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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What a brilliant early christmas pressie :)
Now all I want for Christmas is a good striker……..then we WILL win the league.
But before that my very best wishes to each and every one of you and the Celtic family around the world. Have a great time tomorrow.
NA
fan-a-tic says:
24 December, 2011 at 17:55
——————————————–
Absolutely.
Apparently the usual apologists on the radio where attempting to excuse the challenge.
As you can see from the footage, there is no ambiguity; a red card every day of the week.
Well Well
5 am Christmas morn. in Sydney.
Stocking packed with goodies.
Well,two to be precise.
Let the festivities commence,and commence they shall.
Hail hail,Noel.
.
Square Slice @ 17:31..
Re; Long Links..See what l Did there..
Why did You not Use Your Usual name..?
The Post your Talking about was a Christmas Greeting to The Full Blog..Not a Link..
First Time l have Ever been Deleted on CQN..as You Know..
Yes l am a iPhone user..The Problem is Also the New Formatting and Comments Box..
Summa
Still don’t Know why You used Another Login..Merry Christmas..
Victor Wanyama played in central defence, which left his midfield partner, Beram Kayal, bereft of a solid accomplice in midfield
Paul67 – I have been saying this all week mate. Victor has to play as the holding midfielder on Wed. He allows the rest of the midfield to play and protects the defence at the same time. We can throw together any pairing at centre-half as long as Victor is playing in front of them.
I think we will batter them if he plays this way but it will be very tight if Lenny plays him in defense.
Here’s hoping.
Very merry Xmas to everyone on this fine blog.
Remind me again, what is ” McCullochy’s” nickname?
pabloh_AKA_NEIL, you’re very welcome. Take care.
yogiy, have a great Christmas.
Joe Filippis Haircut, you’re welcome. Have a great day.
PjDali, yes, as Philbhoy said, two Christmases in a row. Enjoy.
BelfastCityCelt, take care and have a good day tomorrow.
Teuchter ár lá , God Bless you too, take care.
Better get my shoes on, earliest ‘Midnight Mass’ in history ahead.
Merry Xmas to all Celtic fans…………!!!!!!!!!!!!!…………..can’t wait for Santa to call……….(he just has to be a TIM..!!)……….the day was even better for me since I had to leave 10 minutes before the end, and avoided biting my nails…….LOL……..
Incidentally, I am not at all worried about Wednesday night………we’ve cut a 15 point lead back to 1 point in a few weeks…….and they’re only going to get weaker when they sell at least 3 of their players in the January window………which puts us in the ‘driving seat’ for the league……..and the other teams are fighting for their survival, so there will be more results like St Mirren’s today we shall prevail in the long term……..the reverse huddle was absolutely amazing…..what an atmosphere………A FEEL GOOD, LIKE A KNEW THAT A WOU-OUD…….!!!!!!!!
Paul 67
Were you out last night and still feeling the effects at the game today? Your match report suggests you watched a different game to me. Kilmarnock had five to ten minutes at the start when they matched Celtic. Nothing like the dominance you describe.
Maybe it’s just me, but I always find you post match reports very negative. Cheer up, it’s Christmas and we’re gonna win the league!
Paul67,happy christmas to you and your family…hope it’s a cracker…
Mustang Sally, think you better slow your mustang down.
Mustang Sally, think you better slow your mustang down.
You been running all over the town now.
Oh! I guess I’ll have to put your flat feet on the ground.
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
One of these early mornings, oh, you gonna be wiping your weeping eyes.
I bought you a brand new mustang ’bout nineteen sixty six.
Now you come around signifying a woman, you don’t wanna let me ride.
Mustang Sally, think you better slow your mustang down.
You been running all over the town now.
Oh! I guess I’ll have to put your flat feet on the ground.
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
All you want to do is ride around Sally, ride, Sally, ride.
Bankiebhoy
For reasons I’ve never understood it is , I believe, “Elbows”.
Well done the Celtic! Good day for us.
Team to beat the Huns:
Forster
Cha Wilson Mulgrew Ledley
Forrest Brown Wanyama Kayal Samaras
Hooper
If all fit and well that team will win, no doubt in my mind.
Hoopy Christmas to all!
Off for a drink with Mrs RobinBhoy shortly.
Hail Hail!
RobinBhoy
Two great results today, what a Christmas, eh????
Isn’t it funny how when “they ” are gubbed they get a load of players red carded and there’s a riot. I just hope police leave is cancelled for wednesday when we Do them too, to go top. It’s never their fault, is it. Oh the moment.
Hail Hail
KINGLuBO
I thought our passing in the first half was very poor and we didn’t really settle until Sammis opener went in. Killie had enough half chances over the 90 minutes to suggest it is no forgone conclusion on Wednesday. Part of that would be down to yet another defensive reshuffle.
