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.
935 Comments- Pages:
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From Neil McCallum to Gary Hooper. First to last. Wonderfull. Goodbye Huns. I won’t miss you at all.
Gary Cooper was also a cowboy short arse
Raymy
Callum Murray disnae mind Huns pushin him. He likes it!
A wee boost for Ally. Naismith has pledged his future to Der Hun. This will mean that next season their line-up will include Naismith, Naiclass, Naimoney, Naistadium, Naichance, Naitrophies, Naidignity, Naifuture, Naihope, Naifriends, and Naisprospects.
In other news, Celtic are interested in the promising twins, Naibother and Naiproblem!!
HH
Agent Craig “Green and” Whyte!! on 29 April, 2012 at 17:23 said:
No Mrs Eyeliner will bring me over
Are you good for some beers as I’ve only got 3 left from last night?
:-)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Hail hail
MME
Anyway rant over well done today Bhoys. I am going home to watch it all on Sky Planner.
bonbhoy on 29 April, 2012 at 17:28
Cheers mhate :-)
Hail hail
MME
Nice to see Wayne Newton taking some time off from his busy Vegas schedule to take his seat in front of Lenny today.
Some syrup that was eh.
Carluke Shamrock’s Richard on now…
live phone-in
http://www.spreaker.com/show/hail_hail_media
Raymy
I seen that on highlights, the thug puts his arm across Murray n pushes him but unsurprisingly gets away with it
HH
Hiro Nakamura on 29 April, 2012 at 17:37 said:
Gary Cooper was also a cowboy short arse
Aye and Alan Ladd had tae staun on an orange box in his films.
Wonder if he wiz a cream bun ?
macanbheatha on 29 April, 2012 at 17:21 said:
Audie Murphy – stoatin’
We were all young once.
I remember my best mate Stephen telling me a story about him talking with a bear at his work. This was back in the day when we had Henrik and Lubo and the future was green…
I remember Stephen relating the guy saying – congratulations, enjoy your success, but remember these things are cyclic – ‘You’re on top just now. It’ll be us soon enough’
I remember us discussing this and thinking the guy was humble; wise. We both did. Humility with a coda.
But see now? In the clear light of day? The very fact that we managed to keep things cyclic at all is beyond comprehension. That things could shift one way or the other is quite amazing – it stands as testament to everyone who has worked at Celtic.
What a team. What a club! Mes Que etc…
We should never forget where we’ve come from – or that we should put it in true perspective.
I’ll tell you – I’m an extra proud Celtic fan tonight.
And Stephen, if you’re reading – our cyclic was never front loaded mate, it was earned.
X.
My favourite cowboy The Duke his best film The Quiet Man (before anybody say it I know it was not a cowboy film)
Just back from the game what a wonderful 24 Hours it has been.
Thanks very much MWD for the ticket for the Kano bash last night
meeting fellow CQners TTTT, singapore celt and his brother, token tim, sanna bhoy celtic soul brother bjmac, crc and Paul 67 enjoyed my night.
Thought we were great today and could have beat them by more if we needed to.
HH
weeron,
agreed, there is a specific way to defend corners and limit the percentages of a goal against.
On your point about players being inside the post, not on them:
Gordon Chisholm taugh me one thing when I was 14 that has stuck with me forever. A right footed player must go on the left post to ensure he is swinging clear with his dominant foot and vice versa for the left footer. Very simple, very effective. It amazes me how many player on the post still slash a clearance into the net with their bad foot, even in the EPL.
TJ
timbhoy in spain
I was just looking for a successful Lay tipping service that saves me doing all the work.
Statistical research going back years takes up a lot of time.
On another not does Ron do much Lay advices for the Flat.
sparkleghirl on 29 April, 2012 at 16:55 said:
Many thanks – thats great
Your rangers till July, your rangers till July.
I’m sure you are, I know you are, YOUR rangers TIL JULY!!!!
HH
Cheers Bonbhoy
Snake on now
http://www.spreaker.com/show/hail_hail_media
Neil Lennon STV
http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/celtic/305370-neil-lennon-delighted-with-celtic-players-after-comprehensive-glasgow-derby-victory/
Bonbhoy, I can send you plenty of stuff if you like.
Also Ron will be doing his lays any time soon now as he likes to let the form settle down for a while
Phil MacGiollaBhain @Pmacgiollabhain
Has there been a falling out among those blue knights?
Phil being a big tease.
Terrific victory today. Excellent performances all round, but special mentions to Emilio and Kris. Welcome back guys!
On the cowboy theme. I think the ‘Gers should be treated the way the cowardly cavalry officers were dealt with in the old west. When they line up for their last game, someone like Stewart Regan or, preferably, Fergus McCann, should walk out and ceremoniously rip the five stars from each of their shirts and throw them to the ground with disdain. It would make for great telly.
TimJim on 29 April, 2012 at 17:16 said:
Must have been Alan Ladd
Alan Ladd and Audie Murphy were both short, but Gary Cooper? He was well over 6 ft.
Hi.
How was that game only 3 nil?
It sure ain’t tainted now.
On April 7th We were awarded SPL Title.
Today We won it.
The Four horsemen.
Neil Lennon, Hector, Death and Craig Whyte.
CRAIGWHYTECSC
Pass marks to all players,but what about Wanyama he’s going to be some player when he grows up.
Were up !
Well done to everybody today.
A great and historic win playing the Celtic way
Oh the Rangers last rites
Oh the Rangers last rites
Oh the Rangers last rites
Oh the Rangers last rites
HH
See Jardine is another one playing the, ‘Its all Craig Whyte’s fault’ game.
Just checking in after the match. Scarves,flags, hanging out of car windows all the way back to Dunfermline, it was like a carcarde with car horns honking! That victory felt like the last nail in the coffin! Great to see absolute joy from the folks here, we deserve it! Off out, day off tomorrow
God bless all
severalpintsaguinness
There was some posting on the blog last night about our favourite goals against thems.
I doubt any will ever surpass mine – Hendricks wonder chip in the 5-2 game – but , while all three goals were superb today , Commoms today was absolutely one of the finest I’ve ever seen.
The lead up play was terrific but Kris’s first touch was sublime and his coolness and finish just oozed class.
An absolutely fabulous goal.
All round great performance and a fantastic day.
Hendricks = Henrik’s. Doh!
Richard Widmark