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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Jeeezo
Just woke up the sofa after BBs and taxi.
What a night, time for bed.
S
http://cliptank.com/famous-camel-look-alike.htm
And not a rangers player in sight
Understandably we have concentrated on the performance of the Celtic players today/yesterday depending on your location.
However, I would like to comment on some outstanding performances from the team in blue.
In particular the trio of Edu, McCabe and Little. I expect to see their names in lights as a famous disappearing act. Can you name any contribution they made? Well maybe McCabe should get some credit for our third goal.
Elbows showed that his preparation for the London Olympic diving event under the tutelage of Greg Louganis is bearing some fruit and his chances of a medal look promising on today’s diving.
However, their right defensive flank will receive a summons from the Council for extending the Easter Regeneration Route through Celtic Park. Izzi, Charlie and Samaras motored along the wing without fear of being held up.
All Rangers’ cheating chickens came home to roost today and they were mightily plucked both on and off the pitch.
My only regret about yesterday was that Scott Brown ‘s ‘tackle’ in the last few minutes wasn’t on McCulloch!
Nice wee start to a monday , here’s the bbc highlights from yesterdays game , available to those outwith the uk as well .
http://www.kirkintillochemerald.co.uk/showthread.php?p=29197#post29197
Morning,all.
I expect there will be a few sore heads this morning following yesterday’s game and last night’s POTY festivities.
Only jealous,of course,since I was working overnight.
It’s almost time to inadvertently give some people an early morning alarm call.
Actually,just the one.
My kid sis shouting down the line-“WTF ur ye daein’ phonin’ me at this time?”-should be enough to waken the rest.
I see the mail online has an article saying the huns have lodged a comaint with the police over the racist abuse one of their players recieved yesterday.
Doesn’t say who from though or what player, but they do have previous for abusing their own players.
Throw those curtains wide
Cos one day like this a year
Will see me right.
Great day yesterday Bhoys… GB show should be in Art Gallery… Amazing.
Watched game again on SS
Did you notice mcgregor complaining about the ball again…. Give it up , laughable…..
If rumours are true, kids are looking after themselves today…
HH :)
bigjie on 30 April, 2012 at 05:57 said:
Thanks again,big man.
4.14 in,the picture breaks up.
Not,of course,a complaint.
Simply for your info.
Good morning friends from a very wet and blustery East Kilbride.
Happy days!
Good morning Jobo and all, from a gale force 8 Channel Island
Good morning from a wet Clydebank
It’s great to be a Tim
Have just read through all the fab post from yesterday
Have a good day and god bless
Hail Hail
Morning,
Kyle Bartley trying to do one last bit of damage before disappearing to English lower league football forever.
Rangers have made a complaint to
police over alleged racial abuse
directed at one of their players.
The club announced the move on their
official Twitter account on Sunday night
following their 3-0 SPL defeat by Celtic at
Parkhead.
A brief statement read: “The club has
tonight been made aware of racial abuse
directed at one of our players. We have
reported this matter to the police.”
Congratulations to everyone at Celtic FC – players, management and fans. Everyone played a blinder.
After the first 10 minutes the players completely controlled the game and scored 3 classy goals.
Neil was clever both with his tactics and tainted title talk. He deals with the press so well nowadays – never misses an opportunity to get his message over.
And the fans with the banner displays and songs set a standard in supporting their team that would be hard to beat anywhere in the world.
After 40 years in Scotland I thought I’d seen it all with Celtic – when I moved to Oz 5 years ago I tried to persuade myself that I wouldn’t miss the games too much. I was wrong.
A SON OF DAN 0729
I doubt this happened.
If a Celtic supporter had done this,Eddie Smith would have heard it.
Morning all
It feels especially good to be a Celtic supporter this morning.
Congratulations to Charlie for POTY.
Congratulations to Wee Jamesy for YPOTY (though I still think Big Vic deserved it).
Congratulations to Dylan for GOTY.
And biggest congratulations of all to Neil.
Grey, cloudy & wet in The Mearns, but it really is a Happy Monday.
The Pantaloon Duck 7.46
I second that. Hx2
Good morning Ghuys:
What a wonderful feeling it is this very morning. Spring in the step and looking forward to the orcs coming into the Office.
Have a great day.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Now can we finally let cheating dogs die?
Ucryl
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
I’m afraid lat night I saw comments directed at Bartley. The scumbag who did this should be locked up. There’s no excuse for any type of racist abuse, maybe the Huns will be reported for their songs yesterday.
What a beautiful day here in Spain,weatherwise & otherwise.
Good morning to all fellow Tims.
Bonbhoy I still haven´t got your email addy yet.
Bobby Murdoch
It didnt happen at the game
It was on twitter
The abuse was disgraceful
Celtic Underground @celticrumours Responder Retwittear Favorito · Abrir
2 sports desk sources say they’ve been told D&P announcement this evening about liquidation blaming SPL vote before the vote has occurred.
Gregory Ioannidis @LawTop20 Responder Retwittear Favorito · Abrir
My colleagues from Scotland just informed me that a decision has been taken for the liquidation of Rangers. I believe them
(I’m posting comments too quickly, apparently, I must slow down….)
Gregory Ioannidis @LawTop20 Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
My colleagues from Scotland just informed me that a decision has been taken for the liquidation of Rangers. I believe them
What a great start to the day in the high valley..
Good morning Champions..
Morning all. Very overcast here in North Ayrshire but I take it every Tim has a spring in their step. Their days are numbered. The end can’t come soon enough.
HavingapartywhentheydieCSC.
Ah, but
Gregory Ioannidis @LawTop20
Hold your horses as any liquidation decision needs to be ratified by several people & forums first.
Och Gregory ya big tease!!!
Hmmmm
Gregory Ioannidis @LawTop20
Assets could be sold to a new parent company, who would create a subsidiary called Rangers 2012 FC [or thereabouts]. I may be wrong.
Come on you bhoys in green….. o))
A most unusual Glasgow Derby yesterday. Rangers were like no Rangers team I have ever seen. Aluko showed that he has talent (but not enough “presence”) and that was that as far as they were concerned. They were no different than, say , Dunfermline or St Johnstone type of teams.
In spite of the occasional comment on here, I thought their fans were the best I have seen them. They were united in defeat and very, very few left. I agree with this comment from Neil Lennon:
“The Celtic manager also praised the fans who attended the match. “I’ve got to say both sets of supporters today were fantastic,” he said. ‘There was a lot of humour going around and that’s what we want to see, we don’t want to see the nastiness. Both sets of supporters were a credit to their clubs.
Finally, congratulations to the Green Brigade. What a piece of work was that Apocolypse Banner. Magnificent and so classy…..just like our team yesterday.
JJ
Paul 67
I thought I had read the article last night but obviously I did not reach the end. This made me (and I`m sure many others) smile:
“With McGregor advancing as though the tax man was chasing him”
Mind you, it is not too difficult to make me smile this morning o:-) (see?)
JJ
I’m very reluctant to unduly praise our players but the Greatest Living Slovakian will have recognised something of himself in Commons’ goal; well done Celts, well done the Celtic support; Steve’s 50th birthday weekend was marked in the best of Celtic traditions.
Fantastic day yesterday, agree with all re GB display and players to a man were excellent.
Be good to see Beram back before season ends with Izzy looking back to his best.
Sour note, abuse aimed at Bartley on twitter was disgraceful.
Great day yesterday and an excellent performance from team and fans…. Even if I had to watch the game with a hysterical Arabic commentary on Jazeera TV.
So RFCiA – Apocalypse today?
.
As Declan would Say..
I Have a Coil in My Step Today..:O)
Summa Still Singing