A lack of cutting edge cost Celtic dearly as a Hearts smash and grab sent them into the Scottish Cup final after spending most of the game under the cosh. A controversial last minute penalty by Craig Beattie put Hearts through after an equally controversial equaliser from Celtic four minutes from time.
Celtic completely dominated the first half but had nothing up front to exploit their possession or territorial advantage. Hearts best opportunity of the game came within the opening seconds when Kelvin Wilson was carless with a back pass which was collected by Elliot but Fraser Forster came to the rescue.
Celtic then took over and bossed Hearts comprehensively but could not find a way to open the Hearts defence. Lustig headed over from Kris Commons free kick after the full back was fouled. Midway through the half Commons and Samaras combined to release Mulgrew who crossed from the win for Hooper who should have scored with his header from 8 yards but could not find the target.
Commons nipped onto a short back pass 10 minutes from half time but his touch to take the ball behind goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald was too heavy. Commons had Celtic’s first attempt on target five minutes from the break with a shot from 23 yards but MacDonald saved comfortably.
Ki had two incredible chances in the game, both unmarked back post headers at the end of each half. With 44 minutes gone he struck the upright from 4 yards when he should have scored, an outcome that would be repeated towards the end of the game.
Craig Beattie was introduced at half time and immediately changed the pattern of the game. Two minutes into the second half he played-in Rudi Skacel, benefitting from a ricochet off Kelvin Wilson. Skacel rounded Fraser Forster and shot high into the net.
The goal seemed to break Celtic’s spirit as Hearts created several chances in the opening 20 minutes of the second half. Skacel shot from 35 yards, forcing Forster into a good save. The same player then shot wide after a knock down from Beattie.
Andy Driver dispossessed Michael Lustig just after the hour but Glenn Loovens came to the rescue and conceded a corner. Craig Beattie then played a one-two with Driver before shooting narrowly wide.
Neil Lennon changed Celtic’s shape in an attempt to get back into the game, replacing Samaras with Anthony Stokes and Celtic were soon back in the ascendency. Hooper linked with Stokes on 66 minutes but the Irishman’s shot was deflected wide.
Stokes then headed over from a Ledley cross and had an attempt from 13 yards after Mulgrew cut back to him.
On 82 minutes Ki should have levelled after Kris Commons chipped a free kick towards the back post by the Korean midfielder headed against the post again.
Anthony Stokes should have equalised with five minutes remaining when he got onto the end of a Mulgrew header but he could not turn the ball goal-wards.
A minute later Dylan McGeogh fed Joe Ledley who moved the ball onto Charlie Mulgrew. Mulgrew crossed for Gary Hooper who headed home from 4 yards but the Celtic striker was in an offside position when the cross was played.
In the 90th minute referee Euan Norris awarded Hearts a penalty kick when the ball struck Joe Ledley’s arm when struck from less than 2 yards from him while he was trying to turn his back on the ball to block. Ledley’s arm was not at his side but it was not in an unnatural position either, nor was there even the remotest suggestion of a deliberate act. Beattie struck the penalty straight down the middle as Forster dived to his left.
The last few frantic moments of the game offered further opportunities for Celtic. A Ledley volley was saved before the ball struck Andy Webster inside the Hearts box but the referee wasn’t interested on this occasion.
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BT
I’ll make sure her shirt & name is on show for the photos.
I’ve played football my whole life, when he (Hearts 26) shot against Joe Ledly he meant what he was doing; he was deliberately trying to get the ball off an arm. If he had been going for goal his approach, his balance and his method of shot would have looked nothing like what it did.
Also, the shot was way off target, never a penalty. He either meant to do what he did by shooting against Joe Ledley or he is a total muppet fud.
Yes we had enough chances to win the game. But the ref had a major influence as well. The two are not mutually exclusive.
When we look back on the season the key thing is that we won the league. Cups are nice to have, leagues are vital. And this one was more vital than most given the context.
Neil Lennon is still a young manager. He will be back next season with a better squad of players ready to do battle all over again.
Kitalba
…or both?
quonno, by my reckoning lennon has been in charge for only 5 of those 6.
