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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SFTB
See you tomorrow, I’m sure I seen it on newsround so will be back.
Got golf at 9 in the morning so should really hit the hay, get to try out my new booble hat on the course to noise up the huns
I’ll try for 3rd time and, appeal to fellow Celts on a Happy night that, I would be grateful if a fellow Celt could provide a link to the full 90 mins for a fellow Tim who dizny have Sky.
Thanks in advance.
Hail! Hail!
P.S. Its good to have been on here 3 times tonight and so far, not to be called a hun!!!
Brilliant pass but not quite as good as The Maestro’s to Chris Morris
Now that was pass :O)
KevJungle – “Put the GREEN BRIGADE into a new JUNGLE” says:
29 December, 2011 at 00:57
Don’t have link to 90 minutes but here’s the highlights,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/16349890.stm
does anyone have footage of they shcking tacles?
hen1rik:
Well I’ll have to live with your disappointment. That and the “slagging” of Celtic fans, as bizarre as that is, and inexplicable to me.
It was an assault. His foot was up, acres from the ball. He went for the man, pure and simple, a piece of sheer thuggery and the ONLY reason he was on the park. I can think of nothing else he brings to their team. He is a zero talent no-mark, a pure hatchet man. He performed exactly as programmed and built tonight, as did Healy who, although he wallows in the darkest of their filth gives so little as a player their own fans – his peepil – cannot abide the sight of him on the pitch. He too brings nothing in a football sense; his one contribution was to assault my namesake, which I must presume, given how little he has contributed in a football sense since signing – and what was that now? 18 months ago? – was exactly what he was sent out on the pitch to do. Because, again, he did nothing else.
It is one of THE most cynical attempts at physically intimidating a rival team I have ever seen. They could have finished with eight or less on the pitch tonight, and it would have been deserved.
BABASONICOS71 says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:32
hen1rik,
I’m also a GREENock bhoy,alas i now reside in ra Port.To quote Groucho,
“I’ve built myself up from nothing to a state of extreme poverty.”
Anywho,to get to the point,i get exactly where you’re coming from about McClugger’s tackle,and,i agree.
But so whit,we’ve just beat the Mrs of Uncle Football and went TOP OF THE LEAGUE.
Just enjoy the moment mo chara.
M8 I agree I’ve said that on some comments earlier but it pisses me off on here when I like to give my opinion and I’m accused of being a hun.
Your from the port and I’m Greenock I’ll meet anyone on hear and once you speak to me you will know I hate them.
shocking even ;)
James Forrest:
When you were calling for Neil Lennon to go, I did not agree with you. You never resorted to venom against the man to get your point across and although events have proved your assessment wrong you have been man enough to come on and give praise where praise is due.
I don’t remember neganon getting nasty about Neil Lennon’s managerial competence either, and likewise he comes on and gives his praise.
I do remember some really nasty posts by people who didn’t have the bottle to put their name to their opinions and one or two absolutely pathetic tims who called for Neil Lennon’s head in their monickers. What was all that about?
I hope you took as much pleasure from the game as I did James. Strike that I know you did and now I’m going to open the bottle that I couldn’t face earlier this morning.
Here’s to us.
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the Triumph.
MWD Thomas Paine.
hen1rik says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:24
Henr1k, get a grip please,
you had a point and ran into nonsense with it ,
you are now seeing the bright lights of ‘ king de blog’
nonsensical, argumentative on a night of celebration.
As for your port onions comment, i accept yours comments of huns de-script,
I take that as a challenge..
Wind your neck in bhoy. !
Any1 else think we have an outstanding prospect in Adam Mathews? thought he was a close 1 for motm, if i were an epl manager at the game last night id b far more impressed with the likes of wanyama kayal and mathews than jelavic, very over rated. Delighted that the huns seem to base everything they do around him.
the_huddle
different strokes for different folks.
Anyway as James Forrest said “ENJOY TONIGHT” as I am …
Now :-)
James Forrest is Lennon says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:35
hen1rik:
Look I will explain this again maybe I didn’t explain it well.
