Celtic outclassed what could simultaneously be both the worst Rangers** team in past 20 years and the best in the next 20 years.
**If they survive.
Goals win games but on so many occasions in the 124 year history of these games brave tackles are equally important and it was an exceptional tackle from Adam Matthews which set this contest alight. Lee Wallace was in possession when Matthews hooked the ball away from him before whipping in a cross which Goian knocked off the toes of Hooper and behind for a corner.
Kris Commons was to have an enormous influence on the game starting with the resultant 17th minute corner. Rangers marked man-to-man but as the Celtic players inside the box moved towards the front post a huge zone was left unmarked at the back post. The ball was inside the box before Charlie Mulgrew but the Celtic defender was flying and dived full-length to head downwards. The bounce left Allan McGregor no chance.
Celtic’s stranglehold on the game was a result of their domination of the key midfield area. Rangers played with Little and Aluko either side of McCulloch up front but Celtic matched up with a risky three in central defence, Loovens, Mulgrew and Wanyama. Such was the gulf in class between Rangers forward players and Celtic’s defenders that the profit Celtic gained in midfield didn’t have a corresponding debit in defence.
Kris Commons scored his first goal of the season on 31 minutes. Gary Hooper collected on the by-line before playing a square pass into space 25 yards from goal. Commons was first to the ball but feigned forward before pulling back and allowing the ball to pass across his body. This fooled Kyle Bartley into lunging for a tackle in a space Commons never ventured into. The deliciously intelligent move unlocked Rangers defences; Commons was clean through with only the keeper to beat, and boy did he beat him.
With McGregor advancing as though the tax man was chasing him, Commons was the personification of cool, carried the ball until 13 yards out and chipped the goalkeeper.
Although Charlie Mulgrew’s crossing was missed, the addition of Emilio Izaguirre, Commons and Adam Matthews into midfield ensured Celtic were always comfortable and threatening in possession. This allowed Scott Brown and Joe Ledley to dominate the central midfield area. Brown played his best game of the season, putting his body between ball and opponent innumerable times, no matter the odds.
By half time, the only question was, how many?
The record books will show a Kris Commons tackle won the ball off Ross McCabe on 54 minutes before Giorgios Samaras passed to Gary Hooper. Hooper’s shot from the 18 yard line rifled into the top corner to complete the scoring.
I said the record books would show this is how the goal happened but another version of events will say that coordinated singing from Celtic fans spooked an inhibited looking Rangers team.
*In administration.
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Lennybhoy
Agreed buddy.
Pass on my Congratulations to Ton che Dan please.
Any truth in the rumous that celtic park ran out of drink this afternoon?
HT
It’s all good.
The future is Green & White.
It’s good to be a Tim
for ally
BT
Cheers buddy all calm now :-)
dannysbeard on 29 April, 2012 at 20:48:
My post was intended to include those that are with us in spirit but my concentration is slipping…I think I am typing words that don’t appear on screen.
Saint Stivs.:
Nest wishes passed on to Ton Che Dan…
Before I post a violation, I will bid you all a good night but will leave you with this:
Breaking News: McCoist has contacted the SFA and demanded to know the identity of the defender marking Mulgrew…
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
http://twitpic.com/9fb4wd
G64
Indeed it is, a day that will long live in the memory!!
My bhoy said Dad(all knowing obviously)
Whats does that mean
Me(all knowing dad)
” f*ck if I know ”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
midfield maestro on 29 April, 2012 at 20:58 said:
Did anyone make sense of their 1993 banner at half time? At least you understand ours.
When i see you Celtic I go out of my head
Sparkleghirl
Not sure about CP
but the Vogue Bar must have come close.
For a while Ive tried to wotk out two things
1. where did Lionel Messi get his unworldly football skills from ?
2. who did he remind me of?
Think I mIght have found the answer to both questions here –
A young Lionel Messi?
midfield maestro on 29 April, 2012 at 20:58 said:
Did anyone make sense of their 1993 banner at half time? At least you understand ours
I think they were trying to say “you have been here” i.e. we changed our name after we were nearly went into admin. Wrong year (1994) and we didn’t change our name, Celtic AFC is still part of Celtic PLC.
Stupid huns…………
jc2 on 29 April, 2012 at 21:05 said:
Nope. They ae mental.
