Joe Ledley scored the only goal of the game that saw Celtic leapfrog Rangers at the top of the SPL. Celtic dominated throughout but it was a game full of controversial incidents. Lee Wallace appeared to have opened the scoring for Rangers but Fraser Forster scooped the ball out of the net. In the second half Gary Hooper was sent clean through by Georgios Samaras but was incorrectly flagged for offside.
Referee Willie Collum declined to show a red card to Lee McCulloch, David Healy and Kyle Lafferty despite plenty of provocation but Rangers never looked like forcing an equaliser once they went behind.
Celtic had the ball in the net early on when Rangers’ keeper, Allan McGregor spilled the first of two Gary Hooper shots he failed to keep hold off. Georgios Samaras was on-hand to clip the ball over the keeper but was flagged for offside. Despite Celtic enjoying the majority of possession Rangers had the best two chances of the first half. Wallace’s header which Forster’s alertness kept from hitting the net and then Carlos Bocanegra had a gilt-edged chance from six yards out but made a clumsy connection with his knee and sent the ball over.
Sone Aluko caused Celtic some problems early on when playing wide right but with Celtic dominating central midfield Ally McCoist pulled Aluko into the middle, which didn’t prevent Beram Kayal and Victor Wanyama from controlling midfield but blunted Rangers attacking options.
The gales which blew through Glasgow today faded as the game wore on but they were still strong throughout the first half with Celtic playing into the wind. On a couple of occasions Fraser Forster’s clearances didn’t reach the halfway line, in contrast to the second half, when his clearances repeatedly ran through to McGregor in the opposite goal. As a result, half time was a welcome break for Celtic.
The second half was five minutes old when Charlie Mulgrew got his first opportunity to send in a wind-assisted in-swinging corner. There is something curious about a 6’3” central defender taking corner kicks instead of trying to get on the end of them but Mulgrew’s delivery provided evidence as to why this is.
The corner was fast and direct but dipped five yards from goal at the far post. Four players jumped for the ball but Joe Ledley picked the flight of the ball out of the blustery confusion. All the ball needed was the faintest touch to send it bulleting high into the net.
Adam Matthews dominated the right side of the field. His pace allowed him to recover to inhibit any attack down the Rangers left while his control and passing pegged Rangers back throughout. Rangers played Nikica Jelavic on Thomas Rogne, who was hooked when the pair met at Hampden in March, but the 21-year-old Norwegian was never in trouble this evening. Jelavic was a sorry looking shadow of a football player who is flattered by reported interest in him.
Beram Kayal was taken out of the game by Lee McCulloch, who was red carded on his last appearance against St Mirren, but with Kayal on the deck McCulloch hung a limp ankle in the air while writhing in pain. It looked like a break for the Rangers player but he got up after referee Collum decided against showing a red card.
The league’s poorest player, David Healy, made a late cameo and should have been shown a straight red card for a dangerous lunge at James Forrest. Fellow Irishman, Kyle Lafferty, was also lucky to escape a red when he took Adam Matthews out of the game as Rangers lost their discipline late on.
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Who knows what will happen to the huns but, I feel that the historical handicap(feckin about in the transfer window) will, raise it’s ugly head and, handicap us again!
When will we ever take the bull by the horns and, lay down the gauntlet as if to say, we’ve knocked you(huns) off top so, bring it on!!!!
Before the game they said that they would rather be a point in front.
After the game they were saying it was alright to be 2 points behind and the pressure was now on Celtic.
Got to laugh at a desperate hun…
Oh! What happened to “We WILL Win!”
DeniaBhoy says:
29 December, 2011 at 07:44
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Luck old you!
By that I mean, at least your not stuck here in, ‘The Land That Time Forgot’!
Hail! Hail!
Luck=Lucky
ASonOfDan says:
29 December, 2011 at 07:46
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I think that, ‘We Will Win’ came from a previous agreement, imo, by the establishment, since the appointment of, gollum of official for the game by, under the radar operative Hugh Dallas that, everything will be alright ???
“Paranoid me erse!” CSC
Mario Balotelli was at the game wearing a Celtic top, or so the huns are saying. They are not very happy on their side of the divide. One site ran with a thread titled F*** the pope, though it has now been removed.
