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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to james forrest donegall danny neg anon and the rest who called for lennys head as well as ridiculing our players on a weekly basis please now apologise and accept you got it all very wrong many thanks TA
Oh and shuggie keevins girfuy
FourGreenFields says:
28 December, 2011 at 23:48
HAIL HAIL BRO
Just in from game ,have to say,
It’s magic being a tim.
Paul 67 Forster’s alertness kept from hitting the net
===============================================
I assume you are being ironic? But anyway snarff giggle, snort
It is indeed different to experience a mistake from a different perspective.
In your opinion would this rare occurrence be deemed as part of the ‘one Scotland drive’? – We are all the same; aren’t we? Perhaps I have missed some subtle nuance per chance?
Celtic Champs Elect
Ah Neg Anon.. that’s a chap who wont crawl out from under his stone for a while now.
Evening Celts…..all week I was convinced we were gonnae hammer them and the Huns would have at least 3 players sent off, and also thought it could be more than 3 meaning the game being abandoned, not this time as we were IMO poor in the first half, we let the Huns be negative and cancel us, we got the result that’s what matters. The Huns are a spent force, so enjoy the rest of the season :>)
BT you have mail/ text
V
it never hit the net :O)
Deliberate handball ignored twice tonight.
Jelavic foul on Victor was a stick on booking.
Healy straight red.
Lafferty (again) got away with brutality. Adam Matthews probably helped the big streak, by getting up and shaking his cynically proffered hand.
Hooper offside.
Right on HT Sami was through, only to be halted by Gollum’s whistle.
Ghuys for anyone wanting to see the game again just now,
go to vipbox.tv and its vshare link 5,
on just now , whole game, 2nd half starting.
Paul 67, hope that is within the rules,
if no apologies, but hope the bhoys see the game again !
hen1rik, we’ve seen first tackles given a red before. Even if it’s uncommon, it’s still not in the rules.
Yes I agree and to me the tackle from Lafferty against hinkel and the tackle against McGowan from Lafferty is a red but if anyone on here thinks that was a red then I defo give up.
notthebus says:
28 December, 2011 at 23:52
Celtic Champs Elect
Ah Neg Anon.. that’s a chap who wont crawl out from under his stone for a while now.
a yella bellie like forrest et al GIRUThem
CCE
No apologie will be forthcoming.
Lenny is the mhan, always has been always will be.
As for the players, they give 100%, some are no as good as we would hope but they still are as good as they can be.
Lads I will guarantee and I am willing to place a bet that mcullochs was not a red.
As comfortable a 1-0 victory as I can remember against them, well since the 1-0 Scottish Cup victory in the shame game last season.
Tonight was very similar, in terms of our almost total dominance, despite this we didn’t take our chances. They lost their discipline again, however Collum wasa coward, would like to see some decisions again but at the game I thought Elbows, Healy and Laffatme could all have been given a red.
Anyway for me Thomas Rogne warrants special mention after his total nightmare last season, especially against Jelavic. Young Thomas never put a foot wrong tonight.
As for Joe, “Have I told you, Ledley that I love you….”
Heard the temp has dropped in the sooside from a comfortable +15 in November to -2 tonight, most forecasters predicting a further fall in the weeks and months ahead… :-)
hh
bjmac – a hoopy man tonight :-)
Look lads let’s enjoy this result Fk it who cares 15 to 2 yeeha.
notthebus says:
28 December, 2011 at 23:52
Neg Anon will come on and be delighted like all Celtic fans will be.
Neil said his job was to UNIFY the Support and that means those who are disgruntled.
I have no doubts there will be noone happier than NA tonight.
Is it not obvious that Laffatme, Elbows and then Healey are playing to orders?
James Forrest was singled out for special attention because he was a constant menace.
Laffatme wanted to take out Mathews because it’s how he plays and is encouraged by his manager.
Elbows, no the whole Rangers midfield were overwhelmed by VW, Brown and Kayal, hence Elbows was consigned to break up the partnership.
BTW no one had the courage to mix it with VW. :-)
These tactics come from McCoist and from the knowledge that referees will let them get away with it.
They are an ill disciplined collection of thugs and their reign is over.
‘GG
Big Packie’s Accent says:
28 December, 2011 at 23:53
Ghod man share the love. Happy new year to you and yours sir
Not posted for a while bhoys. Just back in from game. What a night. What a game. A 17 point swing. As in politics they would say the opposition is well ffffd.
