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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Tully57
I think I used to sit behind that guy. Did he shout that’s rubbish every time we didn’t
score with every attack. The seat I used to sit in is now right at the front of the GB.
Ha ha. Just got a cracking picture in my head.
Agent Craig green and whyte – The queen of all lurkers!!!
The blog is quiet tonight and it really needs those articulate gentlemen Kojo and his partner in crime the Swinging Detective to blog up.
Are they still off oot jiggin?????
maks sense to us.
Laughin ….. still.
Is a draw at Killie enough to win the league then?
Yes… we dont even need to score a nother goal to win the title
They attacked him on the streets of Scotland but Neil delivered!! They attacked at his place of work but Neil delivered!! They sent him bombs but Neil Lennon has delivered!!
Let the thunder ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
God Bless Neil Lennon
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!..Truth and Justice will always prevail on 1 April, 2012 at 20:30 said:
thomthethim on 1 April, 2012 at 19:17 said:
*******
My post at the above time was in reply to one from quonno.
My point was about Mc.call targeting third place for a CL spot.
Apart from not trying to consolidate by beating them, his statement seemed to imply that he accepted that They would not be in Europe next year, even if they stayed second.
Anyone see what happened between Lennon and Mulgrew today after the second goal? Looked like Lennie was pulled back by Mjaillby and Thompson.
There was a very big guy with a ‘Polish Bhoys’ shirt on
in 442 who sat/stood on the stairs and shouted and danced
throughout the entire second half.
He made my afternoon.
I only post when I feel compelled to do so. I try not do the reactive stuff, make wild unconstructed rants when frustration prevails over my lexical choice. Normally my posts are motivated by a feeling that there is a perpetual unjustified attack on most of what we stand by those who despise our existence.
What I don’t anticipate is a motivation to react to those who claim to be one of us. The criticism of Celtic on this forum today has sickened and disgusted me. No coincidence that it comes in the main from those who sit a more than comfortable remoteness from the daily attacks of those who are compelled to diminish the achievements of our brilliant young manager and ever burgeoning talent of our youthful team.
So to those who are not subjected to that daily stench of hatred and poison I say, you are one with those who would deny our mere existence when you criticise that which you claim to be part of. You are as I’ll deserving of an objective opinion as they are. Do you really think that there is any opposition in this wretched insignificant part of the world that will hand us the league title on a plate? We will emerge victorious very shortly having overcome obstacles that no-one in the world of sport and politics would have contemplated even daring to overcome.
KING VIC 67…
Im sure you will agree that somethings are better said when lurking ;)
no apologists
Well said! You went in stronger & more direct than I did earlier but similar sentiments!
No apologists
A bit ott imo.
In life there are two types of people those who say the glass is half full and those who say the glass is half empty I admit to belonging to the glass half full group.What is not to like? we are going to win the SPL we have a chance to win the Scottish cup and Rangers are oot the gemme so for those who complain I feel sorry for you that you cannot enjoy the moment.The Champions league qualifyers are some way off and no doubt we will have one or two addidtions to our squad by then but I have no idea how we will fair in them I am just glad we will be in them.We imo have one of the best young managers in the game our great club is in a secure financial position just what is there to be gloomy about ? My glass is half full and I am enjoying it.H.H.
kevinlasvegas on 1 April, 2012 at 18:29 said:
Neil can’t do no wrong ….
—————-
Are you sure that’s what you meant to say?
Are you ever sure that’s what you mean to say? I hope not.
Good evening friends.
1 point, just 1 single point from being Champions. An Easter weekend to remember?
Win all our games and we finish on 96 points. Last season we managed 92 with the winners getting 93.
I predict that the final table this year will see us at least 20 points clear.
Happy with that.
Jobo
Just logged in after coming back from the match. Read the mid match comments from our expert online pundits prior to the first goal. Now, discounting a few hun interlopers the rest of the negative posters really need to get a grip. I really despair what a shower of whingeing a…holes, I listen to enough crap at Celtic Park (section 408) without people who don’t even pay their way slagging of our team.
Best fans in the world ? Seven years ago, yes, now unfortunately not.
Some guys will never praise Samaras , one of the best today
Samaras never hides, always wants the ball and takes responsibility , not the complete player but a better player than the lack of credit he gets shows
When you have a guy who wants involved the fact he is on the ball more than most it is always likely the same player will not always make the right choices and passes,
The flip side is the guy who is never on the ball and therefore makes no mistakes to be jumped on by the fans who love to boo!
Get off Sammies back, and FFs enjoy what is happening on both fronts
Glasgow Celtic champions!
Bye bye Rangers!
We will win the SPL if the huns are liquidated before next week.
Can we please stop using the word cheat or cheating
We are talking fraud and defrauding.
Can anyone …you have the floor explain … how we can lose the SPL and I promise not to laugh or make fun of you afterwards or ask what medication you are on ?
Cannot wait to see Lenny bhoy cuddle that cup. The first of ten more in a row to come.
CRIMINAL csc
Have been reading about negative posters as trying to catch up and not read all the way back but haven’t really seen any are they right at the start? What time?
