Two early goals by Gary Hooper and Victor Wanyama were enough to overcome Dundee United at Celtic Park today but a cracking strike by John Rankin early in the second half ensured the table toppers had to fight all the way.
Anthony Stokes had an early opportunity to test Pernis in the United goal with a free kick, as is often the case with Anthony’s free kicks, he struck the defensive wall. United had the best chance of the opening exchanges after 7 minutes but Fraser Forster denied Garry Kenneth at his near post after a goalmouth scramble. The visitors kept the pressure on for the next few minutes but were to concede soon thereafter.
Thomas Rogne cleared his lines with a defensive header which Stokes won with an aerial challenge and reacted first to prod the ball forward to an alert Gary Hooper. Hooper made the most of the space available, opened his body and placed an immaculately measured shot inside the right post to put Celtic ahead.
Five minutes later Georgios Samaras earned hearty applause throughout the stadium for a robust challenge on Willo Flood before forcing Pernis to turn a shot behind. The resulting corner was played short to Izaguirre who through a deep and high cross into the box. Victor Wanyama was first to react and seemed to have jumped early but he somehow managed to hover a millisecond long enough to be level with the ball when he met it before propelling it high into the top left corner of the goal.
Shortly before half time Stokes had another opportunity from a free kick. John Rankin broke early from the wall, raised his arm and blocked inside the penalty box. Referee, Winter, penalised the player for breaking the wall and ordered a retake, not a penalty. Stokes had two opportunities to make the points safe within a minute of the break. He met a Mulgrew corner on the six yards line with a glancing header that went narrowly passed the far post. Pernis then denied an excellent Stokes strike with a fine save.
The Celtic defence had not lost a goal in eight domestic games before today and could do little about the goal that put United back in the contest. John Rankin struck from 26 yards, the ball clipped the inside of Fraser Forster’s right hand post and bounced in. Shortly before the hour mark John Daly had Dundee United’s best chance of the game but Forster was equal to his header.
Georgios Samaras had Celtic’s best two chances of the second half. The first a diving header from a Matthews cross which was saved by Pernis. The second a cross from Matthews which Samaras pulled down with his chest before shooting over.
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One of the many daft bets I put on today
Anthony Stokes (Celtic) @ 6/1…top scorer…top 3
Ross County @ 5/6…top 2
Cardiff @ 8/1…top 3
Stenhousemuir @ 10/1…top 3
Annan Athletic @ 7/2…top 3
Sunderland @ 10/1…7th or 8th
Six-Folds, 1 bet * €2.50 EW
All winners crazy money
Placed 550 pounds
Another 3 points another second half struggle. We need to put these games away when we’re on top or we’ll drop points sometime. The lack of someone to hold the ball up when we aren’t getting through teams can be a problem.
Good performances from Wanyama, Hooper and Rogne.
I hope we don’t think about selling Hooper. He’s established at the club and any new striker brought in to replace him might not settle. If we need to sell we have plenty of player who contribute less.
Bangura, Loovens, Dan, M Wilson, Cha, all the loanees and Scott Brown could go.
Our last 5 home wins have been 2-1 1-0 1-0 2-1 and 2-1.
We have been 2-0 up three times and passed up a good few chances only to let the opposition score an let them back into it. We need to kill teams off. We need Stokes to score at home. Sell Hooper? No chance. Finished his only chance today and played the pass of the day to Ki.
SffS
starry plough says:
14 January, 2012 at 22:56
“Ian Black and Celtic, these two words don’t fit together and never will…”
Ian and Celtic?
Black and Celtic?
Ian and Black?
BB
With VW in the midfield noone is going to mess with us.
iki says:
14 January, 2012 at 23:21
Ah ha a grammatic disectionionalist, my favourite!!
Hamiltontim,
You will get the opportunity to vote yes or no under this Government, no other Government.
Sadly, we have seen a glimpse in recent months of how this Government operates, and I am convinced my rights are secondary to them and my grievances do not even register. An independent Scotland under this lot will be a dangerous place. I will take my chances with Westminster until Scotland evolves further. I reckon we are a generation away from having the basis of trust required.
