Joe Ledley scored the only goal of the game as Celtic restored their four point lead at the top of the SPL but although the visitors didn’t force a save from Fraser Forster this was a tight encounter for most of the afternoon.
The opening minutes firmly belonged to Celtic. Georgios Samaras had a first minute shot deflected wide and Victor Wanyama headed narrowly over from the resultant Charlie Mulgrew corner kick. Inverness’ first venture up-field forced Mulgrew into an important interception on the edge of the area to deny Nick Ross.
The best move of the game resulted in the only goal. Gary Hooper combined with Adam Matthews before James Forrest collected wide on the left. The winger raced forward and fired the ball across the face of goal for Joe Ledley to meet it at the back post and knock the ball home. Back post runs have been particularly profitable for Ledley this season.
Four minutes later Charlie Mulgrew worked the goalkeeper with a free kick from just outside the angle of the box but Ryan Esson turned the ball over.
At half time Celtic could have reflected that despite enjoying the vast majority of possession their lead remained narrow; twin strikers Georgios Samaras and Gary Hooper didn’t have much of an opening.
Early in the second half referee McLean had his first major decision of the day when Richie Foran wrestled Scott Brown to the ground, after play at stopped, with an arm around Brown’s neck. The incident deserved a yellow card but Foran was already booked and the ref took no action. Five minutes later Daniel Majstorovic ambled towards a ball played over his head but Inverness striker Jonny Hayes flew past the Celtic defender forcing Majstorovic into a sliding tackle five yards from his box. Despite making clear contact with the ball, and no protests from Hayes, who continued to chase, the assistant referee indicated to the ref McLean that Majstorovic fouled. McLean showed the Swedish central defender, who was the last man, a straight red card.
Inverness pressed forward and forced Celtic to defend deeply but the visitors were unable to create a genuine chance. On 73 minutes an Adam Matthews free kick from near the corner flag was cutback to Ki, who mishit his shot, which appeared to be going out for a throw in but Georgios Samaras chased the lost cause with some effect.
Catching the ball on the line Samaras spun and darted past Williams, who, already on a yellow card, bundled the Celtic striker off the field. The referee, perhaps mindful of his earlier trigger-happy moment with Majstorovic and failure to punish Foran, gave Williams a second yellow.
Back on an equal man-count Celtic were never again put under pressure although Hayes caught the defence napping to latch onto a 40 yard pass but fired over.
Jinky Samaras could have wrapped up the points late on with a mazy run but he was unable to convert.
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Gallagher says
Our Club, board and support are probably/possibly in the strongest position that we’ve ever been in.
……………………..
I can see where it would be cheaper and fairer to bring in foreign referees but can’t see this happening.
The club IMHO don’t have the balls to take on the SFA refs in open warfare and take the inevitable press flack from the L.L. that would come our way with this.
Reid hinted that the club may go for biased refs when they were in a position of strength (after winning the league) but the way I see it we may never get than far anytime soon if the refs have their way.
Celtic, in the persona of Lawwell are part of the S.F.A. and he would be duty bound to try to reform the refs or resign. Reforming the Masonic Mafia that is the S.F.A. Referee Committee would be akin to re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
The set-up is rotten and needs gutted not reformed.
I think that it is up to the fans to sort this out if it gets more blatant (which I think it will) by bhoycott of away games.
Sad I know but there you have it. I do think however that if Celtic win the League and a Cup in spite of the referees then Lennon is the man at that time to follow through with Reid’s veiled threat.
Rogne and Mulgrew is our best central defensive pairing by some distance. Add Wanyama just in front of them and we have the basis to allow our attacking players (including full backs) to go forward. Wilson is first back up if either Rogne or Mulgrew are injured. Majstorovic should be last resort and Loovens forgotten about.
pfayr
I have a feeling that Kelvin Wilson is an accident waiting to happen.
TT
Loovens is better that Kelvin Wilson.
Neither fill me with confidence.
TT
BJmac
You’ll need to check that one out with BT.
Surely you know by now I’m not a highly respected CQN poster.
MWD
TT
re KW
he played well in his first few games
appalling against the Huns and was injured
a recurring trait for me is that he looks soft
he is quick which is an asset
but
neither assertive nor hard enough for a CB …IMO
….PFayr says:
12 February, 2012 at 12:53
tigertim
i agree re the CB`s however ..Wilson is very quick can`t see Higdon beating him for pace
CM is a much less effective player at LB
Wilson didn’t show any pace yesterday, got turned a few times by ICT forward, his distribution is shocking he will cost us points during the vital run in if we persist in playing him his performance at ibrokes told us all we need to know, Darren O’dea is far superior and we have put him on loan
ICT are a stuffy team to play against and have players who raise their game against Celtic. Thank goodness we don`t have to see them again this season. :-)
MWD
“highly respected”
you don`t even respect yourself:¬))
If Butcher complains anymore about Williams 2nd yellow, these pictures from the 55th minute, following a puch in the back on Gary Hooper (4 mins after his first booking) clearly show the referee counting out the fouls Williams committed and telling him no more. He only has himself to blame that he picked up a 2nd booking for persistent fouling. If you have CelticTV you can see it in video from 2hrs 15 mins.
http://twitpic.com/8ixcq7
http://twitpic.com/8ixd4d
Mort
Happy birthday to my much-loved sister
lionroars
see my above post
i`m not a fan
lads in my humble opinion
Kelvin Wilson, Rogne and big Dan are defenders – not footballers, defenders – this gets shown up at home when they get loads of the ball
away from home it works a treat, look at ICT and the jam tarts away – Defenders’ games not footballers games
charlie Mulgrew is perfect for home games at the back because he is a footballer
Chris Coleman in the Sky studio for the Wolves/West Brom game, trying to talk about the Suarez/Evra
He has difficulty doing this as his nose is so far up Dalglish’s bahookey
antrimkev says:
12 February, 2012 at 13:09
lads in my humble opinion
Kelvin Wilson, Rogne and big Dan are defenders – not footballers,
Kelvin Wilson is neither IMO
With TFOD, Fartz and the ayrshire hunz all staring into the financial abyss,
If the powers that be, both judicial and football officialdom, let TFOD off lightly, would this
not set a precedent and allow the rest of them to go down the same route?
