Celtic moved to within goal difference of securing the Scottish Premier League title by opening up an 18 point lead with six games remaining after a two goal victory over St Johnstone at Celtic Park today. Second half goals from Georgios Samaras and an own goal by Chris Millar settled the game which looked even for long spells.
Samaras has been like a player reborn in recent weeks and continued in the same manner today. From the opening minutes of the game he thundered down the left wing using pace and skill at close quarters to strain the St Johnstone defence.
Gary Hooper could have done better when Anthony Stokes fed him early on but his chip was collected by St Johnstone keeper Allan Mannus. Once play stopped referee Salmond booked Maybury for his foul on Stokes as the Celtic striker played the ball forward for Hooper but despite therefore acknowledging the offence, the ref failed to pull play back after Hooper failed to gain any advantage.
Kris Commons is still looking for his first goal of the season and twice came close today. In the first half Stokes held the ball inside the box until Commons arrives to shoot from 8 yards but he knocked the effort narrowly wide. In the second half a swerving shot was on target for the top right corner of the net before Mannus got a touch.
Liam Craig was St Johnstone’s principle threat and he brought a good save out of Fraser Forster from a free kick midway through the first half. Celtic struggled to create much in the opening period but Michael Lustig crossed from the right wing but found no takers despite running along the six yard line.
Celtic should have taken the lead a minute from the break. Commons sent in a free kick, Samaras missed a header and Mannus blocked but Charlie Mulgrew was on hand the head the rebound, only to see his effort cleared off the line.
Cillian Sheridan and Francisco Sandaza both had good headed efforts to open the scoring early in the second half but neither found the target.
Celtic stepped up the pace just after the hour after Ki and Matthews replaced Stokes and Lustig. Scott Brown saw a shot from inside the D saved.
The opening goal arrived on 66 minutes after Georgios Samaras was involved in a couple of scuffles. The Greek international was grounded inside the box and was then shoved off the ball within seconds of getting back to his feet, again inside the box but the referee didn’t see it. Samaras clearly took exception to this treatment and a moment later shielded the ball using his body until he was dragged to the ground.
It looked like a feisty play by Samaras who was clearly animated. When Kris Commons swung in the resultant free kick Samaras rose and headed back across goal and into the net.
St Johnstone pressed forward looking for an equaliser and might have got one had Adam Matthews not made a last ditch interception to turn the ball behind for a corner. With St Johnstone forward for the set piece Celtic broke quickly. Commons carried the ball forward, and with everyone one else on the field running at full pace, he took a second before sending a 60 yard pass across field to Ki. Ki moved inside before playing the ball out to Samaras on the right. Samaras crossed for Hooper but the ball was turned into the net by Millar.
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Re my post at 23.23 i meant to say
no more. I know you all knew that.
bazzabhoy on 1 April, 2012 at 23:24 said:
Timabhouy on 1 April, 2012 at 23:12 said:7
i can only conclude you are young, cos i dont think your a hun, which makes you a fud.
no….you are wrong….he is a hun fud…..makes a point of welcoming all the other obvious huns when they post….has four or five identities and sometimes forgets which one he is posting as
pointless hun fud who’s team is about to die
magnificent7
Ive only had 2 identities
timabhouy & timabhoy
i changed to the latter
through peer pressure
then decided im not going
to get bullied and changed
back to timabhouy
Timabhouy
Thanks for clearing that up.
gordon64
My Pleasure
There’s nothing worse than being bullied and changed.
zimmerman
Even worse bullied and short changed
Changed and bullied comes a close second though.
Kojo on 1 April, 2012 at 23:24 said:
I have found for you,three of the five players that we require for the new season:
1.Emilio
2.Kayal
3.Forrest
So that now means that we only require two new signings.Personally though,I reckon another three new players are required – a top class centre half,to compliment Rogne,and a striker with real pace.
Really.(as you guys in the “States” would say)
Timabhouy
You said you made an error in the spelling of your name initially, so why when you now know how to change it did you revert back to the mistaken name. Strange.
Micheal Collins on BBC2, my hero anyone else watching?
Or – “you do the math”
Or – “take that to the bank”
Or – “cash,money”
Or – “Oh my God!”
Americanisms,eh? Don’t ya just love ’em…
Twenty Twelve on BBC2
Really funny.
Get seedorf
My dear,dear,dear,friend… Martin42
Yes, I read your reply.
I can readily understand that Kevin,would be a valuable member of the “Team”,as you point out.
Paul, has attested to that, quite a few Times, in his
writings.
That is why I mentioned, Kevin, in my original submission.
Like Ah say,pal..
Ye are a Lucky Son of a Gun.
Ye hiv a Fine Family.
Nice chatting,palomine.
Well. We won , today…and the St.Johnnies loast.. but..
We did not win . WELL.
And.. That worries me.
We should be able to take care of a Team Like the Perth outfit.. or.. a Team like the Ibrox outfit…Nae T’other a Bawe!
Yes….Nae T’other a Bawe!… but,
We DON’T…
and that .. like Ah say..
Bothers the Heck oota Me!
Something, is Missing in this Team of our’s
and
We need tae Rectfy that Omission..
afore, we wull be able tae make a Fist in European Games..
Where we fail so miserably tae dae So.
Kojo
yer pal..who likes ye aloater
Still. Laughin’
zimmerman
Lets not change the conversation any
news on liquidation i heard if they dont
get a buyer by wednesday then its
the monty python parrot script scenario
I sent a wee text to a mate today:
Rangers have won the tax case, on HMRC website.
