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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was the referee today at the new love street
steven
or
Stephen?
very distinct possibility
thats what rangers are thinking off before they appeal?
B C W
Sammi is always going to be more of a provider than an outright goal scorer. He has shown that he can score different types of goals and that makes him a significant proposition when the team is selected.
I’d prefer him back on the left of a 5 on Wednesday.
Killie’s goalkeeper started wasting time 4 mins in…justice done!
Just back from the game via one of those public house type thingummies and I am still beaming.
That was an unexpected swing of points today and I look forward to the Sky highlights at 11.30.
Thought Cha was a good attacking presence today and Ledley & Wanyama did well otherwise we were just so-so.
merry Xmas to all Oz, NZ and Far Eat tims especially Martin Kane and Merry Xmas to all you other occidentals when it comes.
Hamilton
I’ve just watched the second goal on NOTTHE BUS LINK. I’m entirely wrong about Sami’s position.
I just want the big guy to “get in there” more often. I think he’s got everything a player needs, just want all those close things to become GOALS !!!!
Well played today Santa. Not only did you empty your sack, you emptied the whole bloomin’ sleigh on us.
Merry Christmas to all CQNers everywhere and congrats to Paul67 for providing such a wonderful site for us all.
To Paul67, and all the Celtic family, hope you all have a great Christmas (even better than today, if that’s possible : > ) ).
Knoxy2000, the strength in your post yesterday was inspiring. Keep it up Sir, Oscar is lucky to have you as his father.
RF: included some of your finest in cards this year (ones sent to the dark side of the family). Met one yesterday who said “ Are you awright ? Who’s jabba”. Missus TITO unaware and says afterwards “ Has ******** gone mental – what’s he talkin about”
Happy Christmas and a big Hail, Hail to all.
Bring on the tax cheats !
Luv
TITO
HT
If ur about, asked the day ref peterhead…. Been told should know for defo next weekend mate…
Will get back to u
hamiltontim says:
24 December, 2011 at 19:44
5 in the middle ain’t good enough at Parkhead. Th eformation has little threat in midfield when Forest doesn’t deliver, would you agree ? Our (current fit) full backs are limited going forward too imo.
We are left slow and ponderous going forward, like the first 45 today.
Seasons greetings to Paul and all CQNers.
Having been in Spain for nine weeks todays weather was a bit of a shock to the system but I’m glad I braved the elements.
Scrappy first half but Sammy scored at just the right time at the end and early second to keep the gloves on. They came off when Killie scored, but not enough time left to damage the finger nails.
Some great crowd moments to make it an enjoyable day but Wednesday will need to see an improvement in alertness and ball control, however only one point in it and we have strength in depth.
Wanyama is going to be some player and good to see Sammy find the way to goal.
I see from the Celtic web site the match programme is being made available as am I App. Am not a Mac user on PC or mobile but the geeks might want to download and give an opinion on the presentation ofthe free Udinese match programe.
http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=1922 and look for link.
Oh, well done, Celtic.
I don’t care how edgy it got.
I was listening to it on the radio.
That’s about as edgy as you can get.
Magic, pure magic day.
God bless every punter on this site and I hope you have a great Christmas.
Seasons greetings to you and your loved ones.
If Rangers appeal Elbows dismissal will it free him to play Wednesday or is a fast stream approach being adopted as for incidents the ref misses? An appeal just to make him available is more than likely but if it will be dealt with by Wednesday they might not bother.
Wishing everyone at CQN a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!
Thank you Santa for a great early present!
Auldheid
Everything else is being fast tracked and Lunny will doubtless do this on Tuesday IF they appeal.
They don’t have a hope in hell of that being overturned if you see it (but we live in an irrational country).
Put it this way, if Elbows gets off with that then we are back to where we were with the honest mistakes of the Mowbray year.
Paddy Gallagher says:
24 December, 2011 at 19:58
Same to you mate have a great day
Hail Hail
To all Celtic fans where ever you are in the World have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy the gifts we have recieved this Christmas eve. H.H.
Auld Neil Lennon heid says:
24 December, 2011 at 19:58
the only problem is sally had to tap sone aluko for a grand to pay for the last appeal< im not sure sone will be so forthcoming this time around even if it is Christmas
SB
We’ve got 7 now mate so only looking for another couple.
BCW
I think recently Cha has been one of our biggest threats going forward so I probably wouldn’t agree.
On Wednesday I’d like to see Vic in centre midfield with Ledley and Kayal but Joe being allowed to push on. Sammi on the left behind Hooper. All about opinions mate.
Snake Plissken says:
24 December, 2011 at 20:01
Snake the only way that could be overturned is if the appeal was heard by a jury in edinburgh
Big cup winners
It’s not the 5 man midfield that’s the issue but the personnel chosen
Ki and Kayal are a poor partnership in the centre offering little protection at the back and zero forward threat.
Since Vic has moved to defense and Ki replaced him we have reverted to a non threatening sideways passing team
Service to front guys has declined so no surprise his goalscoring streak has ended last two games.
A five man midfield should allow the central midfielders more leeway to gamble and support strikers but ours never do.
His should be Hooper
There are a few unhappy bears about on this night before Christmas Don’t think Sally would be a welcome visitor in many places tonight (unless he was dressed up in a Santa suit…….
Ho Ho Ho
And some folk on here say Barry Ferguson was a shite captain. My god we miss someone like that at the moment.
we need to bring players in, in january off that there is no doubt
all ally’s fault – he has destroyed this team from the wonderful stuff we were playing in the 6 games of the season.