2010 lost semi to ross county as caretaker manager, but won every league match in charge
2011 won scottish, lost in final to huns
2012 lost to killie in final, and the saturday
so not a great cup record but not as bad as you are trying to make out
I think when all is said and done the glorious Celtic will need to pick themselves up, sort it out and begin playing like the champions they really are. I did not see the game yesterday but on the day not good enough
We, won the League again;
Fly the flag, fly the fla-aag….
Start of the season – if someone had offered Celtic the league and Mordor trophyless and in meltdown, I’d have snapped their feckin’ hands off…
Am hoping that the fact three teams have shared the honours for the first time in 17 years (especially as they don’t include the Huns!) might have an influence on the SPL meeting later in the week. 25% of SPL teams will win something this year – the only thing a weakened Rangers is bad for is Rangers. End of.
Also, I think there may be a feeling amongst the squad that they have fallen a little short of where they wanted to be – I think that may give us better focus, a stronger will-to-win next season. And certainly more attention could be put onto winning Cup ties – both domestic and European.
Bring on the 2012-2013 season! I’m excited about it already :o)
What did the banner say? I can’t access the link
Serge:
I never actually got that far, you’re right though… or both.
Celtic has an obligation to every paying Celtic Supporter (and all the others too) to make legal representation regards the ‘big’ honest mistakes and the timing there-off.
Morning bhoys
Well that’s the end of another campaign for Celtic.
Out of the 6 competition cups.
Over the last 2 years a Scottish cup and spl title .
For the Huns a spl league cup.
Killie a Scottish cup and the edinburgh mobs for the Scottish cup.
As for some of the so called hoops supporters etc we would have win a few
More times if the mib’s had applied the rules equal for both teams.
But as we know this is Scotland 2012 and will not happen.
To apply the rules equally for both teams an honest and fair man must be found and 1 without leanings for the blue part of Glasgow.
This is near on impossible IMHO .
When the headman at the sfa has worked for the Huns and has an ebt and without doubt knew what was going on our at iPox and turned a blind eye.
But never mind I am off out to purchase a new pair of boots to dance on the Huns grave when they are liquidated.
And for every time they have cheated.
So for all you bears out there ………
GIRFUY
Ah that feels so much better
Jam67
The banner allegedly said
Stan Petrov – 19 days to live.
If it is a real banner it is the lowest thing I’ve ever seen.
Ki dived.
jocky bhoy
That’s exactly what i was thinking yesterday, Surely the other clubs would rather a better chance of success.
The banner is on google image and it looks real to me. disgusting pigs
serge / jocky bhoy
but there is no ambition from the Gang of 10. Not one of them sees the demise of Rangers as an opportunity, they all see it as a threat to their income.
Snake Plissken on 16 April, 2012 at 09:59 said:
The banner allegedly said
Stan Petrov – 19 days to live.
If it is a real banner it is the lowest thing I’ve ever seen.
……….
WHIT THE F…!!!!!!!
WTF did the polis not arrest them, oe was it the polis with the banner?
Complete and utter scum.
Avoided posting last night – the blog gets too personal when opinions differ after a controversial defeat. Some rational needs to be applied to the tie in its entirety and not just isolated incidents that have angered us.
No matter which way you look at it our game plan should not have hinged on; a last minute non-penalty or whether an opponent should have got 2 yellows (or more appropriately a straight red). The other 89 minutes were pivotal – tactics, player selection and bench cover all played their part.
Despite one change – once again shuffling the set-up caused us problems. We had a period of 70% possession but in truth it was merely ball retention – we made poor use of it. Again our big game inability is questioned – a lack of nous – a shortage of experience on the park. Our choice of substitutions (their age) merely confirmed this.
We have a pool of young talented players (many still on a learning curve)…… but we really need to supplement them with a few experienced players in key positions – the type that can hold the Team together, that can push us over the line or can turn a game when the chips are down.
Despite us having the better players on the day – it would be remiss of me not to apportion the non-penalty award to the outcome of the match. It ranks up there with some of the worst awarded against us here in Scotland (though I can recall 4 examples in the CL) – never a penalty!