Healy was just on the park it was his 1st challenge, I know it was blatant but he booted him up in the air but if it was a leg breaker yes he’s walks but a ref in Scotland will nit send him off for that unless he’s already had a few tackles I can’t explain it any better than this.
pigalle says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:28
A red card every time in Any other League.
And we wonder Why Scotland is dropping like a stone. Farmers are allowed to get a professional contract in Scotland rather than Skilled young players.
Given that (ex hun Stuart McCall) began his career as Motherwell manager on the January 1st 2011 with a 0-0 draw against Hamilton, perhaps this is a good time to appraise his league record.
In this calendar year, McCall has pitted his wits against 12 different teams on league duty. (this seasons teams, and Hamilton who were in the SPL last season).
He has won points against EVERY SINGLE TEAM he has played in the league bar 1.
The only team ex hun Stuart McCall has not managed to win points against in his tenure as Motherwell manager is rangers. THE ONLY ONE.
Ex hun Stuart McCall has played 40 league games as Motherwell manager. Here is his record versus the 11 teams he has played ( excluding rangers)
played = 37
goals for = 40
goals ag = 44 (less than 1.2 goals a game)
points = 57
Ex hun Stuart McCall has played 3 league games as Motherwell manager against rangers, here is his record.
played = 3
goals for = 0
goals ag = 14 (more than 4.5 goals a game)
points = 0
Now, when the huns win their next game convincingly, dont be taken in by the MSM bull about how they are ‘on the rise’ and how the fat bin man has ‘steadied the ship’.
Just remember one thing.
Ex hun Stuart McCall.
hen1rik,
I have no reason to doubt you’re a tim,just want you to enjoy our win.
Go easy mo chara.
Not seen the game due to working,but listened on FIVELIVE.
Even Nevin said Healy’s was a red.
No-one commented on the McCulloch challenge. Full-blooded commitment from both players,it seemed to them.
Bejayzus,I’m looking forward to watching this with a few beers on Friday morning.
Not as good as watching it with a few BEARS though,which I would have been had I not been working!
Well done to all,and a
HUGE HAIL HAIL!
SFTB
I think you are splitting semantics…
I also refuse to believe any Celtic fan could on the EVIDENCE of early performances and previous league defeats honestly believe that we would find ourselves in the position we are in. Only bjmac was prepared to put his money on it.
Kit
And wha`s like us?
Great result for all Tims.
Like Petec, unity around our team will produce what we all want.
hen1rik says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:33
As I said Mate your language gives you away, God bless you and your family. Try the spelling test at ranknusss@commmmm…
SP
zimmerman says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:34
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Thanks M8.
Hail! Hail!
Paul67 says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:24
Algarvian, we can hope for better times but we always have to call it as it is. Back in October and November we WERE in a fight for second place with Motherwell – and were losing that fight for a while. The turnaround has been remarkable but only because of the starting position.
Had I reported that everything was on plan back then I’d be seriously misguided, as I’m sure even Neil didn’t think that was the case. We were off plan, playing poorly and needed a remarkable upturn in performances. I had to report this.
Thanks for reply paul67.
Maybe some supporters forgot we were missing quite a few regulars, and to be honest, we had been unlucky in some games.
I said then though, luck can change, maybe we got out of jail with that one on the line tonight, it could have been called in, though i don’t think the whole of the ball crossed the line.
My rhetoric was more aimed at those who had not only gave up the ghost, but who had seen fit to besmirch our manager, ceo, and others.
Remember some on here hounded PL for not paying 4m for wallace, instead we got Izzy for a tenth, funny old world.
HH
Big Packie’s Accent says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:37
hen1rik says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:24
Henr1k, get a grip please,
you had a point and ran into nonsense with it ,
you are now seeing the bright lights of ‘ king de blog’
nonsensical, argumentative on a night of celebration.
As for your port onions comment, i accept yours comments of huns de-script,
I take that as a challenge..
Wind your neck in bhoy. !
share
Ok m8 agreed I’ve made my points but I did say in some comments we have clawed it back from 15 to 2.
Do you think if I was on losing side I would be upto this time lol.
