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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hamiltontim
Agree mate.
measured winnesses logged foot tallar than wee ernie with the silent B
Tricoloured Ribbon says:
14 January, 2012 at 22:44
I’ve already posted that I’m not interested in formations so long as we take account of the opposition. If they play 5 in the middle of the park then we need to match that, it’s simple really.
Seanbhoy
You sorted for next week?
Stephbhoy@. 22:45 yes indeed. I was also there everyweek when 18,000 was a big crowd
Sidney Tim
My heart aches somewhat the antagonistic style of angst ridden self loathing a fellow Celtic man could in this our small scaled pomp try to circumvent and decry through repeated advancement the Core lie of hun appeasement.
The myth got lucky just like McLeish his final year due to a mix of apathy/boredom/Illness that prevailed and prevented complete domination and earlier termination a defunct and still abjectly world beating cheats. You just can’t buy them 5 stars. No sir..Them’s the stuff of Legneds like err….Griegy!
Don’t you go eating that yellow snow ,
HH
hamiltontim
Yes mate, thanks.
!!BadaBing!!
How are you pal ?
Re your Ian Black suggestion
I hope you’re at the wind up.
Hope VP isnae lurkin.
Never a football player.
Bobby Murdoch etc..
Pally..
Regarding oor Friend… Sydney Tim.. and his Reasoning.. and Beliefs aboot why we
must Strengthen, Mightily..or.. face another Losing Season…and that basically
is whit Sydney Tim is Saying…
You hiv pit yer Point Across,better that Ah ever could.
Yes..
Essentially..
We Need Guys like ..Sydney Tim..and Guys Like You..and.. well.. Mebbe No Guys Like Me!
Pitting awe that aside…
We canny awe march tae the same Drummer Bhoy…
And Sydney.. Marches tae His Ain Beat… jist like..
Maist of Us march tae oor ain particular Rhythm… Is that How Ye spell it?
Rhythm??… Hmmmmmmmmm…disnae look right.
Kojo
Sydney Tim,
Celtic supporters only come in two categories:-
1. Those that fit into your three little buckets
2. Those that don’t
I’m in the latter caregory. I love being a Celtic supporter, win lose or draw. Other emotions come and go, but the love of Celtic remains steadfast.
I re-affirmed my view in recent months that pigeon holes don’t work. I have recently realised that I support the Union over an Independent Scotland for reasons I posted a week or so ago. I think I may find myself in the same camp as many intolerant bigots who frequent Ibrox in that regard, but for very different reasons. This Governement has nailed it’s colours to he mask and are not to be trusted.
You can’t drop people into convenient buckets, things are much more complex than that.
No Pigeon Hole CSC
jude
Agree 100%.
Personally I tend to stay away from the epl, too many games to bust the coupon, down the divisions is where you can get decent value, the odds compilers spend most of their time with the top leagues and always make a few mistakes every week.
Teams go on runs, find them and count the dosh.
Muillach. Interesting name, a town
Quick question are a you a season ticket holder?
Clash City
with the greatest of respect mate we should be hammering into the ground at Celtic Park not hanging on.
Ian Black and Celtic, these two words don’t fit together and never will…
hey guys! as long as this ‘winning’ streak keeps going, the ‘posting’s’ on this site are going to get ‘stranger and stranger’,
however, worry not, enjoy, for as you do that, be assured, someone else’s nose is out of joint!
and if you are a ‘real celtic’ fan, don’t rise to some crap that has been posted on here today! ENJOY!
BE HAPPY! Lots of others who come on are not!!!!!! Heh! Heh!
Tricoloured Ribbon – With the greatest of respect, we were hardly “hanging on” today.
A comfortable win.
Sabre67. I used to be for SNP but basically I am for no one now
But you must know Celtic fans , who are fans , but just not as passionate
I know lots of guys back hame and here who are different
Sabre67 says:
14 January, 2012 at 22:54
I would support an independent Scotland, the union aint for me but not under this lot.
lDiegoBhoy says 14 January, 2012 at 22:42 Bada Bing Your point regards that individual was discussed and dismissed here last week
So that will be that then eh?
HT,
It wasnt simple at all Dundee United were by far the best team in the second half.
JUDE 2005 2249
A few years back,I was checking my fixed odds from the Sunday papers,in EnglandI might add.
After a fair few ticks I sarted to get,well,excited,and so it went on.
