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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Gordon64 on 1 April, 2012 at 21:14 said:
This is getting surreal but will those posters
who come on the blog to slag fellow posters for
commenting get a grip.
=================
could we stop those posters who are slagging fellow posters slagging posters for slagging posters, now that is surreal
Annoni
Perhaps you can elaborate?
Jobo Baldie on 1 April, 2012 at 21:18 said:
Jobo – Whatever you do – don’t be drinking that stuff mate – it will run the insides clean out of you.
Happened to me before – a friend gave me 8 pint bottles of the Magners pear cider,I didn’t bother to check the sell by date,and also made the mistake of drinking the cider at room temperature.
Dreadful stuff it is.
Jobo,
Liquidate that cider.
liberte pour le cidre un
Bourne –
Sorry I missed you today at the ole Gazeebo. As i approached at around 12.00 I suddenly realised I’d left me and mini’s season tickets in the car (after deciding a jacket wasn’t required). Had to run there and back to retrieve them in time for kick off. next time…
Jobo
Árd Macha on 1 April, 2012 at 21:20 said:
More correct you could not be.
If they vote to immediately reinstate the new co all sporting integrity in Scottish Football is extinguished and it becomes Saturday afternoon wrestling Three falls and a submission becoming the norm.
:(
Eric
sannabhoy on 1 April, 2012 at 21:29 said:
Alright brother
Hows things?
HH
Joe Filippis Haircut on 1 April, 2012 at 19:04 said:
Great post and Neil and these young lions will improve in the years ahead
if Neil listened to half the idiots he would have sold sammi and taken the cash for hopper and commons.
These 3 players have not played well all season but without them we would not have won this league.
And as long as they are in the hoops and making an effort to get past opposition players will receive my praise.
Jam67
DJBEE on 1 April, 2012 at 21:13 said:
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?
You’ll find plenty if you have a look, I’m possibly being a tad sensitive, but since Seville I’ve notices a marked change in our fans attitude, nowhere near as supportive as we were…………..either that or I’m just getting old (log in will give you a clue as to my vintage, was my first first team game ). I’m all for constructive criticism but some of the garbage that’s spouted by fans at times is really depressing.
No Apologists
Agree pal.
I must have misunderstood earlier post
when you were ‘disgusted’.
HH
Or is that three holds? :)))
Eric
Gordon64 on 1 April, 2012 at 21:14 said:
This is getting surreal but will those posters
who come on the blog to slag fellow posters for
commenting get a grip.
_________________________
By all means the support have a right to critique the team or an individual’s display/ performance – it’s not about belittling anyone – sometimes it’s about how players link or react to situations on the field – not about the final result!
Meantime – got Juve @ -1 for a nice little bet and they are wining 3-0 .v. Napoli (now down to 10).
Cracking game – next year’s ST riding on the result!
Sixteen roads – too late with that advice, however I’ve now moved on to the freshly squeezed orange juice that only goes out of date today!
Sannabhoy – just watched Season 3 episode 1… Gripping stuff and can’t thank you enough for your help in this matter. And picked up my Kano dance tickets today from Kingoh. Maybe time for you to do another plug for tickets?
Jobo
Lubo’s
Agree.
Sloleybhoy at 18.16
Well said about Sammi. We are being joined daily by ever increasing numbers who appreciate Sammi’s ability and work rate. There will always be those who are unwilling to change their opinion but at least now the ones who sit around me are too embarrassed to scream abuse at him for the slightest of mistakes.
Sammi Rogne Foster and Broonie are carrying the others while they search for their form. Which I am sure will return for the majority.
Ooh Ash Samaras
Bundoranbhoy,
Evening bro- doin fine .
What’s not.to like? we’re within a point of the Championship, we have at least 3 parties between now and the end of the season, and im a fan of the greatest team in the world
Sanna (glass full csc)
No apologist,
I was actually asking you to elaborate on your conclusion that those who are being negative are remote from it
HH
Tigertim
I think i know what you mean.
we will be league winners this season, that’s the first time in 3 season we have won the league, so we should be happy with that. we will not win the CL and the team we have, will not change that. but we do have some very decent players who could help restore some pride in europe if a few quality additions can be found.
we have a core group of maybe 15 players who should be kept unless we get stupid offers that can be used to buy replacements, or if they want to leave.
foster, izzy, lustig, mathews, rogne, charlie, kayal, commons, victor, brown, ledley, ki, forrest, sammy, hooper, stokes
we then have a group of 16 or so players who contribute little to the cause but take in excess of 7 million pounds per year out of the footballing budget. every effort should be made to reduce this part of our squad and i am sure it is.
7 million pounds per year would get another 3 or 4 quality players through the front door and that would increase our chance of putting up a fight in europe.
but, any money we make from europe, in my humble opinion, should be reinvested in improving the area around celtic park, with the celtic triangle thing, so in the long-term we can generate more guaranteed income.
i like the idea of a celtic football club museum, cafe, bars restaurant and a celtic heritage museum, casino, hotel etc… the potential income from such ventures would certainly improve out ability to compete.
but am sure people on here will tell me its not going to happen and they want every penny spent on the first team, i do find football fans very short sighted
we can only hope celtic replace the quantity with several quality players.
sannabhoy on 1 April, 2012 at 21:38
Good to hear mate ;-)
Take it your not out with bhoys tonight lol (i couldnt make it but Four Green Fields is meeting them)
Hoping to get out for a party next weekend ;-)
HH
Jobo
Superb. INTO.