Sydney Tim,
I know many types of Celtic supporter, way too many to place into three categories. Just now I know a lot of happy Celtic supporters who are encouraged by a wonderful group of very young players. Wonderful potential and a credit to the scouts and the youth setup.
Ian Black? No no and never. Thank you.
Tricoloured Ribbon says:
14 January, 2012 at 23:14
Ha Ha!
We stayed in Aberdeen on Saturday night before the game in Peterhead. My hangover was so bad I missed Mass and very nearly didn’t make the game. Anyway, I decided that I would have a wee break from the swallie until the end of the month. Sadly, the two delicious bottles of vino sitting as aside the wine rack were begging to be opened.
You stick to your voddie :-))
HAMILTON TIM 2313
Excellent,I think we’ll get on. Never having met before,I will ensure that I am
Wearing a Celtic-ish top
Wearing a Yashmak
Carrying an icon of Margaret Thatcher.
That should do the trick,however…
Should there be any confusion,I’m quite willing to be jumping up and down on said icon until recognised by your gooooooood self,or arrested-whichever comes first.
If you do recognise me before the hissy fit takes place,feel free to have the first crack,so to speak.
Ian Black Nay nay and thrice nay.
starry plough
Nothing to do with grammar just simple arithmetic.
For what it is worth…
Celtic will win this league..without any more signings.
We don’t have to sign ANYONE just coz it is the transfer window..
What a load of pish!
You want to buy the league at any cost?
Look across the river to see where that takes us…
We are in good hands…..
Our hands
We have to.
And they are doing a good job…
Any reasonable person can see that…
Shurely Shun!
iki says:
14 January, 2012 at 23:25
You got me Mate, well done…
Delighted with the win today. This is an exciting time to be a Tim, on and off the pitch.
Victor trotting down the touchline kissing the badge was wonderful to see. What a gracious, eloquent young man he seems to be in his media duties. Long may we hold onto him.
As for the malcontent among us: sydneytim. My uncle of some 87 years recently passed. As a boy he said more than once to me, “Two things a Tim disnae talk aboot negatively in public son: your marriage and Celtic. There are folk around you that will have their say anyway, without you making it difficult for yourself”. Only a Tim could interpret that sufficiently.
Johnny Doyle was ma fave!
That’s a fact..you know why?
The first Fenian with attitude who wore the Hoops
the biggest problem with scottish football is the lack of success and failure and the hope which comes, our leage is to small, not enough competition, way to much stagnation.
teams like hibs, dundee united, aberdeen, motherwell, kilmarnock, st mirran etc… just stay in the league doing nothing, no ups no downs, just sitting there
the league needs increasesd more teams, playoffs for european spots and relegation spots, more oppotunity for another league challenger
all of these things bring hope, its now a case of change or die
a win win situation for celtic, if things keep going bad you’ll be lucky if a fulltime professional league will be in place in 10 years time, giving a ligit reason for leaving
or
change improves overall league standard with increased gates, increased t.v revenue and a better product
San Diego Bhoy says:
14 January, 2012 at 23:29
Your uncle was a wise man.
Victor Wanyama, defensive midfielder/ central defender 3 goals this season (all against premier league opposition).
david healy, born again centre forward preditor 2 goals this season (including 1 against second division high flyers, Arbroath).
BB
Admire your passion but way off with that statement.
Sorry I get a bit political when ah huv a wee hauf…..
Johnny Doyle…
I was 15 when he died…
But what that wee guy from Viewpark brought to us was
Fuckyouness!!
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS says:
14 January, 2012 at 23:25
My friend it’s OK your pink thong and yellow bikini top will suffice.
Although, in Bristol I’m no sure you’d stand out….just wear the ubiquitous red carnation :-))
Muillach. Mull wonderfull part of the world I remember 30 yeas ago coming into tobermorry on the calmac ferry. Wonderfull scene, I am in mortdale. South sydney
Enjoy your armchair at this time of year very comfortable
Ps won’t discuss charities of cqn or elsewhere I have contributed to
Low comment
bunburybhoy says:
14 January, 2012 at 23:35
I was 9 it was the first time I’d seen my da cry, when he woke me and my brother, sat on my bed and told us the news.