I,m just in the door and see Healy’s name mentioned
He’a an orange thug of the tjhe highest order . siné
Pleased to see the Matthews pass makes the cut on the execrable BBC highlights.
Abysmal challenges from Healy and Lafferty do not.
Gary Hooper incorrectly flagged offside and Alan McGregor’s kick at him anyway once Hoops had gone past him does not.
Ah well. At least the licence helps pay for Radio 3.
Moonbeams WD. Kano 1000 \o/ Supporting Neil Lennon 100%. says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:37
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the Triumph.
MWD Thomas Paine.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Excellent stuff M8!
Hail! Hail!
Last night I stated that I was very confident of winning tonight…. however, I was more nervous / quiet than normal during the game……that’s because it was a VERY important game, and we won it……we will not look back now….Neil’s team have matured while that was the worst rankers team I have ever had the misfortune to watch……they were terrible, and we were brlliantly controlled…….. Ronge has earned his right for a run in the team no, Neil……he was soooooo assured tonight….
Camev home from the game and immediately headed for the bedroom to watch it again…..absolutely confirmed my impression that we are developing into a really good team…..that Manyama is one strong /skilful player, but they were all stalwarts..thank you for my Xmas Celts, and fans…… truly amazing tonight……I love watching Forster proving so many doubters wrong……well done Neil Lennon
Moonbeams WD. Kano 1000 \o/ Supporting Neil Lennon 100%. says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:37
Danny, Brilliant Comment.
HH
starry plough says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:40
hen1rik says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:33
As I said Mate your language gives you away, God bless you and your family. Try the spelling test at ranknusss@commmmm…
SP
share
LoL, let’s agree to disagree but I know when a lot of people who watch it back will be agreeing with me.
Algarvian
Personally I think we’ve played worse this season then we did last, we lost last year when leading. Yeah I know negative but don’t think many will disagree, only difference this year is I think we have to improve and they are dead
hen1rik says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:38
Some people on here just make me nauseous..
hen1rik says:
I’ve seen players just on the park sent off for that kind of challenge mate. There was no effort at winning the ball at all. It was disgusting.
My worry tonight is that Kayal has a bad injury. We will cope with it, yes, but we shouldn’t need to, especially from a player who should not even have been on the park following his prior act of thuggery.
I say it again; these guys contribute NOTHING in a football sense. McCulloch’s appeal was put in so he could continue to physically intimidate opposition midfielders and defenders. Thankfully, our team tonight, steeled by one of the finest players I’ve seen us sign in years – and I don’t mean Beram, who, frankly, looks born for this fixture, but Wanyama, who I believe is the shining light of our team right now – was not going to allow him to throw his weight around. Frustrated, he then reverted to type; all out assault.
Healy hates us more than he loves his own team. Hate is in their DNA, and he is one of “them” if anyone in that team is. Lafferty at least has some measure of skill to back up his arrogance. Healy has nothing but that hate, and it shone through tonight. That was the act of a madman, sent on the pitch to maim.
Disgusting display from that shower tonight. Even in the glow of our win, I am raging about it, about how it might have cost us two of our finest players for the rest of this term.
CELTIC FIRST 0143
Fortunately on this occasion,most people will have seen them all on SKY,so the BBC have possibly shot themselves in the foot.
Embdy ever seen a first half with no injury time?
Macjay:
one of the good things about those night time kick-offs, we get to see the game, have a big fry breakfast and put on the replay with a bevie. Lifes good but today it is a wee bit gooder.
Wha’s like us, all those with the spirit of Celtic for a start and an end.
KevJungle – “Put the GREEN BRIGADE into a new JUNGLE” says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:34
I’ll try for 3rd time and, appeal to fellow Celts on a Happy night that, I would be grateful if a fellow Celt could provide a link to the full 90 mins for a fellow Tim who dizny have Sky.
—
You must have missed my suggestion at 00.04
macanbheatha says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:43
I,m just in the door and see Healy’s name mentioned
He’a an orange thug of the tjhe highest order . siné
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Healy’s all of the above but, he was only doing what sneaky sally sent him out to do! IMO!
Hail! Hail!