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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Mort,
I’m sure the CEO could propose resolutions on his own. But I would also think that he would run the idea by at least the President if not all of the board members first.
Hugh Dallas? Are you kidding me….
“These pictures are going around the world and it is not good.”
You not what else isn’t good Hugh? Bigoted emails mocking child abuse.
This country is rancid that a national broadcaster gives a platform to a bottom dwelling creature to attack our manager.
didn’t take long did it?
http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/celtic/303558-hugh-dallas-hits-out-at-neil-lennons-bullying-of-referee/
Irony overload from Dallas calling anyone a bully lol.
Why on earth give this proven bigot a platform?
Mort,
Good stuff.
If I were a sharholder in this process.Let’s say from a football club in the East End Of Glasgow.I would be giving serious consideration to drafting a quite large number of resolutions for discussion at the forthcoming meeting….around 100 should do the trick if you follow me!
I remain curious as to whether Eric Riley was made aware of the proposals before the wider public
dannysbeard on 16 April, 2012 at 12:02
I was at Norwich the last time we played there.
Great wee town.
Fantastic club.
Good boozers.
Nice wee stadium.
Amazing pies.
Excellent day out.
Wish I could go down this time but work gets in the way. Would reccomend it to anyone. Enjoy your day watching the Hoops!
LB
Gordon_J
I can’t see why he wouldn’t.
Strange if Celtic say they had no knowledge of it as Eric Reily on the board but perhaps he wasn’t at that meeting.
Mort
Sectarian Bigot offer advice to neil Lennon on how to conduct himself !!
http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/celtic/303558-hugh-dallas-hits-out-at-neil-lennons-bullying-of-referee/?
So Dallas saying pictures going round the world dont look good
Dont think sending anti Catholic emails looked good either did it ? eh Mr Dallas ?
Care to comment on that ya bigot ? Clown of a man……..
Livi Bhoy 12 07
Thanks, yes it is a nice wee town I know people who moved here after coming to the last game.
Also in Norwich -excellent statue of heroic nurse Edith Cavell, shot by the no- good Huns in 1915.
Pictures of referees making joke decision in high profile games which are beamed around the world don’t look good for Scottish football either Shug. Neither does lying referees, tax dodging clubs or players not getting paid their wages.
Strange that down south the main topic from yesterday is the joke penalty decision, not neil lennon confronting the referee.
Dallas is dumping on our club, just like the rest of the Scottish establishment because they know that, not one person will fight his corner in our club apart from, Neil!
It’s time the Celtic hierarchy EARNED their money! IMO!
Hail Hail
The question has to be asked…
Who the hell at STV thought it was a good idea to phone Shug for a soundbite?
Just why….
medtim @ 11 56.
Slug Dallas is a purveyor of guff to consumers of guff..
No mention of Neil Lennon running onto the pitch in any of today’s 7 days a week Italian football papers [ there are 3 ]
No mention of either Scottish Cup semi final in any of today’s 7 days a week Italian football papers.
Slug Dallas is merely cashing in from his willingness to spout anti Neil Lennon /anti Celtic guff .
Mort,
It’s cover your ass really. I’ve been in positions where I’ve worked for a Board and even outside meetings it’s usually a good idea to keep folk up to date wit what you’re doing – especially if it is going to be controversial.
RogueLeader on 16 April, 2012 at 12:12 said:
The person that has to work out how to get people to click on STV articles.
I think the only referee getting stick in UK papers today is the guy who gave Chelsea that goal yesterday
Off topic…..
Is it true that the huns are being kept alive because, SKY hivny hud their 4 o## f### games yet ? mmmmmmm
If Neil Lennon had kept a calm head he could have stood in front of the cameras and delivered the very same line used by Dallas!
Dullas was sacked by the SFA for being a bigot.
That’s like being kicked out of the Hells Angels for being too boisterous.
What kind of media outlet would want to contact him for a quote?
Celtic can’t back down on this, otherwise the referees will think it’s open season on us.