Till the last game,Peterhead v some other diddy team,4/7,and a two each draw.
Equaliser in 90+4,pen.
Gutted.
My mate,who buys the DR down here,showed me their report the following day.
Not only never a penalty,where did the added time come from?
And on top of that,it was a faffin’ retake!
God and I will have words eventually,that’s for sure…..
TriColoured
At this stage, the 3 points are the most important thing.
Also, this may seem odd, but if you hammer a team by 5 or 6 at CP, then the next time at their place they totally shut up shop. After we stuffed Aberdeen last year , I think we then drew at their place ?
By contrast, if the score is closer at CP, then the opposition will fancy their chances a bit more in the next game, and we get the points.
Either way 1 nil in every game till end of May will do me.
After some contemplation i can say
categorically that tonight we are all happy Celtic supporters.
starryP
That would be three words :>)))
fan a tic – I agree but when we are under a bit of pressure, we lack a bit of dig.He has to clean his game up and would obviously be a target for MIBs.I think NL would see what he brings to a team.
KOJO 2254
Glad you get it,but not surprised.
I’ll admit to being surprised that others don’t.
SydneyTim says:
14 January, 2012 at 22:52
we are all celtic and if celtic stand for hope then celtic parks stands will once again be full
ST
From isle of mull, Glasgow based now though. No, not season ticket holder mate, armchair fan and content with that. I’m not scared to admit I don’t take football too seriously(apart from talking about it constantly) My dad was a neutral and if not for Stein I could’ve been a Rangers fan(heaven forbid)!
Where in Sydney are you, spent best year of my life down there?
Can anyone recall ST, and he’s not the only regular malcontent by the way, being supportive of the charitable deeds that CQN guys are working so hard to attempt to aid those less fortunate than ourselves in these difficult times?
Naw is the answer.
G 64- How you doin? I think we need some ba££$ when we are up against it mate.
Tricoloured Ribbon says:
14 January, 2012 at 23:02
That’s my point mate it should and would have been simple had we matched up in midfield, we didn’t and subsequently surrendered possession.
Having said that they hardly created a chance apart from Daly’s header.
HAMILTON TIM 2301
Whit?
Wur wee day oot joost git merr interestin.
Only kidding,no politics allowed.
Without mutual consent,haha!
collie, wiz wi me.. and we watched ,today’s game.. the Gether..which Figgers..
Although,sometimes.. later… when He an I are Cussin’ and Discussin’ how
Soiten Celtic Players, Performed… in that
particular game…
Ah am convinced that we May hiv Bin together, the Day..
But..
We Wurl Baith watchin’ Different Games!
So there ye hiv it.. Two auld Pals.. Canny agree .. Awe the time..
or even.. Some o’ the time.. oan whit They saw takin Place oan the
Park!
Therefore,it Amuses me.. aloat… when… Folk come oan Here..
and Are Thoroughly Convinced that Their Opinion o whit Actually
Transpired during the Game.. and How So and So wiz Poatted Heid…and So and So. wiz Filet Mignon…is shared .. in all points,by the Rest
of the attendees.
And..If There is Wan ..subscriber oan here..who Begs tae Differ, wi
that Imaginary General Opinion..
That puir Blighter is Excoriated.. and his Reputation is Shredded fae
her tae Halliplug Tuesday!
Yep…
We Fitba’ Fans..sure Fancy oorsels..as Fitba’ Experts…
Ah know the Ah dae!
Kojo
BMCUW
PMSL (that’s a young doods thing in case ye didnae know)))))
I only drink with guys who talk football, religion and politics!! :-))
Nae bother Hamillton Tim,
Noo,am gonnae hav a wee Smirnoff.Are ye up fur wan?
Thanks for entertainemnt tonight bhoys, top of league, listening to Dubliners whilst reading. Carlsberg dont do weekends but if they did.
God Bless All,
EL DIEGO BHOY 2306
Both your good self and SYDNEY TIM have been regular and valued contributors to this site long before I discovered how to switch on a computer-two week course at work,tbh-so I feel a litle bit loathe to criticise an elder statesman.
BUT THAT WAS BANG OUT OF ORDER!
In what way do you feel certain that ANYONE has or has not contributed to charity?
Poor comment,IMO.
Uno Dos Tres pero sabes lo que quiero decir ??
No way no never…