On the plus side, we improved in the second half and will have a number of decent options on the bench for Wednesday if things need changed. We are the team who should be confident and big Vic is getting better and better.
After being so far ahead the huns will be crying into their beer tonight. Long may it continue.
Roll on Wednesday and well done Neil and the team for turning things round.
Have a great Christmas Bhoys and Ghirls.
Hail Hail !
Paul 67
Thank you very much!
A word to the wise for you all you part timers going to the various vigils, they’ve only gone and changed the words!
Nollaig Shona :)
Paul67
If you’re around…..thank you very much for this excellent thing you have created in Celtic Quick News.
Have a very happy Christmas and I hope 2012 is good to you and all those you care about.
SwanseaBhoy
ust in from manic festive Christmas eve on Henry St and Grafton St. to read the tidings of joy on CQN.
Sammy showing his terrific football skills in in recent games – phase one
Sammy scoring goals again – phase two.
Looking like the full package that was Sammy when he first donned the HOOPS is back. Happy Christmas to Neil and his squad and all CQNrs.
share
Watching the rerun here – definate red card despite Walker’s uncle timmery. Lafferty should have been sent off too.
A thought for the festive season, just £3 will buy water and food for a family in Africa for a month……
But Morrison’s are doing 4 Stella’s for £2.99!!
If only Carlsberg do Christmas Eve’s?
Oh! Wait a minute. They do…
{:-)))))))
MWD laughing all the way into Christmas day.
I was very disappointed not to be able to get up to Celtic Park today.
Watching the mighty St Mirren went some way in compensating.
LOVE CELTIC.
SwanseaBhoy
Even Naismith conceded that both sendings-off were ‘technically justified’.
Towards the end,they could have had others sent off,including a couple for blatant fouls that went unpunished.
Interesting to see Jellyfish continuing to take throw-ins,even at the death,instead of trying to get on the end of them.
He does have some ‘colourful’ relatives back home in Croatia…
Antifa/BMRUWP.
Hope you remembered to send ‘Ol Pol Pot a Christmas Card……
;- )))
Paul 67
Thanks son you do a graet job have a great Christmas and may god look down on you and your family in 2012.God Bless
Away the Tims
Tim the Jim
9 SPL wins on the bounce amidst a plethora of injuries I’m happy with that!!
It’s not been about performances the important thing was to get as close to them as possible. Well you can’t get much closer after today!!!
Go get them Celtic…
Good stuff from the bhoys today we did enough to close the gap. The smelly boys look shambolic- I wish we were playing them tomorrow, but I know that will count for nothing come Wednesday.
I’d like to wish all the contributors to CQN who make this essential reading every day a very merry Christmas. We did well today, lets enjoy it
TLWIO
Well I never!
;)
Singing detective
“He does have some ‘colourful’ relatives back home in Croatia…”
Care to expand at all?
NegAnon2
Aye, I couldn’t believe the trash that was coming out of Walker’s mouth.
Current Rangers player, Naismith and ex Rangers player, McCann, both recognised it was a sending off.
Not as far as Andy Walker was concerned.
I’m not asking for ex Celts to be particularly pro Celtic but try and call it as it is.
Something wrong with these people.
SwanseaBhoy
the long wait is over says:
24 December, 2011 at 18:22
Gangsters, pimps, drug dealers, extortionists etc.
Hail Hail
Paul
Thanks for your tireless work and brilliant site. Have a very peaceful happy Christmas to you and yours.
And remember everyone to spare a thought for those less fortunate than yourselves, as not everybody has a happy Christmas sadly.
KINGLuBO
Swanseabhoy – its the only way they can get and keep a job – its a sign of the sectarian society we live in here in Scotland
SwanseaBhoy
The only thing wrong with these peeple is that they love money that much they dont want it to dry up.
Hail Hail
Paul67 – don’t say this often enough but what you do is great for us fans who want to chat, laugh, cry over our Team.
Christmas definitely came a day early……we NEED to beat them on Wednesday, more from a psychological perspective. Questions asked and pressure put on them and lets see how they react…they tend to turn in and fight among themselves and if they sell a couple of their players in Jan the wheels could come off big time but we have to apply the pressure and keep it cranked up.
A very Merry Christmas to all Celtic fans…….Hail Hail!!!!
I wonder what the trumped up chaos will be that will hundoubtedly rock Celtic between now and the showdown?
I think the refs money might have dried up as well
HAil Hail
Bankie
Hate to break it to ye, but ye did ask…
PS
Memo to Andy Walker – in any league in any country throwing your elbow at an opponent is a red card. Your posturing as the cynical “all professionals cheat” ex – pro doesnt wash and certainly doesnt change that. That is all.