Dunfermline looked out of their depth in this SPL encounter for most of the game but a combination of sloppy finishing, last-ditch defending and Celtic’s still-unresolved problem from the penalty spot meant the game finished on a knife-edge.
Gary Hooper intercepted a cross-field pass from Dunfermline’s Paul Willis after 6 minutes, took a great first touch and fired a bullet shot into the bottom left corner of the goal to put Celtic ahead. After 19 minutes more slack play from Dunfermline allowed Celtic to break with fluency. Kris Commons, Anthony Stokes and Hooper combined to setup James Forrest to put Celtic in what looked like easy street.
Stokes almost finished from a tight angle after Forrest flashed the ball across the face of the goal, while Forrest failed to hit the target with a couple of shots from inside the box.
Commons, restored to the starting line-up, was clearly enjoying his free role, drifting from left to centre-midfield and twice found Anthony Stokes with outrageously precise 40-yard passes. Celtic’s effectiveness suffered when Commons, who must surely have been injured, failed to appear after half time.
Celtic, perhaps having things too easy, dropped off the pace without the prodding of Commons and, with Dunfermline offering no apparent threat, looked like getting away with a 4-4-2 formation, with two traditional wingers. Dunfermline had not read the script, however.
Andy Barrowman thundered a shot from the angle of the box into Fraser Forster’s bottom right corner with five minutes remaining – plus an eventual four minutes added time. Any match report should record that Dunfermline never got close to adding a second goal in the remaining nine minutes, but this was also a period when Celtic lost all composure. Fraser Forster was booked for timewasting and Adam Matthews will never take as long over three throw-ins all season. The final whistle was greeted with enormous relief by the home support.
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Hail Hail
Podium woohoo
hail hail
:-)
Big Vic – top man for me tonight
Grafitti on the wall
Dylan on bench tonight
not playin at Barca tomorrow ?
3 more points, well done lenny n the bhoys
HH
Sammy’s Lime Green Boots – Lovely
Indio
I should be sleeping!
New art at this time Oh night?? Geeza break!!
Scores on the doors…
Forster 8
Matthews 7
Ledley 9
Big Dan 7
Big Vic 8
Forrest 7
Kayal 7
Ki 6
Commons 7
Hooper 7
Stokes 7
Paddy 6
One of the best 70 minutes of football I’ve seen at Celtic Park in a few years.
I expected Dunfermiline to tire in the last quarter, but Celtic seemed to tire after the high tempo football, especially in the first half.
We remain fragile, which isn’t good news for those with cardiac concerns, but we are getting there.
I thought Ledley was outstanding, especially in the first half, when he started attack after attack and also made two excellent tackles after our central midfield and central defence were sliced openwith a tin opener.
Interesting and consistent interpetation of the obstruction rule tonight by the debutant ref. Two yellow card offences, one block on Hooper in the first half and another on Stokes in the second half, were both deemed legitimate challanges.
The SFA just keep on churning them out.
3 points. Move on to St Mirren.
An unacceptable transfer window performance by Lawwell was followed by managerial and player errors – leaving us in an unacceptable position , 12 points behind a poor (in so many ways!) hun team.
Against expectation (mine) we are back in the race- by the time the Huns kick off this weekend we could be breathing down their necks with a mere 4 points behind. We have to play them 3 times…
The one thing which will be totally unacceptable will an unacceptable January transfer window by Lawwwell… Forget about HMRC – because I don’t expect anyone to help Celtic and I expect everyone to help the Huns – paranoid? No just pragmatic – SPL needs the OLD FIRM.
A couple of good purchases in January and we will over take them before the last OF game..
Peter – over to you!
Forster deserved his yellow. He was wasting time in first half. He is not very subtle or inventive when he does it.
Matthews time wasting I never really noticed because I frequently think that our throws-in are ponderous.
The penalty miss was not as embarrassing as the need to have a discussion before it was taken.
Great first half. Good result.
Clean sheets on the bed night all. Go gettim Lenny Bhoy
from last post.
John Clark needs to shoulder some of the blame for the nervy last 5 minutes.
Clearly he laid out slippers for our players instead of shooting boots.
So much possession wasted.
So much proligacy in front of goal.
I was really surprised when Ki stepped up to take the penalty.
Up till then he had been wearing his Harry Potter invisibility cloak.
James Forrest was under it with him in the second half.
Dinner time.
‘GG
at the end of the game who was lenny having a go at when he was going up the tunnel?