Anyone remember the condemnation of those Rangers players who bullied Calum Murray in the cup replay last year?
No me neither.
RogueLeader
Who better to ask in order to get the correct response?
Gutted after yesterdays results. didnt think the team were as terrible as some people are making out.
Thought we had a godd 5 or 6 clear cut opportuntities. Ki misses were embarrassing. Mind you how Stokes never scored will never know.
Couldnt believe the blatant decisions against us. Never a pen and I was at the corner flag area when it hit Websters arm. Again never a pen but if one is given then the other should have been. Also thought Hooper was on line with last defender, if he was offside it was marginal at best not clear offside like some so called hacks are saying.
KevJungle – “get dressed like a Celtic Manager” – absolutely ridiculous comment – btw you forgot to mention a shave and specify the regulation hair length.
The season is now over and the people at Celtic need to stand up for the club today!!!
Lawwell or probably the figure head of the club (chairman) needs to make a statement. Neil Lennon should be in attendance and say nothing. I’m sick and tired of the hatred of Lennon. The comments and hatred on Facebook yesterday was astounding. People hate our manager and it has gone on for too long. How the man does his job is beyond me. Talk about a tainted title this season? Last seasons was tainted. Celtic should have withdrawn from the league matches as our managers life was at risk.
The Hearts fans hate our manager as much as anyone and I have had to check myself at work today. A few I want to smash in the teeth. It was a tainted title last Monday from them so I took great joy watching them squirm when I said good luck in the tainted cup final.
Something must be done now and the club must react today. Don’t let this fester and drag on. My football enjoyment is decreasing by the season. I love the game but it’s getting harder and harder to enjoy the good times because the hatred from all clubs is sickening.
Celtic must act now!
LB
ernie lynch on 16 April, 2012 at 12:18 said:
/////////////////
If Dallas was sacked by the SFA, how come he’s employed by UEFA/FIFA ?
How does that work ?
Only asking like :o)))
Hail Hail
What happened yesterday at Hampden has been going on since the club’s inception.
It will continue for as long as Scotland’s game is controlled by powerful lobbies & institutions with a blind hatred of everything that Celtic stands for.
It has NOT been a negative force in our history.
On the contrary, it is the motivating force that has made Celtic the successful, world-famous entity that it is today. It is what made us the first club in Britain to become European champions.
Without it we would not be driven to greatness.
We would have become just another football club formed by a despised immigrant people.
Another Hibernian.
Another Dundee United.
The malign forces which have constantly tried to destroy us have only served to make us GREAT.
We should be thanking them for what they have made us.
Nothing could hurt them more than knowing that is their hatred which has driven us to greatness.
‘ The higher you build your barriers, the stronger I become’.
Medtim
Word seems to be that the SPL Resolutions were drafted by Doncaster in an attempt to create a procedural route into the SPL for Newco. Paul reckons that Regan of the SFA was also involved, and perhaps Taylor of UEFA too.
If Res 2A is passed, it appears that the discretion for entry into the SPL for a Newco of an existing member will pass from the SPL to the Directors of an Oldco, thus creating the charter for any SPL club so inclined to burn their creditors without meaningful sanction.
My understanding is that, despite Duff and Phelps having sight of the Resolutions over the Easter Holiday weekend, the existence and wording of the Resolutions came as complete surprise to some clubs, including some SPL Board member clubs, who read the contents for the first time from the SPL website on Wednesday afternoon. Rather bizarre procedural courtesy to say the least!
Doncaster’s problem is clear: His remit is to grow the SPL business, and the loss of Rangers causes a severe contraction, jeopardising some other members in turn. The SPL will diminish as a business enterprise if Rangers are lost.
At the same time, he is powerless to assist the Rangers Administrators, for example in providing any promise or indication as to how a Newco application might be received. It is not possible to provide a contingent contractual obligation to a legal entity that does not currently exist.