Sanity seems to have taken a vacation in certain quarters.
kitalba says:
29 December, 2011 at 08:06
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Whats the chance of us getting in, Balotteli on loan ?
Hail! Hail!
Balotteli=Balotelli
I don’t think we could afford half his wages mate. A couple of experienced players capable of going straight into the first team would be nice, but I’ll wait until the end of the window before trowing any of my toys out of the pram. Berbatov and Torres would be nice too if Peter wouldn’t mind putting his bonus on hold once again.
I think that Neil will be encouraged to take the team further, despite cut-backs and, you know what… i think Neil will do that!
Usually a voice of gloom and doom, even I am feeling pretty good this morning.
Much has been made of the effect of the come back at Kilmarnock. For my money things really started to change as soon as the third goal went in against Rennes.
Only my opinion.
kitalba says:
29 December, 2011 at 08:22
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I was only jesting with you re: Balotelli.
Btw, exactly what does PL get a bonus for ?
Hail! Hail!
Paul67,
Thanks for the cheer last night.
Watching the game on the TV didn’t do the nerves much good but we won. That’s always a good.
Congratulations to Mr Neil Lennon and the whole TEAM at Celtic Park. We may just be on the cusp of something wonderful.
P.S what was the average age of the team last night? 22 or 23??
Kitalba –
“They are not very happy on their side of the divide.”
Plus ça change (plus c’est la même chose), my green & white happy hoopy friend. They’re not known as The Glesga Ragers for nothing!
:-))))
Can we handle the pressure of a 2 point lead?
Well we handled the pressure of being 3-0 down at half time against Killie.
We handled the pressure of being 15 points behind our rivals.
So Bartley, I think we will cope just fine…
Last night was wonderful. I can say that now, as all I felt at the time was a 60mph wind in my face, tension, relief near the start of the second half, followed by tension, then 5 minutes of super-tension at the end. Me of little faith…
Refelecting on it all this morning, it occurs to me just how poor Rangers are (in every sense). When the respective benches were announced last night, I saw Celtic with the likes of Cha, Stokes, Wilson etc, every one of whom would get a game for Rangers. Rangers had a list of names available for transfer – can’t see anyone queueing up for any of them.
Apart from the scoreline and the general application, I thought our discipline was superb while Rangers lost the plot. How do you cope with the knowledge that your team has been on the wrong end of a 17 point swing? Clearly, they can’t.
Glasgow Herald hundit Grant says it was a goal,ergo it must have been a goal.
Aw the shame.
Pure scunnered,so they ur.
Elidor69
Have to agree with everything there.
I feel like my stomach is a bag of kittens when the game is on, but I honestly wasn’t as bad last night. We just looked so much more comfortable.
Based on last night performance, I can’t see much coming in for their players.
what do you say about last night ? bloody brilliant, well done lennie , the stadium looked unbelievable on the tv, so much to say about the team , where do you start ? Wangers – well they lost the plot big time and had little to offer. How did healy stay on the park, you could see it on his face, he knew it was out of order. Not the the only one in blue to tap the ref on the arm in acknowledgement during tne match
Why don’t we, as a club(lol) strike whilst the iron is hot and, given the victory last night and, the historical nit-picking of the LL/media, ban them from CP NOW ?
We(Celtic FC) are, imo, better off with no media publicity than we are with the, distorted, twisted agenda’s that are the fayre we have to deal with ?
Hail! Hail!
The morning after the night before,
going by the tweets firing around last night we do have some celebrity followers!
was Balotelli at the game right enough?
The consensus of opinion is that Willie Colum never seen the ball cross the line or he would have given the goal, theres a certain ironoy in there,
Willie Colum never seen a tackle on Kirk Broadhead last season but he still gave them a penalty….
Willie Colum did see David Healy assault James Forrest last night and only deemed it a yellow card despite the fact the wee man was very fortunate to escape serious injury….
Willie Colum shouldve gone to specsavers
Apparently a smoke bomb was set off amongst the hordes last night?
thatll be the same smoke bombs the SPL and SFA were so appaled at in Udinese will it?
