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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Thought Rogne was 5 * tonight!! Make that 10*
Stop all discussion about McClogger’s challenge.Fagetaboudit.
WE BEAT THEM!!!!!!!
Enjoy.
All’s good.
TOPOFTHELEAGUEcsc
Just dawned on me that the “ball over the line” shot is MAGNIFIED on Sky Sports so that the ball does look
over the line because it is about 3 or 4 times its actual size in real life………hey, whoaaaaah !
Thought it really had been a goal ( and that was funny) but now actually not so sure…
Anybody agree ?
I feel totally relaxed about this … :0)
Now looking forward to the second half again, yo !
pigalle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQQ5sEOhbjQ&list=FLYbP4dPCP-UbIV-deBYLydg&index=244&feature=plpp_video
Driving down to Blackpool tomorrow so decided to cancel the bevy session whilst watching the game again, Maniana amigos!
I take it my two sons in Aus will be happy :>)
Vinny
HH
Henri
Its football not mma. So have to disagree with you.
There was no attempt on ball only thigh high challenge with intent to injure
oglach UFB says:
29 December, 2011 at 00:00
Charlie Nick for the 1st time in along time lets his soul talk. He is still an UNCLE TIM -remember the tattie song comment???
Now I know Charlie gets it in the neck – but I can assure you he was jumping around the Sky ‘studio’ when we scored.
He was on his feet dancing when we were doing the ‘huddle’ – I sit directly under the Sky box!
Was concerned aluko wd cos us problems tonight. Glad they didnt play him!!
Well Lenny, 3-0 down to Killie at HT I thought that’s it, league over unless we get a miracle. Not sure if we got a miracle but something clicked.
Last 7 weeks has been some journey and tonight Bhoys, we proudly sit on top of the league. On top of the league. I have to say it twice to believe it. Still long long way to go, but for me Santa Lenny been a star this year.
Looking forward to those celebration beers tomorrow night with fellow CQNers.
HH
CRC
CCE
I wouldn’t be holding your breath then.
Fans, and I use that word, as opposed to supporters are fickle things, glory hunters or whatever, some are only happy when we are winning, me I’m honoured to be a Tim.
I cry when we lose, I cry when we win, but you will NEVER hear me critisising any Celtic manager or any Celtic player, can’t do it, not in my make up, others are made differently.
The posters you have mentioned are Tims of that I have no doubt, they show their feeling differently than you or I do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58VaP18beVs&feature=autoplay&list=FLYbP4dPCP-UbIV-deBYLydg&lf=plpp_video&playnext=1
Prae – I can second that. Charlie is one of us.
Surely cultsbhoy will change his name tonight!!!
THE EXILED TIM says:
29 December, 2011 at 00:08
CCE
I wouldn’t be holding your breath then.
Fans, and I use that word, as opposed to supporters are fickle things, glory hunters or whatever, some are only happy when we are winning, me I’m honoured to be a Tim.
I cry when we lose, I cry when we win, but you will NEVER hear me critisising any Celtic manager or any Celtic player, can’t do it, not in my make up, others are made differently.
The posters you have mentioned are Tims of that I have no doubt, they show their feeling differently than you or I do.
perhaps they do TET but to me they are not and will not ever be as close to celtic as you and I IMO i pity them
2010 Never Again
Defiant Ally McCoist Confidently Declares ‘We Will Win’./b
<:-))
The question raised earlier regards the difference between Fat Sally and Daily Record, the DR open the front page and you only see two tits, open the rangers dressing room and start counting.
Neil Lennon? Got chastised on here the night he was appointed for being too fervent in my support of him because of his lack of experience. No regrets from me, go on – Neil make your own history.
Nervous bhoys on here for a couple of days, get confident and enjoy the build up, the execution and the sweet success. God less you all.
pigalle
I suspect the Hu header might have crossed the line but I’m not certain – even after watching it on the Magnified Sky replay…so the correct decision is NO GOAL – you should only give a goal if you are Certain – no ref in the world could be CERTAIN..
Thought Hooper was ON SIDE, THOUGHT McCulloch tackle was pure 50-50 – actually both met the ball straightlegged – so technically both at fault.
Heally tackle was a shocking afront to professional football – absolute straight red.
Though Lafferty tackle was a yellow –
NEVER thought Huns would win.
Wonder if Sally might walk..of his own volition?
Nite all!! HaiL HaiL
Just b4 i go. See us on here we know sfa abt football. Lenny knows it all!! Whers the famous kojo the night??
Lads I don’t know about you but I am buzzing I canny believe we are now top after 15 behind.
I love all tims yeeha.