Never alone
Thank you. We have more than sufficient to deal with. They will focus and attempt to exploit every weakness and division. I am at a loss to understand any notion of being constructive in anyone claiming to be part of our family in joining an ever enthusiastic chorus of negative sentiment around everything that is Celtic. I just feel that distance and time lessens the appreciation of what it feels like to be subjected to the insatiable appetite our opponents retain for hatred of anyone who is not their identical. My most sincere apologies (yes, I recognise the irony coming from “no apologists”) to those for whom the spirit and meaning of our family has never diminished but in the midst of everything that Neil has endured and on the precipice of greatness (don’t let anyone understate it) I feel that we should stand united and acknowledge the commencement of yet another Golden Age of Celtic.
The wife asked me earlier if I’d heard the rangers fans in the early hours this morning. I could sleep through an earthquake, so I said no. They were singing ‘no one likes us’, then ‘where’s your party gone’, to the cooeee chirpy cheep cheep song.
She said they were very loud and kept it up for a long time and sounded like they were celebrating winning the league.
So the three points today mean quite a lot and the party should be particularly long and loud next weekend, with copious amounts of jelly and ice cream.
:)))))))))
Eric
I am also of the opinion that the club is sitting sweet at this moment in time.
Some of the highlights for me this season have been our performances in the Europa League.
The biggest disappointment for me was that we were never able to field our strongest first eleven,mainly due to injuries picked up by key players.
Personally,I would move our two main strikers on the the summer.Reason being that we lack a wee bit of pace up front.We also need to sign a classy centre-half.
I am really looking forward to the Champion’s League Qualifiers,progression to the group stages is a distinct possibility.
This is getting surreal but will those posters
who come on the blog to slag fellow posters for
commenting get a grip.
Posted this on the Live thread but for those who missed it more info about the parcel bombers Muirhead and McKenzie is coming to light
Me on the bombs themselves :
http://openjusticeuk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/bombs-and-hoaxes.html?m=1
Charles Lavery on the bombers loyalist links
http://charleslavery.org/2012/04/01/bungling-bombers-links-to-loyalists-and-crime-clan/
Lots more to come on this story I would wager.
tigertim
I think it was something to do with Mulgrew booting the ball that was a kickout from the St J goalie and was clearly going out for a shy to Celtic. Mul booted straight to a St J player. I thot a wee leave it shout from a teammate wd have been handy.
I watched Chanel 4 documentary drawing parallels the between sinking of the Titanic and the Costa Concordia, and yes they did establish beyond doubt, they were both ships.
clyde9-1 on 1 April, 2012 at 21:07 said:
“I listen to enough crap at Celtic Park (section 408) ”
————————————————————-
I sit there too and it makes me wonder what their purpose is in buying a season ticket and exactly what they hope to achieve with their expletive rants.
Do you want to know what my pet hate is? It’s the phrase “INTO liquidation”.
You can certainly go into administration. The logic being that you can come back out.
However, to talk about going INTO liquidation is absolute nonsense. If a company is liquidated, then that’s It, finshed, forever. Going ‘into’ liquidation is akin to going ‘into’ death – there’s no way back!
So, in summary, companies can go INTO administration and indeed cam come out of administartion.
But liquidation? Well, once you’re “IN IT” then that’s it!!
Just had to get all of this off my chest. And apologies for a most unusual Jobo rant! I blame it on the out of date pear cider I found this evening in my shed!
jobo
Neveralone and no apologist
Is this feeling you have in your water or is it based on some evidence that is more meaningful ?
HH
If we can’t be positive as we sit unchallenged at the top of the league with a sole point to ratify the champions elect, when will we be positive
Some never!
Can’t wait till next week it’s my party and I’ll sing , dance , ole and laugh if I want to!!
Newco entry to SPL – what other clubs are saying is ‘if we were playing against the huns and a win would relegate them we would chuck it.’
If the overall objective of your club is to ensure one other club is never relegated, then the game is over, it is incompatible with sport.
We should then be the ones who chuck it.
Árd Macha
Joe Filippis Haircut on 1 April, 2012 at 20:58 said:
……..We imo have one of the best young managers in the game….
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loved it at the start of the season when they tried to describe FPLG as a ‘young manager’
Difficult to imagine how ole Jobo let his Cider get out of date in the first place?
GoodRantAboutLiquidation CSC
Gordon64@21.14
Well said ,it’s getting to the point that you hesitate to give an opinion,for fear of being ridiculed.Slan
Gordon64
Are you commenting on posters commenting? Is it your wish to read only comments that concur with your own views? I will certainly comment on those that I don’t agree with but I would never be so conceited as to attempt to dictate to those who take the time and effort to post. Are differing opinions not what the forum is intended to promote? Restricting the views of others is the domain of FF. Everyone should feel free to air their views. Doesn’t mean we all have to agree.
Gordon64
We just want to be happy, no need for anyone to dampen the party spirit
Yes it’s opinion but people are allowed to disagree
Live long and prosper, HH
Joe Filippis Haircut on 1 April, 2012 at 20:58 said:
That is it, in a nutshell …… !!!!!!!!!