Paul67 says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:24
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Prof Brady indeed was both very wise and also a top humourist – “the Jim Delahunt of Corporate Finance” indeed.
Comedy gold!
Am I happy…yes I Am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eq2YPqKSXI&feature=youtu.be
I’m still banging on about Healy?
I go over to Costcutters across the road, somebody gets up the booze aisle before me, I kick him to the ground , I get chucked out, simple .
Right it’s out, I’ll shut up, we won, we’re top of the league,
Great win and well deserved.
I was lucky enough to be at the game and to come home and watch it again. I thought that Forrest and Samaras were superb, Foster is growing in ability and confidence and Rogne was supreme. Good performances all round. Well done Neil, wot a Merry Christmas and good health to you in the New Year.
HH
Morning, league leaders.
Mrs First says we’re on a family outing to climb Moel Famau.
If I don’t make it back, enjoy winning the championship.
Last night’s performance was important as the team maintained the momentum. Last year and earlier this season there were players that played as if they were just happy to make the team, now there is a tangible confidence throughout the team with everybody contributing and this was probably best typified by Rogne’s assured performance last night.
Ain’t no stopping us now.
Murdochbhoy
You are right about momentum. Long may it continue.
The run of wins has to end some time, but not now, not next month, or the one after.
I look forward to seeing how far ahead we are by then.
WW Collum had a dismal performance.
Media ranting on about his reticence to use the yellow card as being commendable, Lafferty got away with consistent fouling early on in the first half and then his lack of conviction or courage to send Healy off or book McCulloch was poor. The body language, the touching of Collum by a bundle of Ragers players, the cosy chats by McCulloch all add up to the Ragers players having the referee in their pocket. After his gift of a penalty to them and the consequential win he was too frightened to see new gifts through the eyes in the back of his head. 1 out of 10 he gets and he should nae bother trying harder he should expel himself.
Top of the class Celtic.
HH
A nice wee came last night came towards the end, when Rangers knew they were beaten, and Broadfoot decided to fall on top of James Forrest after fouling him in the middle of the pitch. Wee James threw the challenged one off and a bit of squaring up ensued.
On the fringes of it, to the right, if you look, Charlie Mulgrew, who had come forward to take the free-kick, is laughing.
I meant cameo.
Today is a happy hangover day.
Great performance by the whole team, although young Matthews and Rogne were excellent.
McCoist’s performance also helped us. Aluko was their only real threat and he hooked him. He set is team up to defend and kick lumps out of Celtic and he got exactly what he deserved – a proper skelping. Can you imagine the pressure Neil would be getting from the press if he had presided over a 17 point swing.
McCoist must stay.
Lubo.
I ll enjoy the papers today.. Will Mc Culloch retrospectively be punished for seriously hurting Beram? As someone said we should air our grievances from top of the league.. That aside … What an ascent.. And strangely I feel the Europa campaign galvanised us…
Pleasure to be in paradise last night.. And thanks for that song Coldplay.. Makes me smile every time…
Para para paradise…
Hail hail
Enjoy the media today hoops
Morning Celts, tell all the Huns ye know, that wer’e top o the league and they’re no…..
:>)
V
A great bit (maybe too early in the game for my nerves though) was when Sami squared up to a hun and pointed at the big screen – what’s the score mate? Hoopy Days :)
morning ghents
just watched the game on tele ….
at the match last night the three tackles mentioned by P67 looked bad
worse on tv ..despite Davie Provan`s efforts at down playing them
imo Collum is spineless …he bottled many decisions
Healy is a straight red in any game
Lafferty should have been booked before he was…another snidey over the ball studs up tackle from this reptile …he`ll hurt someone someday unless these ref`s start applying the laws …straight red
McCulloch conned Collum feigning injury ..McCulloch knew he was in bother …straight red
incidently …how many fouls is Jelavic allowed to commit without booking
pressure on the Huns …see how they like it
Good feeling this morning. Last night was like the New Year game when we humped them with Paul Lambert thunderbolt. It was then I knew we would stop them getting ten. We will stop four and start or own run from now.What a young gallus team we have.
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