Sabre67
Good assessment mate,
Dominant and comfortable, looking like we should score for fun yet panic in the stands in the latter stages.
Why do we do that??
Why can’t we score the chances we create????
CultsBhoy
am lookin at 12-men on the goal-line as bein their tactics v us in those 3 games – what you think ?
T C
Bob???
ok……3:54 and the Caribbean rum has run its course.
Goodnight to each and every one of you.
Hail Hail
Seen 6 cops arresting someone outside the Celtic end at the end of the game, did’nt see what for but he did’nt look drunk.
Anyone know how the GB were treated tonight? Thought they brilliant as usual.
Vmhan
Sober tonight, not even a single pint in the Hibs before the match, the bus was a wee bit later coming back, the time it went around the Port dropping off, and me and the young un had awee bit of a trek home via whitecroft.
Definately on it on Sat before and after in the Hibs.
HH
A bit conflicted over tonight’s performance. A first half onslaught against a poor Dunfermline side who allowed us complete freedom on the ball in our own half (until the second half) and who generally defended too deep, brought us only 2 goals.
Now, they were welcome early goals that should have provided a rare breathing space for this Celtic. However, our old failing with profligacy (& pens) and Dunfermline pressing more, meant we lost a poor goal and Fraser had to make 2 smart saves. If Rangers had played that Dunfermline side in the first half, they would have taken 5 off them.
So, our narrow win took a lot of the shine off of a very good technical performance from Celtic.
However, being a glass half full type, I will take it to mean that there is no chance of complacency in facing St. Mirren on Saturday.
I see steven (brother of ex rangers player brian) mclean is the impartial man in black for the Celtic – st. mirren game this weekend.
Just as well he won’t let his heated and confrontational arguement with Neil Lennon at tynecastle last season colour his judgement on Saturday.
tonights goals etc
http://i42.tinypic.com/fogfg5.gif
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http://i41.tinypic.com/25jfms2.gif
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coutesy @RonnieJ1967
Good night and God Bless jmbhoy67.
Vmhan♣ who Supports Neil Lennon says:
23 November, 2011 at 23:48
Palacio67, just in from the game you say! Hmmmm
So you either walked fae CP, or ye went into the Hibs for a swally?
Ye cannae kid a kidder.
V
Sabre67
Can’t see any reason to give Kayal and Ki anything above average rating.
Neither showed any offensive motion and both were poor defensively at the end.
Topcorner
No way – I think they will go for us…particularly at Ibrox – they know a win either way would deal a major blow..
celtic have improved but I still watch through my fingers when ever our defence is put under pressure – we are vulnerable at the back but much improved in midfield and up front.
If I was playing Celtic I’d play a long ball all night…which is why I think January purchase of Goalie and Centre back a must. Stokes has eased the pressure to find a finisher..all eggs in the GK and CB basket for me…
GG
“I was really surprised when Ki stepped up to take the penalty.
Up till then he had been wearing his Harry Potter invisibility cloak.”
Don’t know if the TV picture was a problem but Ki played 3 superb slip passes through the middle of the Pars Defence in the 2nd half. All 3 should have been converted but poor control or inattention saw our forwards fail to use them.
Ki will never be an all action type but he played some great passes tonight. Horrible pen though
said on shortbread that our 2nd goal came from a mistake
??
didn’t see that, masel’
skill maybe
but no a mistake
mmm
Couldn´t see the game tonight but going by reports on here it sounds like we are creative again. And it ended 2-1 to Celtic.
That will do for me.
rimtimwin
Great match analysis GG!!
out of interest – anyone who was at the game – how did Paul Gallacher play in goals for Dunfermline?
Paul Gallagher saw plenty of action but did not make any outrageous saves that I saw. we missed more than he saved.
Our own keeper, who you wish to see replaced, made 2 very impressive saves but had some kicking difficulty.
SFTB
I think it’s decided pre game who takes them and Ki was the mhan tonight.
I think he may have lost his place tonight though.
HH to ye!
V
SFTB
He’s not our keeper – he belongs to Noocastle…so he needs replaced whatever..I’d love FF as an understudy until he matures..
CultsBhoy
Dunf had a couple o chances near the end to play that long ball you mention
elected to push it out wide
manager must’ve been upset
GK and CB required just as per summer past
Fraser reasonable but disnae come for the high ball much and his kickin is not disimilar to that of my sister who is by the way shengaloid with the ball at her feet :)
has made a few good saves this season tho, 2B fair
I think this is the first page for a long while that’s been Hun free, ahhhhh satisfaction!
Ef u rankers!
V