Listening to talkSPORT this morning – the decision has been rightly ridiculed. Interestingly when asked, Dermott Gallagher’s opinion was that you can’t give a penalty for 2nd phase handling – i.e. it strikes a defender and deflects on to another defender – no penalty! Sam Allardyce also made the point that some 60% of penalties now being awarded are for hand-ball incidents and in his opinion the majority are ball to hand.
The EPL furore over goal-line technology and penalty decisions might see a weeding out of poor officiating – whether it is replicated here remains to be seen. I won’t hold my breath!
the banner was posted on Facebook well in advance of the game. By all accounts it was not seen at the game. Not sure if it was taken to the game.
Serge
not looked yet
I meantioned the top just as a reminder to you to put your email up again
jock steins celtic
Hopefully public demand will put a stop to any newco entering the SPL. The chairman wont have any cash whatsover if their fans decide to stay away and going by what is being said that’s exactly what is going to happen. Newco in the SPL means the death of the SPL
Picking Loovens + Wilson as a centre half combo was always going to give us problems. Wilson had an absolute nightmare and should be nowhere near a 1st team pick. Loovens has the capacity to self destruct. Witness him being caught trying to dribble out near his penalty area circa 3 times last week and losing possession. Yesterday his dithering then suicidal charge towards the Hearts player on the touchline resulted in a corner from where Hearts got their non penalty. Charlie had a mare of a first half also. Between him and Wilson they presented Hearts with 2 chances in the first 10 mins. Hearts weren’t as lax as Killie last week and closed him down asap thereby nullifying his best asset in that position. His delivery from the back. He is utterly wasted at left back and should be a first pick centre half alongside Rogne (when fit).
To the main talking points
Black should have been red carded. If not for the lunge on Joe then for deliberate handball a few moments later
Wilson should also have seen red for being last man when he brought down Skacel
Hoops was offside when he headed our equaliser
Never a penalty on Ledley. Haven’t seen a replay of the Webster one so won’t comment on that
Regards Lenny. I can understand his frustration but he should have delegated Thommo or Johan to confront Norris after the game. He is now looking at an overall 6-8 game ban when all these offences are totted up. He will probably receive a 3 game ban on Thursday and by the time of the next disciplinary meeting he will be banned for the start of next season. We cannot afford to have our manager in the stands for long periods of time for crucial games. PL or DD need to have a word in his ear and remind him of this
Overall the title was what counted, but there any many lessons to be learned going on the past 2 months or so. Stick to your best XI Lenny and stop worrying about the opposition when we play in the SPL. We have the best squad of players in the country. They are more afraid of us than vice versa
WOKE UP TODAY. STILL CHAMPIONS
In the two seasons NL has been Celtic manager. Celtic have a better record than any other team in cup competitions in Scotland. In 4 competitions Celtic have been in 3 finals and 1 semi final. Winning the Scottish cup. The other 3 winners during this period huns, killie and either Edinburgh team have only reached the 1 final. Celtic reached 3 finals, no one else managed even 2.
There were 2 shockingly bad refereeing decision yesterday, one at Hampden, one at Wembley. One decided the result, one influenced the game.
The main difference?
The Wembley decision has been derided by the press/media down south and the referee has admitted he got it wrong and apologised. The likelihood is that he won’t be getting any big games in the near future.
The Hampden decision is already the subject of whataboutery by the press/media (the bogus Hooper was offside arguement) and hell will freeze over before a scottish referee will admit he was wrong. No doubt the rent-a-quote refereeing apolgists Clark & Dougall are gargling waiting to be called on by various media organisations to defend the decision at Hampden. The SFA CEO will no doubt tweet some crass comment defending the ref or belittling our manager. Norris will now continue to get more and more ‘big’ games. I’d expect him to be in charge on 29th April. Lenny will be getting another letter from his pen pal Vincent.
No honesty, no transparency. Its been the SFA way 139 years.
BT
Thanks, seems to be more people on in the evenings so will post around 7pm.
Give people (including myself) a bit time to cool down.
praecepta
I think we lack someone who can play a killer pass or do something a bit different.
Most of our wide play came from the fullbacks yesterday.
