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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Jelavic: 6 fouls. After 3rd he was spoken to by Collum. 4/5/6 no card from Collum
Stokes: 1 foul. Yellow card
Care to explain ya wee Hun twat?
Now! That has to be the easiest team talk I’ve ever given.
:—-))))) GIRFUY FPL.
NL.
Themole says:
Great pick up, we’ve not paid for FF yet so back 5 for nowt :O) throw in Forrest and the Brown money almost seems acceptable (I keed)
hen1rik says:
29 December, 2011 at 00:40
Only time I’ve ever heard ‘look matey’ aimed at me,
is in a condescending tone,
and on FF.
Why are you so upset?
i was agreeing with you ?
Cults Bhoy
“Faith is an incredible thing, blind and irrational but it is different to belief.. ”
Nice try but neither faith nor belief are sighted.
Your belief or faith that Celtic were going to lose a league was just as blind as my belief that they would win it. Neither was evidence based because there were too many variables yet to play out. You can cite the evidence of 3 lost leagues and a poor start to the 4th but calling it over is as blind to reason as it would be if you expect 3 coin tosses of heads to mean that the 4th will be heads too.
There is no such thing as sighted faith.
There is no such thing as sighted belief.
The views of mineshafters and happyclappers are both just perspectives. They appear real to the subjective eye of the beholder but they are no more real because of that.
When we were 3 nil down after an hour or more at Rugby Park, my view was that we were in a very bad place but I never thought we had lost a league. If we are 3 points in front with one game to go, I will also not state that a league has been won.
the_huddle
being 15 points behind with over half the season to go was, in my opinion, not the time to panic. I watched some truly abysmal performances during the 90’s still always believed we could turn it around.
Blind Faith? Maybe, but to me its what marks out us Celts as special.
“Faithful through and through” is more than just a song.
Not intending to slight or attack anyone else by that comment btw its just how my Celtic world revolves, others support in whichever way they feel happiest thats their right.
TopCorner
Wonderful, just wonderful.
Hail Hail.
Are you still saying that your former N.I. Centre Forward was innocent of a red card.
p.s. keep quiet about treble.
Owen
when was the time to panic?
Brilliant JCGE, CELTIC,CELTIC and Glasgow’s Green & White just after the goal.
Now doing The Huddle-incredible atmosphere!
I watched the game with 2 Huns tonight9 there was also 4 Dons, a Makem and a Geordie as well as a Jam Tart..
Hun mates conceded the game to me before kick off, they both felt the header crossed the line but both very apathetic as they know it’s game over..
One of them is an Aberdonian Catholic..aye – go work that one out!
hen1rik says:
29 December, 2011 at 00:40
So a thigh level challenge if it’s your first is only a yellow, it’s idiots like you and wee willie winkie that have ruined the scottussshhhh gemme…
Celtic Soul bro of a mancunian type kinda thing inat no…
Awright?
Ta for lift last week wae CRC
P.s, Stevie Mc says Hi!!
starry plough says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:03
hen1rik says:
29 December, 2011 at 00:40
So a thigh level challenge if it’s your first is only a yellow, it’s idiots like you and wee willie winkie that have ruined the scottussshhhh gemme…
share
Were u at the game tonight?
The huddle
yeah pretty sure that whole team cost under £10million and i have to say its got the makings of being a very good one. Quite scary to think that izzy is still to come back and kris commons has hardly figured. Rangers on the other hand have guys like David Healy (thug) and the not so Zidane like john fleck in reserve. Bring it!!
the_huddle
There is never a good time to panic. Thankfully our manager was made of stronger stuff than many of us.
I’m off to watch the game on Sky.
Lenny got them together.
Some of us knew he would. Hoped, kept faith despite doubts. Some withered, some condemned.
Some here used the Hun media fav, ‘Lennon’, with no less venom – forgetting our leader has a Christian name.
Screw you all and shame on you. Look in the mirror before you refer to yourselves as Celtic supporters again.
Some – many, many, in fact – used Samaras as a scapegoat for their own frustrations with daily existence. For a while on here EVERYTHING was Samaras’ fault.
Constructivism was the order of the day, revisionists ruled – every opposition positive was traced back to a Samaras negative.
I sated more than once that the appreciation of Samaras was the fine line of understanding football and being, basically, a dick.
Samaras found his confidence, his form, and we lifted from the ordinary because finally the only player in Scotland who has played at the VERY top level had the belief of his team mates and manager and the self-belief to stick it out, and stick it in the face of his detractors.
I say’ detractors’, but really we’re talking about Celtic supporters who booed the man’s very donning of the Hoops.
Shame on you people. Hold that mirror tight. Look deep, sick puppies. Ask yourselves the $64,000 question – Parkhead or Mordor? Hoop or Hun? REALISE your errors of judgement and what can come of faith and confidence.
Support the Hoops. Don’t decry those who wear them. One for all, and all that…
So God love us one and all. Top o’ the feckin’ Christmas tree and here to stay.
Night and out.
Our kid in the East – speak tomorrow, bro.
MTH
Cultsbhoy would love being first except he’s 2nd.
I’ve never been in doubt.
Never slagged SB.
Never slagged Sammi.
Never booed any player or manager.
Never thrown 15/12/9/7/4/1 point behind in anyone’s face as an argue meant to get at the Bhoys.
Keep The Faith.
MWD Tims don’t ever roll over. Even in defeat. We stand and face them down.
PS. I hear Billy Gollum’s mum wishes she had kept the afterbirth instead.
