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.
You can order a hard copy of CQN Magazine, issue 5, with credit/debit card or Paypal and buy direct from the UK for only £3.50 + £1.50 postage and packing. Shipping costs £2 to ROI, £3 to Europe and £4 to elsewhere. Click on the link below to order.
Click here to view the new issue of CQN Magazine online for free. You can support the online edition by making a discretionary donation here.
820 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- »
Estadio Nacional says:
15 January, 2012 at 10:05
Don’t forget that he scored with his first kick of the ball in a Celtic jersey.
bhoys r us @ 9 02
” signed by mistake ”
I remember a fabulous rumor about Celtic’s signing of Martin Hayes [ he played less than 10 times ?]
Said rumor was that Billy McNeill thought he was signing Michael Thomas. The people who peddled the rumor always backed it up with ” the fact ” that Arsenal had already agreed to sell Martin Hayes to Swindon for relative peanuts before Celtic offered much more money—–
Re the boul’ stevie’s……ermm……….. ‘comments’………..
bear-faced, panto, spin from a. n. other hun……..Nice that he gets such an unquestioning, unthinking, unblinking platform to perform his routine.
Hell mend them.
hamiltontim,
Ah the ole Boots’ Corner. Finny how some names stick even though the reason for them is long gone.
Mind you, KFC Corner doesn’t sound as good – as there are probably several of them anyway
“Rangers manager Ally McCoist admits the ongoing tax case against the club has become an unwelcome distraction for his players. (Various)”
What a shock! But how many have instructed their agents to get them a move?
GooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooD
MorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrninG
C…………………………………..Q………………………………….N
BigJoeinDaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaHouse
Good Morning to the Celtic family from a bright frosty Central Scotland. After yesterday I have a concern and that is we seem to lose goals from the opposition striding from the middle of the park and driving in a long shot.This should not happen somone in our midfield should pick up the runner and surely somone from our defence should close him down? This isnt happening and its costing us goals and if we dont sort it out its going to cost us a game.It was good to see Kris Commons back yestrday he looks bulkier than last season but I believe he has been working hard in the gym.H.H.
Saltires en sevilla 10:31
Apologies that should have been a direct response, copy paste fault. I know what you mean, he played a big part in that title in his short time with us, just think ‘Great’ gets branded around too easily at times.
Kitalba 10:33
I should have added Aberdeen to his short list of moments…
EN
Not posted in ages, but some observations and thoughts;
Transfer window – Sell Hooper for anything less than £10 million then we can all chuck it, every player has his price but selling him for less than that is utter madness. Kayal’s injury has kyboshed our plans, i believe we would have sold Ki and re-invested most of that fee.
R*****s punishment – Other than relegation to div 3 and a multi season penalty then they have gotten off lightly. According to rangerstaxcase.com there is evidence of the dark side willfully deceiving the authorities regarding the EBT contracts.
If they or newco R******s get straight back into the SPL welll i will not be funding a corrupt league and will not put another penny into Scottish football. I hope the board are looking at alternatives to Scotland if the worst comes to pass, and they get parachuted straight back in.
gebhoy
EN
nae bother mate -like your stuff
HH
M
Do sources ever lie?
Is every source infallible?
Do posters ever just make stuff up just to feel important?
Do posters ever just make stuff up because they’ve just escaped the asylum?
Do posters ever just make stuff up because they are paid to make it up?
Can I have a ‘source’ for my birthday or Christmas?
Right frineds,
I’m aywa out for a lnog wlak but might see you all aletr.
Booj
Estadio Nacional says:
15 January, 2012 at 10:41
I liked him but I never thought he was any better than Daryll Murphy or the much maligned Paul Telfer.
Vmhan
I went to that game with my Dad and a brother in law.
We were walking up Aitkenhead Road to Hampden before the game and it was mobbed. Our tickets were for the South Enclosure, in front of the main stand.
I said to my Dad (who had the tickets) that I was going to buy some cig****tes at a van. I thought they would have waited for me but unfortunately they walked on ahead.
When I made my purchase I couldn’t see Dad anywhere and began to panic!
I walked up and down to the stadium, but we could not see each other.
I was lucky enough to then buy a ticket for the North Enclosure from a Leeds fan! It was a 12s ticket for 10 bob. What a bargain that turned out to be.
Great memeories and I stopped smoking 23 years later!
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon:
How many of their agents have said “sorry guys but nobody is showing any interest? See out your contract and say your Hail Marys’ “
Re an experienced pro for the team, although the team is young there are some strong personalities in our team. You just need to look at how focussed our Broonie is when he walks onto the park, Charlie Bhoy has shown his mental strength by returning to the team when most thought he’d only feature from the bench, there are more in the team but Victor Wanyama is the jewel in the crown for me and can be a Celtic great, this young Bhoy exudes confidence and with his skill, athleticism and football brain, we’re on a winner.
In conclusion, we have a team who are strong enough mentally to win the league, my worry is where are the goals coming from, I’d put all our spare dosh on a striker, goals we need more goals.