Its been doing my head in as well.
No. In it and not getting out. Something else may crawl out but it will not be them.
They will be reminded every day of their lives.
Some of the MSM should tell the less educated of their brethren that this is the case.
Liquidation
Beautiful word that just seems to roll off the tounge.
Praecepta
I’m really hoping it comes up pal.
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 1 April, 2012 at 21:11 said:
We will win the SPL if the huns are liquidated before next week.
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 ?
Quite easy. Motherwell have lost sooo many games against the Huns that, when they go bust, the Steelmen’s point tally will sky rocket past ours . The shock will put us off our game and we will fail to catch up.
Feels true but I think M’well can only catch up 3 points when the inevitable happens. :-/
Jobo Baldie on 1 April, 2012 at 21:18
Totally agree regarding liquidation. When it happens, we can paraphase John Cleese:
‘They’ve passed on! They are no more! They have ceased to be! ‘Expired and gone to meet their maker! ‘They are stiffs! Bereft of life, resting in peace, pushing up the daisies! ‘Their metabolic processes are now ‘istory!
‘They’ve kicked the bucket, shuffled off their mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisibile!!
RFC IS AN EX-FITBA TEAM!!
Jobo. My pleasure. Hope you enjoy it.
On your advice,
Folks, for those of you who do not know, The Kano Foundation are holding our second annual End of Season bash in the Kerrydale suite on 28th april.
3 course meal, Michael Buble (tribute act) , disco and raffle/auction
Boooo! Sitting in airport waiting on the 20.50 flight to Belfast! Delayed for 3 hours. Things just got better, got a £3 voucher woo hoo!!
SffS
Jobo
Was running late today also, and ole Gazebo Goldstar10 was manning the place single handedly, I believe.
No;10 in two weeks, sees the mobile Gazebo again, hopefully with the Trophy tucked up.
Enrico Dandolo nicked my Crusade on 1 April, 2012 at 21:30 said:,
Cheers, the wrestling analogy is sound, it will remain a sport no longer.
Árd Macha
sannabhoy –
loved the brackets round the “tribute act”. No danger of lawsuits against you!
Jobo .
All for only 25 pounds. Currently, we have about 70 cqn’rs and partners out of a total of 300+ folks.
If you’ re interested, drop a line to eos@thekanofoundation.com
Sanna
Ah that uncomfortable moment when you realise a favourite blog has jumped the shark.
The you’re right because I think you’re right blog.
Goodnight you Princes of Parkhead, you Kings of New CQN…
U
Good good win today
Satisfying on several levels not least that St. johnston kept going until the very end
What we win – we win through our own efforts – no one does us any favours
Nor should they – it is called sporting integrity
Something the huns and many more in Scotland know little of
Our rookie manger – and let me admit again that I felt he was too inexperienced to get the job – is likely to deliver a double in his second season
He could be close to nearly winning two trebles in his first two seasons
All this against a backdrop of threats and intimidation that has gone miles beyond anything that anyone should be subjected to
Thank you Neil Francis Lennon
Celtic legend
Human being firt class
HH
bourne @ 21:46 –
Isn’t the 16th April game a 12:45 kick off. So is there time for anything pre-match?
jobo
Gordon64
I’ve not missed a home game since the early 90’s. A friend asked me late November if I fancied a holiday in Spain first week of Easter break. I went for it, not expecting that it would coincide with the climax of the crowning of Neil’s coronation as a Celtic Great.
What I’m saying is that today was the day me, my boys aged 15 and 12 (tried a few years back to get my daughter involved – she prefers more girly exploits) would celebrate. The mere detail that we’re a tiny point short didn’t hinder our celebration, particularly in the knowledge that we’ve got next week to come. I suppose I wanted everyone to join our celebration today.
So, come next Saturday in a bar near Barcelona, I’ll join you Gordon64 in a toast to our Celtic family.
sannabhoy,
How are you? I’m not a great one for the texting as you may have noticed, but hope you and the family are well.
Árd Macha
stephbhoy on 1 April, 2012 at 21:39 said:
Good post.
I also hope that any targets to signed as quickly as possible,to help them settle in.None of this last minute nonsense,the club should be working on our transfer business in the next few weeks.
Pre-season there was a disaster,all those meaningless friendly games – maybe these games generate cash,but they cannot be allowed to upset our preparation for Europe.
Qualification to the group stages is vital.Not only for the revenue it will generate,but it also lifts the morale and spirit of the entire club,and the supporters.
It’s been a long time coming,but the CL is where we need to be.
sannabhoy on 1 April, 2012 at 21:47 said:
All for only 25 pounds. Currently, we have about 70 cqn’rs and partners out of a total of 300+ folks.
__________________
Might be able to push my table of 10 up to 12 – can you accommodate and how soon will I need to let you know?
Jobo
I’ll get ole Eurochamps67 onto it, – he’s a friend of the owner.