Hail hail.
THE EXILED TIM says:
28 December, 2011 at 23:54
CCE
No apologie will be forthcoming.
Lenny is the mhan, always has been always will be.
As for the players, they give 100%, some are no as good as we would hope but they still are as good as they can be.
that for me makes them all never a celtic supporter in there lifes IN MY LIFE WE NEVER EVER ABUSE THE MANAGER OR THE PLAYERS THEY SCUMBAGS WILL NEVER BE FORGIVEN BY ME AND MANY OTHERS ON HERE UNTIUL THEY APOLOGISE.
Just back- superb Celtic.
Off to ma pit a happy man!
Hail hail to Tony the long time lurker who jumped in our taxi on the Gallowgate- get posting, never a better night to break your duck- ya Hun!
pigalle says:
28 December, 2011 at 23:49
Sorry but McCulloch went in to hurt, he knew it hence the oscar routine
His manager knew it hence the big hook
Seems he even fooled some telly watching Celtic fans
The north stand thousands had a great view, it was cynical tackle
Collum rightly got pelters
Celtic showed commendable discipline, certainly other sides would have retaliated
To be honest we are a little bit to nice, but then Stokes got a booking for a challenge both Jellavic and Lafferty did all night,
We played smart and deserved the 3 points
Collum is vastly overrated, Dallas fast tracked him wonder why?
SFTB is there highlights on anywhere?
Ps 3 of the LL’s are on sky sports 2 just now. I was sitting with the telly off talking to
My wife and we heard a neighbour of the fatber in laws, and I said that’s Scottish telly and they’re talking about fitba, Bertie Auld was on …… Thought I knew that voice.
V
Did you see big fartley tryin to eyeball Brown b 4 the game?? Was funny!!
Charlie Nick for the 1st time in along time lets his soul talk. He is still an UNCLE TIM -remember the tattie song comment???
notthebus & Celtic Champs Elect
The temptation may be strong but it is classier to resist the urge.
The guys you are calling out are good tims too, albeit with a negative outlook, and neganon has been posting regularly during good and bad times (don’t know where DD is these days but I am sure he is happy tonight)
Having been called out and blamed personally by an overseas mineshafter when we lost a league last season, it is tempting to consider retaliating but, on this night of all nights, we do not need this.
The guys calling for sackings in October were wrong because they were premature.
Equally, you guys are premature in celebrating any trophy. It is still just December and there is a long way to go.
Just enjoy the feeling and rise above the temptation.
Didn’t have a chance to get nervous before the game – no season cards – big thanks to the ticket office for sorting it out.
Thought we controlled the game for the most part and did well to keep our shape – mainly down to Kayal and the midfield.
Hard to pick a MOTM – Mathews, Ledley, Rogne, Brown and Sammi all contributed – can’t complain about the others it was a very good team performance.
Could have been 4 or 5 had one of our midfielders arrived on the ‘D’ for one of the many good cutbacks.
This team will get better the more wins they rack-up – the more goals they score. If we open up the gap by end January – I expect thems to crumble before the split.
H!H!
oglach UFB says:
28 December, 2011 at 23:57
Love ya’, love yeez all,
love the Celtic.
All the best, to you and yours.
just watchin a re-run of the match at vipbox.tv
first half goal that was offside – what a FINISH by Sammy – a wee dink
The fat bin man on Sky sports after his team got gubbed “We still have it all to play for”.
(Apart from the Champions League, the Europa League, the Scottish League Cup)
BABASONICOS71, Matthews will be PoTY on this form. A mean feat in a team with Kayal.
oglach UFB, I don’t think any official was in a position to award Rangers a goal. It was literally a matter of an inch or two and perhaps a 1/10th of a second.
Hooper’s onside was a far clearer decision. Oh, and yes, I was being ironic.
Big Packie’s Accent, I think we’ll live with it tonight.
setting free the bears says:
29 December, 2011 at 00:01
notthebus & Celtic Champs Elect
The temptation may be strong but it is classier to resist the urge.
The guys you are calling out are good tims too, albeit with a negative outlook, and neganon has been posting regularly during good and bad times (don’t know where DD is these days but I am sure he is happy tonight)
Having been called out and blamed personally by an overseas mineshafter when we lost a league last season, it is tempting to consider retaliating but, on this night of all nights, we do not need this.
The guys calling for sackings in October were wrong because they were premature.