C’mon you Bhoys In Green
ON SS2 NOW
jardine / johnstone & greig moaning about not getting to show their 1972 european trophy
to the fans due to crowd trouble. and it was the spanish police fault. !!!
seriously, nothing ever changes :)
———————————————————-
tonight i watched a gulf in class between the two. a massive gulf.
ill focus on the ugly part of scottish football 1st.
i always think that lets try & be like the spanish,
if that was a spanish ref tonight, i reckon there was 3 stonewall red cards.
and most of ye on here have missed the 1st one.
im sure it was papac that went thru the back of one of our players in the 1st half.
a sending off in any other european league, but not even a booking in scotland.
that is why we are a backwater.
healys was another stonewaller. elbows ?? i just hate the cretinous twat with a vengeance.
—————————————————————————————————
onto the positives. :)
Victor wanyama is micheal essien. no doubts….. he was the strongest man on the park
easy….
sammi was a thron in their side, and never ever let them settle. his work rate was super
kayal was immense in the 2nd half especially.
im going to say that i felt that hooper & forrest were out of sorts, young james kept slipping
or getting the ball taken off him from broadfoot of all people, so for him to get MOM is weird
for me.
on a night when the wind made their defense & goalkeeper look very average.
ours looked world class, and attacked the ball at every time.
my MOM
thomas rogne was flippin fantastic….
now to watch again.
BABASONICOS71 says:
29 December, 2011 at 00:58
Themole,
“Craig Whyte eat your heart out!! ”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He’s a hun.He has no heart. ;-)
– – – — – – – – – —
Magic, a man after my own.
hen1rik says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:05
The treble’s on my hun boy….
Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Hooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-D
Yup, still very very happy indeed………….!!!
setting free the bears says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:05
the_huddle
There is never a good time to panic. Thankfully our manager was made of stronger stuff than many of us.
—————
That’s bo*llcks of course :O) some of the best decisions in mankind are made in panic (scientific fact). You really don’t think the management team at Celtic weren’t panicking after our start to the season??
SmashingMilkBottles says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:03
No problem-met Googybhoy tonight in Manchester Pub(another top bloke)-just watching re-run now-atmosphere absolutely incredible after the goal(not bad before too!)
Hope to catch up with you and Steve next time I’m in Glesca’
MWD, get’m, feck’n, get’m.
Pure dead Brilliant!!!! Went in to Donnachies in Port Glasgowafter the game just home but sooooooooooo goood to see so many happy smiling tims Thank you Celtic
As tonight is not a happy time for Mr Whyte and his team and supporters, I thought I would delve back into the archives to a happier time for him – November 2010, when he had burst on to the scene, the Motherwell born billionaire who was going to take Rangers from Sir David Murray, and lead them ever onward.
I refer to a marvellous article in the Sun (and that is a sentence I never thought I’d write in my life). It includes some wonderful prescient analysis, and what I think must be the best line ever – guess who was described in the article, by a Professor no less, as “the Jim Delahunt of corporate finance”?
Read on and enjoy!
http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/2011/12/29/sad-night-for-rangers-and-craig-whyte/
SFTB
I have a mate who is deeply religious (I’m not) and I’m always impressed by the depth of his faith – it is unshakeable and a lot of the time irrational (IMO). He attributes every positive event in his life to God an every negative event due to his own failings.
I see that as faith.
I do feel belief is more of a system built on experience rather than a concept like faith.
I am honestly amazed and slightly bewildered that some fans did not entertain doubts when we were 15 points behind so early in the season following (as you point out) 3 consecutive SPL 2nds…which reminds me – must change my blog name!
BABASONICOS71 says:
29 December, 2011 at 00:58
Themole,
“Craig Whyte eat your heart out!! ”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He’s a hun.He has no heart. ;-)
Apologies schoolboy error there, what i meant to say was Craig Whyte and all u hun bassas out there, GIRFUY.
NEIL LENNON
THE MAN himself wants to UNIFY All Celtic Supporters.
So Tonight, especially Tonight.
Resist the usual crap of casting up he said this, she said that.
FFS
UNIFY
The MONSTROUS LL are hoping for any little crumb they can exploit.
reilly1926 says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:08
hen1rik says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:05
The treble’s on my hun boy….
share
Let’s email paul67 then and once I prove to you I ain’t then you can let all the CQN boys know.
You up for it chicken shit.
the_huddle
“That’s bo*llcks of course :O) some of the best decisions in mankind are made in panic (scientific fact). ”
You might have to enlighten me by naming a few.
BTW OED definition of panic : sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety, often causing wildly unthinking behaviour:
reilly1926 says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:08
I’m from Greenock are u a Glasgow boy?
The weather was a great assist to that mob tonight as it prevented genuine football being the deciding factor and yet they still failed.The introduction of Healy was a desperate and crass act from a limited,out-of-his-depth,unqualified football manager.My own personal opinion is that their paucity of talent on and off the bench is beginning to show.
Only complacency can prevent us regaining the title.The 3-2 defeat at Inverness last season will ensure no complacency.I’m now dreaming of a treble but my reality senses at least being champions.
Celtic,i love you.
REBELTREBLEcsc
the_huddle
In all honest my friend I don’t panic when we are beat nor when we lose leagues. Hell I backed Tony Mowbrey right up to the day he left, daft eh.
If we win the league this season then I will party like a loon if we lose it I will not be demanding scalps.
Watching game now for first time, too nervous to watch it live, so will be supping a merlot and grinning for next 90 mins or so.
hen1rik says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:05
I wasn’t at the game no were you and that is why you saw the tackle from a better view than the TV??
Alright Mate keep taking the medicine..
the solitary goal tonight puts us 1 goal ahead in Goal difference ..another small but significant achievement..