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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midfield maestro on 29 April, 2012 at 22:38 said:
No worries mate enjoy your evening. I no longer do the waterloo train the commute was killing me …moved to Ealing and 1 stop on tube ..magic! Enjoy your evening.
Hector Murdoch Auld & Hay
Great stuff I would love to have been there. Spent the afternoon with a Brentford Hoops fan…
Did you know the first Celt to lift the Scottish cup was also baptised in St Mags and his teammate that day in 1892 was also baptised there?
2 Joansun bhoys in our first cup winning team one of them captain!
There should be some fotos up on the bar :)
GangForwardCSC
Best performance of the season just witnessed, everyone played well and all looks good for next season.
izzy is by far the best fullback i have seen in a celtic top, he is pure class we have missed him this season, thankfully he has recovered as we are a far better team when he is bombing down the wing.
not since paul mcstay, have i seen a player dictate the tempo of a games as well as kayal does, we have missed him this season and it looks like he’ll be back for next season, again we are a far better team when he is playing.
players required for next season:
powerful commanding centreback who can read the games and has a bit of pace
and
powerful forward who can finish with his head
and
the return of THG if foster decides he does not want to stay
glasgows green and white
Hey Jude.
According to the Bbc match stats it was 13-9 to us for fouls.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17803512
HH
stephbhoy – the return of THG if foster decides he does not want to stay
I have a feeling big Fraser will be here next season. (thumbsup)
re laugherty,
i’m sure someone posted on here a couple of days ago
the reason for the fall out with club was because although injured , he spent 3 days on trial at west ham utd
word got back to his club
can’t remember who posted it TBH
Fanadpatriot
Looking forward to the the cd
Lycka till familjen!
HH
Were the Thia Tims at the game?
http://twitpic.com/9fcgr7
Some banners from today.
Evening Bhoys (and indeed the number of growing CQN) Ghirls
Thanks for your emails and your CQN badges are secure and I have replied to all your emails tonight.
I now have 20 CQN (oval) badges left. The history of these badges are fantastic. These were first commissioned by the HelpingMartin fund (Pablo-RIP, Aldo, Oldtim, DBBIA et all) and sold to help bring Kano home. There were originally 2 designs. We have one design left. The campaign took off and morphed into BringMartinHome and we certainly did. The remaining badges have then been sold to assist with the Remembering Reamon Gormley Campaign and also The Kano Foundation.
When Pablo first ordered them, I bet he did not realise how many people he was going to help.
If you still want a CQN badge, then drop me an email at celticrollercoaster@yahoo.co.uk
HH
CRC
Celtic played the Celtic way today.
Neil Lennon had them ready.
I am going to look forward to what we do next season.
We have Champions League qualifiers to prepare for, on that form, we can be confident.
“Rule Britannia ” and “God save the Queen” heard today – these people have no shame.
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on 29 April, 2012 at 23:00 said:
”Were the Thia Tims at the game?”
No. They were at Lennoxtown.
Today’s game wasn’t really suitable for kids.
Neil Lennon has found the new Neil Lennon… And he’s called Scott Brown
MAGIC
Jude:
On my phone now and was on my mac earlier so can’t give you a url but you’ll find file share links on the post-match thread on KDS…
I still vividly remember the 3-0 game against them in 1995.
However, this one is better. (thumbsup)
roy croppie
Superb
Loving this guy:
http://pic.twitter.com/UV2TiWll
jeez_I_thought_blinker_was_pants on 29 April, 2012 at 23:00 said:
“Rule Britannia ” and “God save the Queen” heard today – these people have no shame.’
###
I was surprised by how subdued they were.
It’s almost like they know what’s coming and are resigned to their fate.
Blindlemonchitlin on 29 April, 2012 at 22:21 said:
Never mind Oldco, Newco, EBT, FTT.
What I really need to know, tonight, is who was the Bobby Ball lookalike in the syrup of fig so dramatically bad the Sky director made Lenny move seats in the first half so as not to distract viewers from the game?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dianetierney/6979798398/in/photostream
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My first thought was that he was part of Neil’s security team,and that he had a piatol planted underneath it.
Or maybe a Gatling Gun……
Ta Ralph. Emdae got the other 85mins?? lol
celticrollercoaster says In Neil we trust on 29 April, 2012 at 23:00 said:
You have mail mate
HH
M
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS – Very unkind to suggest that man’s luxuriant head of hair is a bit Craig Whyte. (thumbsup)
I hear that if the FTT goes against the Huns the Lizzie is on their banned list.
Saltires,
I am in Ealing on a regular basis.
Next time I am down I will send you an email .
When I am there, I watch Crltic games in the Shanakee
Commons fantastic today.
Big Vic fantastic today.
JamsieBhoy – Her Majesty is a Celtic supporter.
Didn’t she look fabulous in green when she visited Ireland? (thumbsup)
Izzy fantastic today.
Sammy fantastic today
Joe Ledley fantastic today.
Charlie fantastic today.
PHILVISRETURNS 2308
TBH,I thought it was real.
Well,he surely didnae pay for it.
Maybe it was a present from his Mum. You know the kind of thing-“Oh,it’s lovely,Mum. I’ll wear it tomorrow. Have you still got the receipt?”
CRC;
You have mail…
WWC
Adam Mathews fantastic today.
JamsieBhoy – Commons fantastic today.
I love Commons, in a completely manly and non-Brokeback Mountain sort of way.
He’s everything I look for in a player: talented, effective, gallus…
Even though he is an Englishman, he knows more about gallusness than a barrel full of Glaswegians.
He could give lectures on How To Be Gallus at Glasgow University. (thumbsup)
Clashcitybhoy on 29 April, 2012 at 23:09 said:
It will be great to see you again …must be 15 years?
You have my contact details on LI just let me know when you are down.
HH
M
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS – Maybe he’s just related to Derek Zoolander? (thumbsup)
Big Glenda fantastic today.