Kayal33 –
Big Vic tweeted and distanced himself from that, saying he’d been photo-shopped. Just saying like…
Kayal33
That must be the image that Victor tweeted about, saying it had been photoshopped and that he didn’t want any trouble.
So please bear that in mind if you’re circulating it.
Just listened to Neil McCann’s incredible explanation of why the transfer embargo on the Huns is unfair despite them owning money to other clubs:
“If a club goes into administration and they agree a CVA they come out of administration with a new buyer, if that happens and if that new owner wants to then decide to pay off those clubs who are due money for the players then why not just let the club come back out and start buying players, I don’t understand that”.
How many ifs is that?
UTLR , thanks for your kind words – think we all enjoyed ourselves apart from 1 complaint that it was a”wee bit too football oriented “!
Ton Che Dan , fantastic news . after the year you’ve had , a ray of light to accompany shaedan’s glow.
CRC , sent you a text – any word ?
Sanna
Kayay33
FF is going nuts over that but Vic has said that it has been photo shopped.
I’d be inclined to believe him.
Bhoylo83 on 29 April, 2012 at 21:04 said:
———–
did you find that link trying to date that cutie on the “Mature dating ” link on the right of the video? Sincerely hope not…
OK, looooooooooooooooooooooong time lurker, but today was too lovely not too post my heartfelt thanks to the team and Neil. hangover ruled out any chance of pre game beers (which left my bro dissing me for missing out on the coffin!), and had been reticent all week about going as i’m in block 114 and I was expecting a hail (hail) of bottles from them at some point, thankfully not to be. I’ve been very critical of the tippy tappy stuff we’ve endured (my opinion of course) at times this season, but after the early goal, it felt like we were toying with them at times, and we had a few more gears to get into if needed. Best part of the day though was the fans ripping the pish. liquidation, liquidation, na na na na, or “craigy white” over the ally mcoist (spelling as per that fanny hun with the tatoo c10 year ago) blue army.
Many congratulations to Ton Che Dan and his Mrs and wee Shaedan.
Fantastic news.
St Gerard, pray for us.
Prestonpans
My dad was my pal. 15 years now. I can still see his smile. I know he’s smiling now. I’m sure your dad’s smiling too.
HT
We will be able to tell our kids and grandkids that
we were there at the last Glasgow derby.
Lennybhoy – absolutely brilliant news about the Ton Che Dan family. I can just imagine Vmhan with a big cheesy grin! That news and the picture of Reamonn’s parents with the Thai Tims just brings really happy feelings.
EDB – I wasn’t sure, as you normally sit with the big hitters! ;-) Whit a syrup that is!
Hope the TT family are coping with everything.
T4
Kayal33
Wanyama is a young guy in a foreign country,I don’t think it is advisable to show these photographs,it is a dangerous place we are in at the moment.I appreciate it is not your intention.
Bhoylo83 on 29 April, 2012 at 21:04 said:
—————–
if my auntie had a pair of cojones…
Gordon64,
What scares me more is how matter of fact he states it and makes it sound like the norm!
My dad was, is and always be my hero and best friend.
G64
And the huns grandchildren will be Celtic fans!!!
So celtic won the league today. Good.I have never seen us beating the hooligans with three better goals .Every one a cracker.
Also the best goal i seen scored against thems was by Henke ,no,not the 6-2 chip, the one were he took down a head height ball with his right foot ,swivelled on same leg and cracked an unstoppable volley past klos with his left .Think it was a 3-3 result.Superb
hh
phil
BT
A lovely post with beautiful sentiments.
Evening all
Thought we were quite good today. Shame for Rangers if this is the end. With that team they had out today next season we’d take ten off them.
H x 2
Sorry, forgot as well, the “goodbye” banners from the celtic end at half time. Think this was a CQNer whom originated? Well done that man (except for buy bye)
sannabhoy on 29 April, 2012 at 21:08 said:
A great night was had last night and as the youngest most handsome thinnest (Apart from CelticSoulbrother) and I think only Male CQNer who made it to the dance floor I think the way you all treat your darlings is shocking
Ive not been able to track down the great news for the Ton Che Dan family but im passing on my best wishes to you all
TET
with regards to laffatmes nuptials, strong rumours doon Johnstone way that it will be St Margarets RC Church in Johnstone…….deary me der hun will not be happy
Midfield maestro @ 20.08
Nothing new there then :-)
HT
I mean that 100%
bed time for me, i’m telling the truth now..