Equally, you guys are premature in celebrating any trophy. It is still just December and there is a long way to go.
Just enjoy the feeling and rise above the temptation.
never the keague is over IMO and them clowns like forrest neg anoin and donegall leprachaun need ridiculed and taken to task
The re-run of the game is on Celtic TV now, even for people in Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales.
Subscribe, if you can afford it and haven’t already. Well worth it and the money goes to Celtic.
Much as the three points was the object of the exercise, I have to hand it to young Tommy Rogne. Terrific. Absolutely terrific.
Plaudits too to Joe Ledley for figuring it out at left back, and the Remarkable Georgios Samaras Experience for, well, ripping it up in classic style. If he leaves us we will be regretful. If he doesn’t he might very well be remembered for decades. I’d stick around if I were you Georgi.
Rotten tomatoes to Ally McCoist who showed what a limited football man he is by giving the orders on 70 minutes. Elbows, Healy and Lafferty ought to be fast tracked tomorrow. Should I hold my breath?
Laurels though go to Neil Lennon. 7 weeks ago he was on the ropes. Tonight, his young team of talented troupers sits top of the league having shown up for a rumble with the requisite kit.
Well done Lenny. I’m impressed.
Members of the Family Celtic
This time last year myself and the family were in the grips of despair, as my gran had passed away on Christmas Day. I was in some trouble at work – me and my big mouth haha – and thought (correctly) that I was on the verge of being sacked. (Indeed, I was on suspension this time last year and had just had my investigatory hearing which, again, because of my big mouth, hadn’t gone well). There didn’t seem to be a lot of good in my life, or in the world.
On 31 December I went to my sisters house for the Bells. There, with Stephen Black and the family, I refound some desire to see 2011. I didn’t know at the time how big a year this was going to be, but it’s been beautiful … it’s been long, at times tough, sometimes stressful and tense … but it’s been the best I’ve had in many, many, many years.
2011 was bookended by two wins against Rangers, and that, my friends, ain’t no bad thing. It ends with us top of the SPL pile, with Rangers facing what might be the toughest month in the history of their club … until February … until March … until April … especially April.
Part of my year is being part of this Family. Indeed, it was an email from a member of this Family which transformed my year and has put me in a position where I am ending the year writing about the unplatable choices facing Rangers in the next one, with a smile on my face.
Tonight was special to me. I almost went to the game – guys, you’ll know how big a sea-change that has taken in my mood. In the end, I do have work to do, and I want to make sure that it’s of a good standard, and so I watched it here at home. But next season … oh yeah, I can see me missing nothing, not one minute, not one game. I feel good tonight about everything.
Most of all, I feel good that across town our enemies are locked in fearsome internal debate. Now, sometimes it can be dangerous to you when your enemy is locked in such intense discussion about the future. Doubtless, Cassius and Brutus felt pretty pleased with themselves, knowing their return to the forefront of Roman life was being discussed by the warring camps of Octavian and Antony … but those discussions led to an alliance between those enemies, the creation of the Second Triumvate and utter defeat for the men who murdered Julius Caesar and had thought his nephew would offer no serious threat.
We are not likely to see such a Road to Damascus awakening amongst their support anytime soon.
Two themes dominate their forums. One is that McCoist has had money to spend and spend it badly, the other is that Craig Whyte has given him nothing yet. The emphasis is on “yet.”
All are agreed on this; the one man who can save them is the Motherwell Born Billionarie. They are discussing transfer targets, how much to give Ally, they are actually openly discussing Craig Whyte’s brilliance as a businessman, based on I know not what.
Now, either they are utterly unaware that the ravaged land into which they are about to pass is largely of his making or they are foolishly closing their eyes and pretending they don’t. I wonder too if it has dawned on Whyte just how well his “media strategy” has worked in giving false hope to these demented morons, and of how much anger is going to explode in his general direction when they find out they are holding nothing more than the empty bag, all that’s left of their club.
That club is about to enter the darkness. And they believe the man who has, quite willfully, led them in that direction, is the guy who’ll show them the light.
Friends in Celtic, 2011 was, for me, astounding in every way.
2012 is going to be very, very special for all of us.
Happy New Year brothers and sisters.
Thems have been reported as dropping 11 points in the last 7 games. That means only 10 of 21 gained, or 1.43 points per game. It’s about the current level of St Johnstone and Hearts.
Vmhan
No highlights tonight. Just the whole 90 minutes on Sky Sports 2 at 1am