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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DougC says:
24 November, 2011 at 12:20
expect Aberdeen will want paid in cash as promises from the MBB ar not worth much.
Aberdeen say that £150,000 will be enough.
An insider has said that they will do a part exchange £100,000 plus one of their referees.
Big Joe -I expect Alf Ramsey was quite a complicated character.
For all his contrived’ poshness’ and a lot of it was contrived, he was apparently a ‘world class swearer’, in the mould of Eddie Turnbull.
Some people get offended when the English respond in kind to the kind of rhetoric we regularly use about them, it doesn’t bother me.
DBBIA,
A full European tour is in the works – dates in Italy and Portugal announced so far.
It won’t be the same without the Big Man. I have a feeling that his nephew Jake Clemons might fill in.
Dontbrattbakkinanger: 24 November, 2011 at 12:20
“On the subject of inspirational coaching; Alf Ramsey’s team talk before playing ‘the oldest International in world football’ consisted of the simple instruction’ Get stuck into those Scotch f###ers’.”
That must have been before Alf paid all that money for his elocution lessons…
Paul67 et al
Bit of a quick quiz behind this post.
Now that the TFOD have found their level and are recruiting ex Sheep rejects on the cheap, who else would be both available, willing and useful if the new regime at the TFOD try to generate some cash come Jan.
They flog 6 of their best players / big earners.
Looking at £12-15mill in fees and £100K per week in wages saved.
They flog 12 of their best players / big earners.
Looking at £12-15mill in fees and £150K per week in wages saved.
Who would they replace them with, any candidates?
What would be the cost and what would be the wages?
Anybody stand out in the Hertz team?
What about Killie / M-well / ST-M / ST-J?
Who would answer the call?
Who in the SPL would move for £3K / £5K per week in wages?
Who would move for the love of the jersey?
Who would move to kick the Green?
Half the M-well squad?
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND EUROPEAN TOUR 2012
FRIDAY MAY 25 KOMMERZBANK ARENA, FRANKFURT, GERMANY,
SUNDAY MAY 27 RHEIN ENERGIE STADION, KOLN, GERMANY
WEDNESDAY MAY 30 OLYMPIASTADION, BERLIN, GERMANY
SUNDAY JUNE 3 ROCK IN RIO FESTIVAL, LISBON, PORTUGAL
THURSDAY JUNE 7 STADIO SAN SIRO, MILAN, ITALY
SUNDAY JUNE 10 STADIO ARTEMIO FRANCHI, FIRENZE, ITALY
MONDAY JUNE 11 STADIO NEREO ROCCO, TRIESTE, ITALY
THURSDAY JUNE 21 THE STADIUM OF LIGHT, SUNDERLAND Onsale December 3
FRIDAY JUNE 22 ETIHAD STADIUM, MANCHESTER Onsale December 3
SUNDAY JUNE 24 ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL Onsale November 25
SATURDAY JULY 14 HARD ROCK CALLING, HYDE PARK, LONDON Onsale December 3
TUESDAY JULY 17 RDS SHOWGROUNDS, DUBLIN, IRELAND
Big Joe –
Alf Ramsey was a well known interesting style of handshake person.
My brother (the Watford fan) is desperatley trying to get over his dissappointment at missing out on Sone Aluko.
“Yahoooooooooooooooooooooooooo”, “YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS”, “YOU BUDGIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE”
Were just some of the expressions of regret and remorse that he uttered today as he cried into his champagne.
MadMitch 12.43
Tam McManus is looking for a club.
South Of Tunis 24 November, 2011 at 12:46:
I bet you that Russian linesman and the referee who didn’t stop play when there were people on the pitch had interesting handshakes too.
new article posted.
MadMitch says:
24 November, 2011 at 12:43
Paul67 et al
They have still got David Healey. Goalscorer extraordinaire.