He sent a text back, ” you’re jokin’, is it on the news yet.”
I texted back, “check the calendar”
Stupid Hun;-)
Lads I need to say this because it’s been annoying me all day.
The atmosphere in that stadium today was an absolute joke.
kojak
Timabhouy then timabhoy
then back to timabhouy
strrange i know but an honest answer
hen1rik,
It wasn’t the best, but a joke, not for me.
Up in 414 it was good, loads of singing, banter.
Lots did leave too early tho.
Maybe a bit half hearted, but only because the party is yet to come.
Hen1rik
Bang out of order my friend.
good night
hail hail
My dear,dear,dear,friend.. Sixteen Roads to Golgotha
Ah agree with your Posting,pal.
Kayal. and Izzy.. When those two guys are Fit ,wance mair..
They wull be a Big Help tae us.
and.. Boy.. dae we need …Help…the Noo.
Yep..
and Ah
Especially, want tae see … Young Forrest..back in the Team… and Ah wullnae be a Happy Chappy.. eethur…
until..
Dylan McGeough, is a Fixture in oor Starting Eleven.. Fur this
Youngster is . .. Super Speshul!!!
Ah also am a Big ,Big Booster o’.. Adam Matthews.. that kid..
has goat Talent.. he only needs a wee bit mair… Nursing.. and we wull hiv anither Brammer oan Oor Hauns.
Ah hear mumblings.. which are no as guid as..”rumblings”.. but..nevertherless.. There are Indications…let’s say, that we are still interested in securing.. The Cannonball Kid.. fae Huddersfield.
Nice chatting,pal
Kojo
yer pal..who likes ye aloater.
Still, Laughin’
Only my opinion lads, our manager has been getting it tight this week and last week, he needed our support after clowns like Clark and Nicholas came out trying to roast him.
We haven’t won the league in 3 years and this was a time for us to sing loud and proud and we let the team and Neil down.
My mate from England was up with his son and I said to him after 10 mins this atmosphere is gonnae be sh**e today.
Last year our manager was under so much strain and all we needed was 2 wins and this was our 1st home game for a few weeks so the stadium should have been rocking.
Without the Green Brigade the atmosphere in that stadium would be non existent, as i said boys only my opinion.
1% of purchase price for rangers for your thoughts…
If TFOD are found guilty for having fielded unregistered players both in Scotland and in Europe, and as they should be, winnings (silverware and money) are reassigned to the appropriate club, wouldn’t that make Celtic one of the major creditors in any CVA ?
Just thinking ‘out loud’….
Hen1rik,
I think we as a support went through the motions today.
Very difficult when the winning line keeps moving :O).
But for me the stadium should be rocking EVERY game.
Kojo on 2 April, 2012 at 00:11 said:
No bar macara – you know what side yer bread is buttered on.
We need this,and we need that and we need the other thing…We are scouting a player from Huddersfield? I wasn’t aware of that,I sincerely hope the said player can strike a blow for us in Europe.
Who else do we sign? I haven’t got a notion,to be honest with ye.A player with a bit of dig? Thinking about an Irish,or Scottish footballer – the only problem is that I can’t see any.
There is no Roy Keane type player these days,and even if there was – we most probably couldn’t afford him anyway.
1967.
Hen1rik
A more measured response.
Rangerstaxcase
“I am not going to go down the list of players at this point, but those who lie about it in the media will be exposed at the right time.”
Wow! That’s some post from RTC.
Gotta Go
Good Night Scotland
Good Night Ireland
Good Night Wales
Good Night England
Good Night New Zealand
Good Night Australia
and
Good Night.. Tony Gaughan, wherever you are.
Kojo
Still, Laugin’
Torontony on 1 April, 2012 at 23:29 said:
A wee bit of help amigos, when are the lenten bevy abstainers allowed to lash back intae it, I say Friday but it might be Sunday???
*Lent officially ends on Wednesday night at midnight, the next 3 days are known as the Tridium.
Wednesday?…oops…hic!
Timabhoy
Wouldn’t ‘send her victorious’ be funnier?
Anyway not my fight
Night all.
Tontime, gracias amigo, my mate Morry will be very happy:)
slainte
tony
Watching CL reruns today,surely the away team in second leg are handed a huge advantage regarding away goals,in games which go to extra time,they have all that additional time to score which the away side first leg did not have,time for EUFA to address this anomaly,extra time goals should not count double.
In Oranmore, in the County Galway
One pleasant evening in the month of May
I spied a damsel she was young and handsome
Her beauty fairly took my breath away
She wore no jewels nor costly diamonds
No paint nor powder, no none atall
She wore a bonnet with a ribbon on it
And around her shoulder was the Galway shawl
As we kept on walking, she kept on talking
Till her fathers cottage came into view
Said she Come in , Sir, and meet my father
And for to please him play the Foggy Dew
I played the Blackbird and the Stack of Barley
Rodney’s Glory and the Foggy Dew
She sang each note like an Irish Linnet
And the tears flowed in her eyes of blue
‘Twas early, early, all in the morning
I took the road for old Donegal
Said she Goodbye Sir, I dried my eye for
My heart remained with the Galway shawl
johnnyquest on 2 April, 2012 at 00:54 said:
Yeah I agree. That and warming Barcelona and Real Madrid’s “balls” in the draw is a disgrace.
same goes for the semis
Warm Ball Disgrace