He got himself on the defenders
wrong side, he had total control of the ball, he had the composure to wait until the keeper had committed himself to a shot before trying to round him.
It was only then he was caught on the right leg.
Did that happen or was I looking through green tinted specs
If Hoops had even a little bit of that composure at 4 mins in we might have been
spared some of the downright insulting drivel on here last night that seems
inevitably to follow any defeat.
IF we do give the huns a good tanking next week (after yesterdays lackluster
display I think Lenny will demand it), maybe a compare and contrast exercise
might be interesting.
I should say that this shouldnt apply to those with a genuine critique but rather those whose only response to defeat is spread their vitriol around.
These clowns do not have a monopoly on anger or disappointment.
KTF
Kevjungle
Perhaps big Jock had better players at his disposal?
Though l do agree with Sammi must play on the left, if Neil want both Hooper and Stokes on the park we must play 433 to accommodate the Greek God -)
Hail hail
Mtt
Clink
I agree some of the nonsense is embarrassing , they are not fans though, Glory hunters to a man.
I posted earlier one defeat in 27 games not too shabby with a group of kids.
Mtt
Forza Celtic!
We have a very young team and yesterday’s performance should come as no surprise.It happens. Need an old head to vary the play. Wanyama and Brown together lack creativity, both defensive and ball winners IMHO.Ki made a difference but investment needed in this area and a striker. Well done Killie and onwards and upwards
a big pitch would usually suit Celtic. So it was disturbing to watch Kilmarnock dominate the midfield yesterday. Bringing Ki on was a reaction to that but it was a slow one. He should have been on earlier with either Wanyama or the anonymous Ledley making way.
Having watched the sterling efforts of Athletic Bilbao in the Europa league, the message should have been simple – work hard ! Too often yesterday (especially in the first half) the player on the ball would be searching for a body to pass to. However, the core issue is this – we were outdone tactically.
At our best that 11 yesterday would have beat anyone in Scotland. We wouldn’t be talking about who was on the bench had we won. I wanted Samaras to start but Lenny didn’t get it wrong. Lenny picked his 11 & they let him down.
As I’ve said many times before, the biggest danger to us is our own players. They are so young and inexperienced that they feel they have won games before the kick off and don’t go out and do what they are supposed to do. Yesterday was a major case in point!
Ability only beats hardwork when ability works hard!
BTW Can some one please explain to me what Gary Hooper has done in the last few weeks to even justify a place on the bench, never mind a seemingly automatic starting place?
Must begin by congratulating Kilmarnock.
The League Cup seems to be Celtic’s way of throwing a party and creating memories for other teams. Not the first time we’ve lost a LC Final and it won’t be the last….. If you know the history. Before we criticise Neil Lennon too much, lets keep this in perspective. Even the greatest of the great Celtic Managers lost this cup when we were overwhelming favourites. The big prize this year is the league…. The cups are a bonus.
Luke chambers who played as right back for forest was moved to center half to replace Kelvin Wilson, as Kelvin Wilson was underperforming and costing goals in season 2010-2011, Wilson never got his place back
Wilson went to Celtic where his form has continued
I dont get it, we pay a guys wages who was basically mince at his old club and every time he plays for us he is mince
St
mickthetic on 19 March, 2012 at 08:35 said:
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Big Jock undoubtedly had better players and, even if Neil’s team had won the treble, history would reflect that, not one of the Neil Lennon team would have got into, either, Jock Stein or, MO’N’s treble winning teams! IMO!
Also, if I were Neil, I would be targeting Cammy Bell as my No 1 Gk target.
I said on here over a year ago that, we should go for Bell before, the huns get him!
And, also again, if I were Neil…I’d go for former Killie player Eremenko and, get rid of Ledley who has turned into the ghost of last season again! IMO!
Hail! Hail!
The death of the young boy’s father puts football into perspective.
Condolences to the family.
Whenever Celtic are clear favorites I worry. If there is complacency it starts off the park not on it.
On another day the same chances go in and no one mentions the word.
In some ways the defeat is no bad thing , hubris does not fit us well, it makes us indistinguishable from what we decry in the Rangers support.
Wonder if Killie will play next Saturday.
mick1888
To me the biggest worry is the mentality of our players, we can all recall plenty of games where they thought they just had to turn up to win the game with ease. Thet need it booted into them that to win the game they actually have to go aou and impose themselves on the opposition, work hard, play well and to put away chances even the worst kid in the class would put away 9 times out of 10 if it was presented to them on a plate!
Condolences to Liam Kelly and his loved ones – I cannot begin to imagine the shock of great joy to intense sadness. I hope they can take care of each other.
A few thoughts about yesterday.
Its the second time Rogne has been taken off early at Hampen and he was understandably not happy about it. I hope we dont lose him because of this . I think EPL teams would be queuing up to take him.
Taking off central defenders to bolster a stuggling mid-field is an unusual tactic and we paid for it. Ki and Samaras had valuable Hampden experience and both should have been in the starting line-up. Kilmarnock played like “a team” and we didnt and we paid the price. I want to see a Celtic with the team ethic of a Norwich , Swansea ,Bilbao…..Lisbon lions.
Benefits from the London Olympics:
From perusing the Olympic Torch route I now know Maryhill has a Celtic Street.
Tragic news about Liam Kelly’s dad, my condolences are with his friends and family.
I have to admit yesterday was a sore one and I still feel gutted.
Too many of our players had an off day. Brilliant display from their keeper but KFC also had some decent chances.
Come on Celtic! Some hun skelping on Sunday will cheer me up! On the way to the Double!
SydneyTim on 19 March, 2012 at 08:49 said:
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I totally agree with your concerns about Wilson.
As far as I’m concerned, KW is in the hoops because he didny cost a penny!
We are now doing the same with the, Polish CH who’s name escapes me.
What I find interesting about us just now is, the amount of players in our team/squad who have cost hardly a penny ? Interesting .mmmm
Hail! Hail!
Morning Bhoys – despondent to say the least about yesterday, however our feelings aren’t really that important when you consider what Liam Kelly’s family have went through in the last 18hrs or so.
I thought we underperformed all over the park yesterday, however the glaring one for me had to be James Forrest. I don’t know if the boy is burnt out or what, but it was clear from the first whistle yesterday that he was off the pace incredibly. He should have been hooked at half time, or at the very, VERY latest with half an hour to go. This would have given Samaras enough time to make an impact. Neil must take responsibility for failing to realise this. In my opinion, it WAS a penalty at the end, however Willie Collum was never, ever going to give it. Onwards and upwards though, we have a league to win. I have a feeling that Kilmarnock will not perform as well as that when they play Motherwell next week, given the highs and lows they experienced yesterday. We still need to go to Ibrox in the mindset that 3pts is a must. Over to you, Mr Lennon. Get the Bhoys up for it.