I can’t see it sitting well with Mad Vlad myself.
What about teams who have already been through admin? Will
they sit quietly by while special dispensation is shown to TFOD?
Interesting times ahead, but nothing would surprise me with all the corruption
and bias that exists in our league set up today.
lionroars67 says:
12 February, 2012 at 13:12
i think he looked ok in our 2 toughest away matches outside the skint ones
at home he will get shown up because he isnt a footballer
I hope we appeal yesterday’s red card as the decision was wrong. I hope when we win the appeal Dan is left on the sidelines. I would rather see Loovens play than Dan.
The next time I want to see the big man is when he comes on against the Huns in injury time and gets to meet Cousin.
Dan’s a big clumsy diddy who needs more protection than we can afford to give him.
It was the return of the Dallas Cowboys with the officials yesterday.We need to be prepared to deal with this nonsense more than ever now.
The whole Suarez/Evra thing has been blown out of proportion,,,he was found guilty and was banned,,,yet Sky Sports/the English Media backed up by Fergie/Man U are continuing to hype it up,,,yes Dalglish is not doing himself any favours but i think he is trying to protect his club (which if we are being honest does not get a very fair crack of the whip) from the mostly London based journos/Newspapers!!
Dont remember too many complaining about Kenny when he was conducting press conferences from Birds bar or the supporters club???
Hail hail
If the consensus is on Kelvin Wilson is that he’s a dud
Are we argreed that Lenny bought a dud, cos he was surely Lenny’s target
Given the number of high profile ‘duds’ that have blossomed under Lenny’s stewardship I am inclined to leave it to Lenny. We may yet see what Lenny saw in him that made him want to bring KW to the club
Just my opinion, like
WG
Great to see you and Aiden yesterday.
HB to yir Sis!
U
RRC: says:
12 February, 2012 at 13:20
If the consensus is on Kelvin Wilson is that he’s a dud
Are we argreed that Lenny bought a dud, cos he was surely Lenny’s target
Given the number of high profile ‘duds’ that have blossomed under Lenny’s stewardship I am inclined to leave it to Lenny. We may yet see what Lenny saw in him that made him want to bring KW to the club
Just my opinion, like
All managers have bad acquisitions even big Jock IMO
Just read Terry “Diego” Butchers comments after yesterday’s game. Terry, for the good of your health, you should really find a better way of of processing your anger. GS was involved in the sending off of your player, that is certainly a fact. There are other facts that you seem to be omitting when expressing this opinion. Based on the evidence, you are fortunate that you only had one player sent off. The game has changed since you played, and the assaults that were regularly unpunished previously, are now dealt with a bit more frequently. The times are changing Terry, and you need to have more in your locker than the a “let’s get stuck into them” attitude and approach. Great result for Saint NL and the boys. #eyesontheprize(s)
How is it that Dan is an automatic pick for Sweden,not a overly physical team,but is deemed rubbish by a number of our supporters.I don’t get it.
ibleedgreenandwhite1@13:19
Imo, Dalglish was a total and utter embarrassment to CFC during his last period at the club
lionroars67
No arguement on that.
fanadpatriot says:
12 February, 2012 at 13:22
How is it that Dan is an automatic pick for Sweden,not a overly physical team,but is deemed rubbish by a number of our supporters.I don’t get it.
I dont watch Sweden but i watch Celtic,,,and big Dan is a bombscare!!!
Hail hail
Ten Men-agree.
Big Kelvin has started our last 3 games.
We have conceded 0 goals in those games.
Give the man some time.
RRC Its not correct to say Lennie has signed a dud in Kelvin Wilson the thing that Lennie and his back room staff seem to do quite well is improve players.Look at Sammi and Forster and if given a run in the team im sure Wilson will prove to be a good signing.H.H.
Cash and Go 2.10 Leopardstown
Connections confident
Ten Men Won The League says:
12 February, 2012 at 13:23
ibleedgreenandwhite1@13:19
Imo, Dalglish was a total and utter embarrassment to CFC during his last period at the club
________________________________________________________________________-
I would agree with you but only partly,,,yes mistakes were made,in fact there were quite a few,,,but when it came to the media Kenny treated them exactly the way they should be treated,,,like shower of sh*t they are!!!
Hail hail
the Celtic shirt doesn’t shrink to fit
Some players do grow into it, no?
Scott Brown?
ibleedgreenandwhite1 says:
12 February, 2012 at 13:19
to me Dalglish look an embarrassed man last night
twice he has backed Suarez and twice Suarez has made a James Hunt of him – the t-shirts thing..then suarez admits to calling Evra a Nigger 7 times
then at the SSN press thing on Friday he was asked will they shake hands? he said definatley then Suarez does that to him
I think Liverpool FC have made themselves look like laughing stocks over the whole thing, and if it comes from the main man seen to be backing Suarez (Dalglish himself) then you get more racist incidents at Anfield – the racial abuse of the oldham player at anfield and the racial abuse of Evra again at anfield
Liverpool fans and liverpool FC have backed themselves into a corner now
and Fergie is calling them out on it now
RRC: says
You should see what my wife can do with a Tumble Dryer.
There is no room for racism in football I just love big Victor 67.H.H.
PFAyr 13.05
That is exactly how i rate him also.
TT