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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Watching the game today, fairly calmly, I think the Kris Commons goal might be a contender for that of the season. Not just for KC’s work, but the contribution of Gary Hooper. Great play from both.
ernie
In what ways?
Traynor the succulent bam hurting
Hail Hail
hamiltontim on 30 April, 2012 at 10:00 said:
ernie
In what ways?
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Everything gets a lot more hilarious.
Poordeadking on 30 April, 2012 at 10:01 said:
Definitely a LOL moment!!!
Congrats to Mr and Mrs Commons on their pregnancy
Hail Hail
Badgeman
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
That explains how he has been putting on the beef.
hamiltontim on 30 April, 2012 at 10:02 said:
Poordeadking on 30 April, 2012 at 10:01 said:
Definitely a LOL moment!!!
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I just don’t know if I’ll be able to contain my laughter. The huns in my work already hate me (I’ve been absolutely insufferable since the beginning of their downfall).
When ‘The Big L’ sets in, I’m expecting a couple of physical altercations.
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 30 April, 2012 at 10:06 said:
I feel a bit guilty for calling him fat now. That explains everything.
SOAL
Modern man .. whats not to love ? ;-)
Hail Hail
Bournesouprecipe- that’s either an ole Warsaw Pact Hat or the Badgeman goes to the same barber as Hoopslegend Mo Bangura.
Does this guy never get tired making a clown of himself??
Chris McLaughlin @BBCchrismclaug Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Brian Kennedy and the Blue Knights have submitted a revised offer for #Rangers following weekend talks with the administrators.
Latest from rtc
Poordeadking on 30 April, 2012 at 10:07 said:
hamiltontim on 30 April, 2012 at 10:02 said:
Poordeadking on 30 April, 2012 at 10:01 said:
Definitely a LOL moment!!!
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I just don’t know if I’ll be able to contain my laughter. The huns in my work already hate me (I’ve been absolutely insufferable since the beginning of their downfall).
When ‘The Big L’ sets in, I’m expecting a couple of physical altercations.
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That’s disappointing to hear. You need to learn to be like me and show more restraint in the workplace!!
HamiltonTim – re The Bells in Springburn – same as it ever was ;-)
new article posted.
I think the anticipation of sneaking a result yesterday would have been all that kept management and staff at skint fc going the last couple of weeks. One last effort, one last stand, go out on a high note etc. etc.
Having failed miserably there is nothing left now. The last grains of sand in the egg timer are about to drop through and no-one will be turning it back around.
Dear Jim Traynor, I hope the pain you feel today gets worse and worse as the week goes on and just when it’s unbearable I hope it gets worse again and if you’re lurking Jimbo you’ll know exactly why I’ve written that…
bournesouprecipe on 30 April, 2012 at 10:07 said:
Badgeman
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As Father Dougal would say ” Whats wrong with your hair?” –
Is something wrong with your head? – Dougal!
What? It’s just his hair looks a bit…
– Dougal. – I didn’t say anything.
It’s just Henry’s hair looks a bit mad.
Sky 1 – the match starts in 15 minutes.
* Kettle on *
Interesting post from RTC.
In their own web site they talk of 90 days so I am surprised he has dismissed that.
http://www.justice.gov.uk/tribunals/tax/appeals
I was also of the opinion that the SPL had already stated that prize money will be diverted to those that Rangers owe. I dont think they can bank on that money and I feel that the SPL would be negligent in the extreme if they done so.
I have to be honest and say that the last article from the RTC guy strikes me as a “please leave me alone it is way beyond a crescendo”
I also think that the level of abuse that is now being targeted at “officials” is the real reason for his last post.
Hail Hail
Anybody else think Carlos Tevez’s beard makes him look like Abraham Lincoln?