Away to walk wee Riley.
Can someone post up a link to wee Vanessa’s page please, I’m on the mobile.
Vinny
It’s a brisk 15knotts from the west, but easing away throughout the day.
Not a cloud in the sky, and should reach 16…..ish
BigJoe…………………….withTHEcostaBlanksWeather
kitalba,
That could be the case. I suppose players become free agents if a club goes bust so would have a chance of a new deal somewhere else then
Big Joe:
It is peeing down here. I love it.
Sorry, i stopped smoking 13 years later, not 23 as stated in my previous post.
Vanessa appeal
Fantastic effort so far, but £500k is a huge amount of money…
Gordon_J:
That iswhen you find your true level… when you are free of any bonds. I’d be curious to see how many teams would take on their players at their players evaluations of themselves. i.e. their rate.
How instructive it is, in the clear light of a beautiful post – mass, sunday morning to re-read some of the material of the wee sma’ hours…..
I marvel at the curious inventiveness of some ‘characters’……
Just incredible.
Vmhan supporting Lenny. I agree with your post big Victor for me is the real deal and if he keeps improving he will be worth a fortune.It is very hard to believe how young he is and I think he enjoys playing for the hoops well done to Celtic for finding him and signing him.H.H.
Guys,
Can everyone with a printer please print off the photo from Vanessa’s appeal site that Tony Hamilton put up on the big screen yesterday, or simply print the page from the site below with the details TEXT VANY99 £x to 70070.
Then can you stick on your car window, workplace notice board, front door– anywhere where it can be seen.
The appeal is not at over £67,000 but we need £500,000.
I am off to the mass just now but later I will be back with musings on the obvious but unspoken conclusions from the public utterances of Messrs Traynor and English on Shortbread last night. They don’t even realise it but if you take what they say to a logical conclusion then Scottish football is a mockery!!
Please help Vanessa.
Please pass the poster idea on in any way possible.
Thanks
Brogan
Please support Vanessa’s fight for life!Vanessa’s video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCcIAqG2ef8 Vanessa’s appeal site http://www.justgiving.com/vanessa-appeal
bankiebhoy1
Yes, I had to censor some of that prior to young daughter having a read.
I suppose that i can also post some cr*p when I’ve been drinking too.
And before anyone says it, I know, I can post some cr*p when I’m sober.
Kit………………………………….
Its a crap forecast………………………..
So I am making hay………………………
BigJoebobbingAboutonAboat
McGeary
About 4/5 years ago I was in the dam,midweek huns game.
I looked round all day for a pub showing the game,went onto the main red light district street,there was a bar at the top end of it,near the big Grasshopper pub which you get to by going through a few back alleys,anyway,there was a wee sports bar which was advertising the game so we went in and checked it out,wee guy that ran it,George,one of the other mob,from Glasgow I think,so I got talking to him and he said you could try O’Neills but it won’t be busy,he told me and my good lady to come in,we’ll be welcomed,the guy asked us if we would like to get some dinner with him and his wife before the game but we declined and said we’d be back,he has Scottish clubs scarves all over the pub so I thought it would be a good mix.
Goes in,place is ram packed with Scottish huns,wee George had reserved a table right at the front with himself and his wife for the two of us,bought us drink all night and was a brilliant host.
There was a couple of Celtic fans up the back too who were friendly with the guy.
We pumped them 2 nil,what a night,I recommend that bar to anybody.
Regarding Victor Wanyama I do hope the club are trying to give him a longer more improved contract,I think even in this short space of time he’s been worth of it AND to stave of any offers from predator clubs
Anyone have any ideas what song they played at celtic park yesterday after the final whistle?? it wasnt a celtic song and i’ve heard it played alot after the full time whistle goes.
Celtic were brilliant in the first half yesterday, and, at half-time, I was absolutely delighted……..our young players should ‘learn’ from the 2nd half ………..I had to leave the game 15 minutes early but believe the fans got a bit ‘excited’………nae wonder, !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lots of LOL
Big Joe:
You can’t make hay without rain. I know you know that. Hope all is well in your wee part of the Timworld.
Philbhoy
If you were referring to my use of a sweary word then I apologise, genuinely.
Trying to help out BRTH and his fantastic work with the Vanessa Appeal. Anyone know a good Glasgow city centre venue which would give me a free room for a music quiz in return for thirsty customers? Friday or Saturday night, win-win.
Hamiltontim
The ole boots corner.
Who is the ole boot??? :-)))
It must be the circles we move in then. As a number of non-blog-dependant Celts I know in work and life are of the same opinion as me while others are not.
I must just mix in a more eclectic arena than your good self. :-)
MWD
Can’t wait to see the 4 page ‘spreads’ in our media about Wanyama…….ala fleck etc……!!!??
I don’t know.
I think we should all just trust our instincts.
HH.
taggsybhoy
Email CRC who has a wee cheeky contact.
MWD