If we had a Lubo type of player it could make a difference. My only worry about players like Lubo, Naka, McGeady etc is that they are often stuck out wide as no one trusts flair players.
ten men won the league
wilson was poor – but stating he should have been sent off for tackle on skacel – you’re having a bloody laugh – get a grip
Ten Men Won The League on 16 April, 2012 at 10:11 said:
According to sources on Twitter last night, Celtic and Lenny are going mob handed to the hearing on Thursday with info that will make the SFA ‘implode’.
So your 6-8 game scenario may be wide of the mark.
2012 – SPL Title
2013 – Double
2014 – Treble
2015 – A right good go in Europe
That’ll do me – besides the biggest prize in Scottish football for 2012 yet to awarded – The Liquidation Cup
We have McGeouch
It’s time to unleash him in the remaining games.
I noticed a lot of new names on the blog yesterday who seemed to be having a go at our manager. (mmm)
Did we play bad yesterday I don’t think so, could we have played better, probably.
So no final in the hampden sunshine in may for our young team. Another hard lesson for both the team and management team, who I’m sure will come back stronger next season.
I fully expect MY team to be leaner meaner and stronger than the championship winning team of this season. I hope to see a couple of auld heids to add the big game mentality when required.
Neil Lennon in his two full seasons in charge of the champions of Scotland reads like this:
Three cup finals, one semi-final missed out on the league at the first time of asking by one point. Won the Scottish cup in his first season, won the league championship at the second time of asking with a bit to spare. Contrast this with the leader of the cash strapped minnows from across the city:
Pumped oot of every competition at the first hurdle except when they thrashed the might Arbroath.
My team will be up for the challenge that lies ahead next season, can the same be said of the quiz show captain’s team. ;-)
All hail to Neil Lennon and the champions of Scotland.
Could Celtic afford to not enter Cup competition next year?
Neil Lennon made a mistake taking Rogne off in the League Cup Final and keeping Wilson on,he made a mistake playing Wilson yesterday along with Loovens.I don’t think Cha is the answer at right back but he is fitter,faster and more competitive than Lustig at the moment.Wilson and Lustig might come good next season but to pick them yesterday was a major gamble.I am baffled he left Wanyama out who has been one of our best players this season,the game at Kilmarnock should have had no bearing on the team he picked yesterday.Neil has had plenty of praise deservedly so on this site but he cant be immune to some criticism on team selection and tactics for the last two games at Hampden.
I think we should remember that we had a pretty good effort in a tough UEFA cup section this year, playing against top teams from France, Italy and Spain. If we get a couple of first team additions during the summer, I think we should qualify to the CL group stage and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t do well.
Scotland’s 4 teams earned 11 points for their UEFA efforts this season, Celtic won 7 of those points (Hearts 2, DUnt 1, Huns 1).
Can’t say that no “Hun in Europe” next season will have a significant impact on that total.
Couldnt post yesterday, too angry. Enough said about the standards of refereeing the sooner we are out of here the better but dont think it will happen in my lifetime.
The boy Ki. He is an excellent footballer in the wrong league. For a European team he would get time and room to make killer passes etc, in the land of the kick and rush he is totally unsuited. At this point and in this league he is a luxury player and it would be better for both parties if he left in the summer.
However, what Neil sees in Kelvin Wilson I struggle to recognise.Another in the long line of weak centre backs. The boy Lustvig is Ok( just) going forward but was ripped a new one on several occasions yesterday defending and is far behind Matthews in this area. Hooper. Totally invisible again on this occasion apart from the goal. Struggled to keep up with play and wasteful whenever he did get near the ball.
On a positive note the two boys, Wantyama and Mcgeoch made an immediate impact when they came on and should play the remaining games. I wouyld also utilise the remainder of the games to prepare for next season and the qualifiers.
Neil needs to decide on his best 11 and the formation and stick with it. We do not need to worry how other teams in Scotland play against us, they can worry about how to stop us!
greenjedi on 16 April, 2012 at 10:22 said:
Start with decide your best defence and stick to it.
Just got to Liverpool airport – huge police presence outside, squad cars, riot gear, two vans full of dugs.
Are the Huns expected in town today?