Celtic 2-1 Kilmarnock

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Kilmarnock substitute Danny Racchi scored with a thunderous striker after 87 minutes to turn an otherwise pedestrian Celtic victory into a late drama.  Georgios Samaras scored a goal either side of half time to give Celtic the platform to secure a victory which moved them to within a point of the top of the table.

Victor Wanyama played in central defence, which left his midfield partner, Beram Kayal, bereft of a solid accomplice in midfield.  As a result, Kilmarnock found it easy to run through the Celtic midfield with Paul Heffernan and Dean Shiels causing problems.

Neil Lennon must have been wondering what he would need to do to spark Celtic into action after the break when Cha Du-Ri sprung clear on the right and threw in a high cross which Samaras attacked six yards out and headed into the net in first half stoppage time.

8 minutes after the break Samaras made it 2-0.  Gary Hooper collected a through ball on the right and knocked it into the Greek’s path.  Samaras looked to have lost the ball, which was caught between his feet, but he recovered, evaded some flaying defenders and cracked a left foot shot into the net from the edge of the area.

Kilmarnock looked well out of the game until Racchi’s late intervention but after they pulled a goal back Celtic looked rattled.  Celtic scarcely held possession for the remaining minutes and hardly put two passes together in three minutes added time.  Fraser Forster was forced off his line to challenge Heffernan with seconds remaining.  The keeper did well to block but the ball broke free to Dayton who failed to convert an excellent change to equalise.
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648 Comments

  1. Stefferano del Bhoyo (but you can call me Neil Lennon) says: I was of similar mind going into the game at Fir Park, even at 1-0 for those 3 minutes before Stoksey equalised.

     

     

    The day when the rot set in for them was when, again, St Mirren sored the late equaliser at Ibrox, the veneer of invincibility (in the minds of the LL and Bears) was damaged, with Celtic 3-0 down earlier in the day and only managing a point this was a glorious opportunity blown by Rangers.

     

    From that moment it was only a matter of time before we got to here, St Johnstone further damaged them and it only took so long because they enjoyed some extremely favourable decisions esp v Dunfermline & ICT.

     

     

    Watch out for the dirty tricks being ramped up in the days and weeks ahead.

  2. Good morning everyone, from here in Deutschland. A very Merry Christmas to one and all, woke up this morning to realise it wasn’t a dream, Santa (Sammi) came early and it’s down to one point.

     

    Stevie MacLean will not be welcome round the ludge today for his Crimble dinner! Cold Turkey for super Sally today methinks.

     

     

    Hail! Hail!

  3. Joe Filippis Haircut on

    Good Morning to the Celtic Family from a very windy wet Central Scotlant. BRTH I dont know what you do for a living fella but you write a terriffic article and touched the heart of Celtic Football club and there fans well done sir. In the spirit of Christmas I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and just ask everyone to say at least one prayer for those who are not as forunate as us on this Blessed day.H.H.

  4. Will the McCulloch appeal be heard before Wednesday or will he play? Hope he plays, he’s rotten and slows up play for them. Would say he’d be liable to be sent off again but since they have their ref of choice then that won’t happen no matter what he does.

  5. VP

     

    the beauty of me is I can’t drive.

     

    Lunch at the cousins across from ruggie health centre

     

    then kirkhill bar

  6. BRT&H

     

     

    What a magnificent post. You sure know how to encapsulate all that Celtic means. This is more than a fitba team that binds us together.

     

     

    Merry Christmas to you all have a wonderful day.

  7. Morning bhoys, sun is shining in the Andalucian mountains, and as ever it’s hun free.

     

     

    Merry Christams bhoys and ghirls, and thanks again Paul for this wonderfull site.

     

     

    Have a good one

     

     

    Take care and god bless

     

    HH

     

    KTF

  8. A Holy and Happy Christmas to one and all.

     

    BRTH. It is one of the best posts I have seen for some time.

     

    Having enjoyed yesterday’s early Christmas it is time to settle down.

     

    Victory on Wednesday would be just great. Given our present consistency and that THEY will fight and snarl like there is no tomorrow, in the long run draw or even a defeat would not be the end of the world.

  9. Happy Christmas to all CQNers! Things are looking good just now but this site is here when we really need it! :-)

     

    Buon Natale e buone feste!

  10. whitedoghunch says:

     

    25 December, 2011 at 10:05

     

     

    breakfast of champions

     

    prociutto

     

    chorizo

     

    salami

     

    bone dry Manzilla

     

     

    jingle bells

     

    jingle bells……

     

     

    —————————–

     

     

    Pah! Way too sophisticated.

     

     

    Everyone knows the real breakfast of champions is ‘Egg in a Cup’ – boiled eggs all mashed up with salt ‘n’ pepper and butter.

     

     

    Merry Christmas everyone!