Ok..
Bertie Auld…
but different times
Bhoys, i can see why some are against my shout for Ian Black,i wouldnt rule it out. Remember how Lenny played the game.HH.
HAMILTON TIM 2335
Remind me to tell the story about my hun mate who wanted to deviate,if you’ll pardon thexpression,from our normal route.
And his dismay that it’s not only Union Flags which are displayed in Bristol.
In MA Honest Opinion..
Ah hiv found that the above is a FoolProof Wey tae Start talking..aboot
… weell.. Anything!
In Ma Honest Opinion.. tae which.. Ah am Maist Welcome tae Hiv..
Lenny, Must Furget that he evah considered
Sammi, tae be a STRIKER..
Sammi, as Striker?
…Don’t Mak Me Laff!
Sammi,is NO… a Striker..
Whit Sammi is .is(A Twoser!) a Conundrum wrapped, in an Auld
Sunday Post!
Yet, besides being THAT..
He is also..
A Damn Fine Rampaging Left Winger.. and also he his a Gimlet Eye..
fur the Telling Pass tae a Bettah Placed Colleague..
Yep..
Sammi, is a Valuable Tool..tae hiv in the Celtic Gairden Shed…
Fur,he kin soitenly win a Few Games fur ye…
Nonetheless.. despite awe awe these Sterling qualities..
Sammi, kin be Frustratin.. but.. like His bin said Before..
in anither Maitter…
In Pitting up wi his annoying Idiosyncrasies….It is Sore .. But, It is Worth it, in the
long run.
Lenny, Please dinnae Dare Pit Sammi,in the Middle.. again.
Right?
Right..
Kojo
The Celtic Support,probably think thats its all over.We laugh at the Huns,tax ridden and its only a matter of time.
The battle is only beginning,We have the chance of winning the Treble.The Huns?
Aluko dives v Dunfermline 2pts.Inverness denied two STONEWALL pens and a Hun handball allowed .3PTS.Huns cheat and steal 2pts today.
Bada
Lenny was very rarely booked for bad tackles, his strength was that he read the game so well so didn’t need to dive in.
Black is a thug.
ST
Aye, Mull is not bad(January not being the best month though).
Don`t know Mortdale, i lived in Brighton le sands and seriously got into vb, cricket and cronulla sharks!
Johnny Doyle was…
We aint gonna take it anymore!
I was there that Monday night when 10 men won the League!
Johnny Doyle took yhe hit for the team…sortin out Alex “hardman’ Mc donald
Johnny inherited the spirit of those who played before him.
Pleass do not iconise the man.
Does anybody happen to know how our enigmatic Gorbals’ Baudelaire is faring after his recent set-back ?
CQN is a poorer place without his ramblings.
” Always be drunk.
That’s it!
The great imperative!
In order not to feel
Time’s horrid fardel
bruise your shoulders,
grinding you into the earth,
Get drunk and stay that way.
On what?
On wine, poetry, virtue, whatever.
But get drunk.
And if you sometimes happen to wake up
on the porches of a palace,
in the green grass of a ditch,
in the dismal loneliness of your own room,
your drunkenness gone or disappearing,
ask the wind,
the wave,
the star,
the bird,
the clock,
ask everything that flees,
everything that groans
or rolls
or sings,
everything that speaks,
ask what time it is;
and the wind,
the wave,
the star,
the bird,
the clock
will answer you:
“Time to get drunk!
Don’t be martyred slaves of Time,
Get drunk!
Stay drunk!
On wine, virtue, poetry, whatever!”
Haste ye back, Estadio.
!!Bada Bing!! Kano 1000
NL played without taking cheap shots at opponents on the park.
Black’s a two bob kid on hardman.
!!Bada Bing!! Kano 1000 says:
14 January, 2012 at 23:41
C’mon Mate comparing thuglife with Lenny???
Lenny read the game that’s why his team does..
Hx2
SP
sorry
what?
Should charity not be private?