________________________________________
if we keep playing like this would’nt surprise me if celtic win the league by 12 fookin points
mccoists tactics have been shocking all season apart from second half against celtic ( which should have been the way we started that game anyway)
he is lost in the job and i think he should leave after the end of the season
I feel sick
*** is it with bears on here talking about drama queens. Yes technically we are still top but unless there is a massive chance in attitude and application we will not win the league.
The Tim’s had all but given up a month ago and we have ****ed it up big time.
Its not just results not going our way but the last few games have been painful.
Drama queen alert – I am sitting here considering giving it a miss on Weds as i fear a humping. We are struggling in every game. Just cant see it happening at the piggery.
****ing gutted. Merry Xmas.
I’ll say it!!
Mccoist is his own worst enemy, either become your own man or walk away!!
Basic tactics were needed after the first red card but he took away the balance of the team taking wylde off.
Both red cards were reasonable, we will be second at the turn of the year and and Ally should be given his marching orders.
The loss of the lead, the terrible performances, the Euro games, the loss to Falkirk in the cup. Not good enough!!
So Ally, over to you…..what you going to do?
Yet another rank performance, no motivation from management, players. Fooking shite , poor poor team going backwards under present management.
If my language is anything to go by, I fear the arrest at parkhead on Wed night. Xmas eve and now my wife is not talking to me!!
11 points dropped in ten games does not make champions.
The downward spiral started with 1-1 draw at home to St Mirren, could it stop with this defeat today at St Mirren? We can only hope but like many on here I fear the worst for Wednesday night, we could well be in 2nd place by New Year.
Today was the culmination of weeks of insipid gutless football reaching rock bottom.It wasn’t a surprise….sadly I have come to expect this rubbish
This game could not have been worse,played off the pitch by St Mirren,reduced to 9 men,2 senior players missing for Wednesday,our lead reduced to 1 point.
If all that wasn’t bad enough we go into Wednesday game with no clear,shape or pattern to our game & worst of all no leadership
Davis,should have been dropped weeks ago
Whittaker continues to defend like a wee lassie
Jelavic was a disgrace today
3 of our biggest earners & to me 3 liabilities going into the game against the bheasts
Ally,I love you to bits & you gave me a lot of joy as a player. I ache for you to do well,but frankly this just isn’t good enough
Nor should McCoist manage Rangers again!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Absolute clown!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi bhoys first time posting so just thought Id take the opportunity to say GIRFUY tae fat sally and co. What a fantastic start to christmas may it continue on Wed when we teach those apple bastards a lesson in football, conduct and all round fenian greatness!! We are the people?? naw there no they are very naughty boys!!
A very Happy Christmas to everyone on this site but in particular to-
Paul67
Gazebo and Golf Club Bhoys
Glee Club members
Doubters of Sammy and Lenny- welcome to the land of enlightened :-)
But most of all, to Bhoys and Ghirls and their families who are not having the best of times at the moment- I hope today will have put a small ray of sunshine into your lives.
Hail hail!
When i see you Celtic i go out me head,JCGE.
Remember troops old firm games take care of them selves,we were massive under dogs this time last year anything can happen.
PLEASE HELP!! WE ARE SEARCHING FOR MORE THAN A FEW MALES WHO HAVE BEEN POSTED MISSING ON FACEBOOK BY THERE PARENTS aka uncle willie and gran WERE LAST SEEN BOASTING ABOUT TITLES BEING WON BEFORE CHRISTMAS!! WARNING THEY HAVE MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES AND OFTEN REFER TO THEMSELVES AS “the peeepel” DO NOT APPROACH AS THEY ARE WELL KNOWN TO BE VIOLENT AND UNREASONABLE, THEY ALSO LOVE BEING CHASED APPARANETLY!! PLEASE HAVE THEM RETURNED AS FACEBOOK IS MISSING THE LAFFS AND GIGGLES!!
Comedy gold in those FF posts.
Ahh, it’s going to be a very, very Merry Christmas.
‘Burly Chassis’ on The Morecambe and Wise show…………..
good evening cqn
couple of points about the posts on FF.some one mentioned Sounness till end of season if super Sally got the welly boot,they could not afford the fuel on his private plane to get him up here never mind his wages.
Also the language on FF is terrible,i blame Kathelic schools
Any highlights of today’s games on tonight.
highhlights of hun game is on sky at 1130 closely follwed by the bhoys
Merry Christmas to all, have a very hoopy day!!!!!
I always think that when we win, no matter how, and THEY lose, that tehse are special days that the Lord has provided.
For it to happen on the eve of Christmas is a special sign.
Happy Christmas to Paul67 and all on here.
I’ve been too busy to go on here much but I assume Edward U doesn’t post here any more? Bit of a pity, if so.
The Huns score coming through at the game today was like a blast from the past.
Saturday games, God bless them.
Hamilton.
Of course mate, opinions and opinions. I agree Cha has been, in the second period he got into some good positions.
Sami could be a goalscorer, he was for 5 months under Strachan. I’d like to see him be provider and scorer, with his attributes no reason for him not to be.
Off to the Vigil, so Merry Christmas to you. Hail Hail !!!!
Hail Hail Bhoys and Ghirls.
I hope all The Celtic Family, all across the world, have
a very Merry Christmas.
We have no equal.
God Bless You All.
I was sent a mocking text two months ago that the league title would not be delivered by helicopter this season but would be delivered to Ibrox by Santa’s sleigh.
The hun who sent me it has been very quiet recently.