  11. Merry Christmas to all CQNrs from Southern Germany. Looking forward to the 28th, when we can go top.

     

    hh gerry

  12. Neil Lennon is ainm dom (nohunlover) on

    A very Happy Christmas to all the CQN Bhoys ang Ghirls from a wet West of Ireland. Hail Hail

  13. I’m another one hoping McCulloch plays for the huns on Wednesday. He’s absolutely terrible.

     

     

    I’ve got a sneaky (probably over-optimistic) feeling we might turn them over. What a festive season that would make!

     

     

    I’m betting on three clear goals.

  14. Philbhoy - It's just the beginning! on

    Merry Christmas to all CQN’ers!

     

     

    Hope you have a great day Oscar and that Santa was good to you!

     

     

    God bless one and all!

     

     

    Thanks to Paul67 and his helpers for this wonderful site.

     

     

    Amen!

  15. The game on the 28th will be a dirty, muck’n’bullets scrap with the rotten mob flyin’ into tackles with gusto…..

     

    If ‘Elbows’is consigned to the stands all well and good.

     

     

    One less bad guy to worry about.

     

     

     

    HH.

  16. philhoopylogue - Kano 1000 on

    Merry Christmas To The Celtic Family from hun3 Ennis, Co Clare, Republic Of Gods Country

  17. Joe Filippis Haircut on

    poordeadking. We have to keep a perspective on the game on 28th if you look at our last 3 homes games we have won 1-0 2-1 and 2-1 hardly rolling teams over.Now the Poundland team will come to Celtic Park hurting and they will raise there game so while I look forward to seeing us win it is likely to be 2-1 again and that will do me.H.H.

  18. celticrollercoaster says Hail Hail to Kano1000 on

    Hoppy Christmas to one and all in this CQN wonderland.

     

     

    When I see you Santa and I go out of my head…and say thanks for telling Sammi that he is a footie player. What odds for first and large goal on Wednesday for big Sammi!!

     

     

    Cheers to the Kano Foundation for the invite yesterday. Kids thoroughly enjoyed and a wee pressie on it’s way. Great banner from GB showing what you bhoys do, does make a difference.

     

     

    Hail hail

     

     

    CRC

  19. Wednesday’s game won’t be pretty. We will try to play football and they will set out to stop us by fair means or foul. But mostly foul.

     

     

    We will need to remain patient and our players will need to keep their cool. They will do everything they can to wind us up and slow the game down. They would love to get out of Celtic Park with a point.

     

     

    On form we should win by several goals, but derbies don’t go to form that often. I will be happy with any sort of win to take us back to the top of the league.

  20. Merry Christmas CQN’rs

     

     

    Just on to post quickly as I’m doing the family thing.

     

     

    Among the squabbling ( rightly or wrongly) there are some absolutley genius posters who we share this blog with

     

    The comic genius v the real wordsmiths are what help to make this place great.

     

    Paul 67, thank you for stealing all my spare time :-)

     

     

    BRTH,

     

    You are a legend, this year your posts have brought real emotion to the fore. Love it, please keep it up.

     

     

    Knoxy,

     

    As I sit here with my wee one of 10months and my girls and wife and extended family, I’ve told them about yours and young Oscar’s situation.

     

    We all pledge to get off our erchie’s and do our wee bit as soon as we can ( and I’ll drive them there).

     

    You and your family are in all our prayers.

     

     

    Off for the day

     

    Mucker

     

    Santa CSC

  21. Just a wee word of caution about Wednesday. I truly thought the unspeakable ones were gonna gub us this time last year, and well we all know how that turned out. BUT really we should be looking to take 3 off them, although like someone’s said, a Collum assisted draw won’t be the end of the world.

     

     

    Ok, off to take my amazing blue-nosed grandad out for a few festive pints. He took great pleasure in telling me we were 15 points behind in November… wonder what my main topic of conversation will be today?

     

     

    HH and God bless ye’s all.

  22. Joe Filippis Haircut says:

     

    25 December, 2011 at 11:10

     

     

    I know mate, that’s why I never win at the bookies! I tend to bet on what I want to happen, rather than what I actually expect.

     

     

    I’d bite your hand off for a scrappy one-nil win.

  23. Poordeadking says:

     

    25 December, 2011 at 11:02

     

     

    I am a slave to what my sri lankan house bhoy fetches.

  24. A very Merry Christmas to all at CQN, roll on the 28th, play as we can and we will beat that mob and finally claim our rightful place at the top of the league.

  25. Happy Christmas from a windy, but peaceful Donegal.

     

     

    Reading back through the posts has been a delight.

     

     

    I wish it could be Christmas every day, as a wise man once said!

     

     

    Congratulations and well done to everyone who posted their thoughts and sentiments, they have been both moving and inspiring.

     

     

    I hope you all enjoy the rest of the day whether you are with your loved ones in person or in spirit.

     

     

    God Bless the knoxxy family.