I Gave forrest man of the match at half time. Just been told he got it for the whole game.
A great prospect.
Sitting at my mates in the Calton having a beer and watching a re run of the game.
Kayal v Laffatme imo was a fair challenge. Now normally I wouldn’t give them the steam aff ma tea but I don’t think there was any malice in it.
Healy? Straight red a shocking tackle regardless of whether it was his first or not.
I criticised Lenny for his comments about the Celtic support after the game in Udinese and will stand by them. However, as the manager of our club I will always back him and tonight I couldn’t be more happy for him, for the players and for us, the magnificent Celtic support.
Vmhan, Kano 1000 – Supporting Lenny & the Green Brigada! says:
29 December, 2011 at 00:06
Damien sends his best regards mate, walking a few steps without the crutches :-)
Forster 7.5
Matthews 8.5
Rogne 8.5
Mulgrew 7.5
Ledley 8
Wanyama 7.5
Brown 8
Kayal 9.5
Samaras 8
Forrest 8
Hooper 7
Exceptional team performance and the control of the game was very good. There is usually swings in ascendancy when teams are evenly (refereed) matched.
Celtic tonight Totally controlled the game.
Onwards and Upwards.
I can see why the ref didn’t red or yellow Elbows for that tackle but anyone thats played can see what he did, knew the minute he launched that he was getting there second then rather than pull out carried on with a follow through, and to top it all off fake an injury to escape punishment.
hen1rik says:
29 December, 2011 at 00:15
————————-
Sure you do…..
When I see you Celtic I go out of my head I just can’t get enough I just can’t get enough.
live Celtic phone-in show now, contact via Skype, search Beyond The Waves
bit of a party….
Beyond The Waves
praecepta says:
29 December, 2011 at 00:07
oglach UFB says:
29 December, 2011 at 00:00
Charlie Nick for the 1st time in along time lets his soul talk. He is still an UNCLE TIM -remember the tattie song comment???
———————————————————————————————————————————————
He is am Uncle tim of the 1st order
Oh hear we go another 1 accusing me of being a hun, at least I’m honest not like a lot on here wae there green specs on.
Come back to me once you’ve sobered up.
A return to old tonight,
with chants of Celtic, Celtic, Celtic……..
reverberating round the stadium,
love that, simple and powerful,
reminds me of European nights as a kid.
Brown or Rogne for my MOTM…SB stepped up big time..starting to think he is mature enough to wear the armband..he impressed me tonight and TR is taking his chance..if he can give a few more performances like that he will be an ever present..
reilly1926 says:
29 December, 2011 at 00:20
Last comment was directed at you.
Paul
Great report! I felt we could have stepped up another gear if we wanted to tbh and rangers, to be quite frank, were fairly poor.
Btw, I shall do that draft for the mag in the next couple of days, just wanted to see the result of tonight!
HH
cant beleive the change in the league over last 5 weeks and tonight was great, will very much enjoy reading the papers tomorrow.
january is fast approaching and we need to go out and get a real top quality centre back and centre forward in, so long as we keep on winning and do this, it will be a hammer blow to the gers and could set this team up for the long haul (3/4 years).
january: move on any of hooivel (has been sold), jaurez, mcginn, mccourt (not enough game time), murphy, radmussion, commons (possibly) and maybe (big bucks), o’dea, cha, m. wilson, thompson, loovens, dan, zaluska (let go in summer) plus europa league money to get two top class players.
sign up foster and another quality player in summer
13 squad players for 3 quality players and a goalie
use some money for development of so called celtic triangle to increase revenue via pubs, cafe and mueum in the old london road school, it will pay for itself and the wages of another quality player once the initial outlay is down
whats not to like the futures green and white
Summer 2010, i wondered why the hell we signed Charlie Mulgrew, now he is my favourite player. Magnificent tonight, MOTM, closely followed by his defensive partner Thomas Rogne, who is our best defender IMO if we can keep him fit, and Beram Kayal who was back at his best.
We have our best central defensive partnership now in situ, don’t change it, develop it and reap the rewards
hen1rik says:
29 December, 2011 at 00:23
Even if you’re a Celtic Fan you’re a complete arse…..
praecepta says:
29 December, 2011 at 00:07
oglach UFB says:
29 December, 2011 at 00:00
Charlie Nick for the 1st time in along time lets his soul talk. He is still an UNCLE TIM -remember the tattie song comment???
—————————————————————————————-
There is recorded evidence of him and a well-known H*n journo making light of the Irish Famine- a Celt
Rogne and Mulgrew partnership was brilliant tonight, need to focus on monday now, don’t do what we did at motherwell last season, kick on and win this!