Additionally, the existing rules require that any Newco application will be dealt with by the SPL Board as a minimum, and most likely by the clubs in General Meeting. Doncaster has no power to commit the SPL in this matter. He can offer the Administrators nothing.
On top of that, the SPL is currently investigating Rangers’ alleged serial abuse of the Player Registration Rules since the inception of the SPL, together with a host of other issues that together in ordinary circumstances would see the club expelled from the league.
In essence, the SPL might very well vote to expel a CVA saved Rangers, while a Newco Rangers cannot be accepted into the league without the approval of the members.
The league that ‘Rangers’ in whatever form plays in next season will determine the viability of any business plan. With the current uncertainty, Rangers are an uninvestable proposition for anyone considering bailing them out.
If it was indeed Doncaster who has proposed these Resolutions, it is an attempt by him to create the procedural mechanism through which investors in a Newco Rangers can guarantee the SPL status of the Newco club.
It is informative that Duff & Phelps have changed their plans regarding awarding ‘Preferred Bidder’ status because of these Resolutions. Paul Murray confirmed at the weekend that his bid was based on a CVA, which is unaffected by the Newco Resolutions, allowing us to infer that the ‘Preferred Bid’ involves liquidation of Oldco and a Phoenix Newco being incorporated.
A number of high profile journos are now openly proposing that the proper place for a Newco is the 3rd Division, provided the SFL will have them. The SPLsurvey.co.uk reports opinion objecting to a Newco in the SPL overwhelmingly.
The general feeling seems to be that if the clubs vote to admit a Newco into the SPL by whatever route, the Game in Scotland is lost as a Sport.
We’ll see what the Clubs do in due course, but it is fair to say that the 150 year legacy of senior Football in Scotland is in the hands of 10 men of undistinguished pairts.
spikeysauldman on 16 April, 2012 at 12:20 said:
////////////
The Celtic managerial dug-out looks like a, collection of ragamuffins! IMO!
Look smart- feel smart CSC
How is a Celtic Manager suppose to dress like?
Suit, polished shoes, trilby hat?
Tracksuit?
Joggy bottoms and black sweater?
Brown Brogues and a cardi?
Stupid comment!!!
DBBIA —–
Satan is Real ——-
Yes —— Capitol Records 1959 —— featuring a truly fabulous tacky cover.
In fab Italian style , the ambulance was delayed due to a Police car being parked outside the ambulance station whilst the driver was in a bar having an espresso.
I still feel for you Bhoys who keep on about the cheating establishment it has been like that for years ant it aint going to change we may be a big club with a large support but we are in the minority in this biased bigoted wee country.We need to be better on the park there is a list of poor results from this team Inverness,Ross County, Kilmarnock,Hearts.With the quality of the squad we have we should be beating these teams but we have a fragility about us I dont know if its a mental thing or a nerves thing but it needs to be sorted.We will not get through the Champions League qualifyers with these same players we need to move on two or three and bring in some experience.I also know Lennie was angry but getting himself several weeks in the stand isnt going to help either we are a wok in progress not the finished artice.H.H.
Kilbowie Kelt on 16 April, 2012 at 12:22 said;
Excellent post mate.
KevJungle – “1st Flag on the JUNGLE roof for, Lennons Lions” on 16 April, 2012 at 12:24 said:
FFS why not just buy them their brown brogues of dignity and be done with it.
Couldn’t care less what the management wear. We are a football club not a fecking dinner party.
Did Dallas say if he thought the rule containing the word deliberate was correctly applied and if Norris got his decision right and why.
Patronising little dick.
Kilbowie Kelt on 16 April, 2012 at 12:22 said:
///////////
Superb M8!!!
Hail hail
Another link to Norwich involving a much missed excellentCQNer of the ole Ole Brigade –
‘Pablo Fanque (1796–1871). The first black circus proprietor in Britain was born in the city.’
Aye that’s why so many people in this country don’t like Neil Lennon: he wears a track suit and doesn’t shave often enough.