Celtic 3-1 Rennes

402

Celtic came from behind to beat Rennes in the Europa League tonight with two goals from Anthony Stokes and a late finish from Gary Hooper.  Rennes took the lead after 85 seconds when Kader Mangane converted a corner with a fine header.

Rennes pushed forward from kick-off and Julien Feret’s bullet corner kick evaded Victor Wanyama.  This in turn deceived Daniel Majstorovic allowing Mangane to meet the ball and redirect it into the top corner of the goal.

Losing the early goal direct from a corner, for the second time in four Europa League games, seemed to sap Celtic’s confidence as Rennes pushed forward with confidence in the opening 30 minutes.  During this period Rennes goalkeeper, Benoit Costil, touched the ball only once, to cut out a cross from James Forrest.  Celtic were disjointed and no one seemed keen to receive or hold the ball.

Celtic needed a break and it came from James Forrest, not for the first time this season.  The Celtic midfielder evaded two challenges and created space for a shot 25 yards out on the corner of the box.  Costil, who had perhaps lost concentration during his long period as a spectator, stopped the shot but allowed it to rebound back into play, instead of turning it around the post.  Anthony Stokes was on hand to pounce and turn the ball into the empty net.

Two minutes from half time Celtic took the lead when Georgios Samaras flicked on a Fraser Forster clearance which was missed by Mangane.  Stokes collected outside the box and finished confidently with his left foot into the corner of the net.

Having dominated most of the first half Rennes would have wondered how they were behind at half time but the second half was a different game.  Celtic came out with more fight than finesse but as the half progressed they played some of their best football of the season.

Neil Lennon’s injury problems were compounded when Glenn Loovens failed to return for the second half but the manager will be delighted by the debut of 17-year-old central defender Marcus Fraser, who threw himself into the game like an experienced professional.

Adam Matthews, Celtic’s other teenage defender, typified the home teams’ resurgence.  He managed to maintain his cool under pressure with 28,000 fans nervously looking on.

Gary Hooper replaced the tiring James Forrest and wrapped things up for Celtic on 82 minutes.  The striker collected a clearance under pressure in the centre circle and found Samaras in space on the left wing.  Memories fleetingly flashed to mind of a similar break against Udinese when Samaras passed up a chance to make a decisive break but today the Greek was not to be denied.  He played an inch-perfect pass into the path of the onrushing Hooper who met it 13 yards from goal, controlled and knocked it past Costil.

On 66 minutes Kris Commons replaced Paddy McCourt, who struggled to get into the game.  Yann M’Vila, distributed the ball with great effect for Rennes and mopped up lots in central midfield but he failed to take account for ‘Tenacious C’, Commons, and collected his second yellow in the final minutes as the Celtic midfielder nipped the ball away from him.

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

402 Comments

  1. Big Packie's Accent on

    Kevin – Put the Green Brigade into a new Jungle says:

     

    4 November, 2011 at 01:09

     

     

    Kevin – just saying !

     

     

    Its not ‘ dressing up’ If you’ve been a lurker for a long time, you must understand how suspicious the blog is,

     

    and rightly so of new posters and what the agenda may or may not be.

     

     

    i did like your God bless all Tims comment.

     

     

     

     

    CQN,NostrilsAlwaysWideForThe SmellOfShoiteCSC

  2. setting free the bears says:

     

    4 November, 2011 at 01:12

     

    ………..,,,,,,,,,,,,,……………..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,…………..

     

    You have just lowered yourself M8!

     

     

    Not like you I must say.

     

     

    I normally revel at your posts and technology stuff that an old fogey like me can only marvel at!

     

     

    Always remember…

     

     

    The Celtic support are the best in the world but for some inside the club….

     

     

    we’re just mugs with £ signs stamped on our foreheads.

  3. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    MICKTHETIC 0104

     

     

    Spooky,you highlighted the three players who,more than the rest,were outstanding.

     

     

    Same as I did earlier.

     

     

    I say spooky,because I would never wish anyone to think that a similar post means I’m posting under multiple names.

     

     

    FFS,perish the thought!

     

     

    Not so sure I can say the same for jury’s out,and Neli’s taxi,etc

     

     

    Still,it keeps them in a job,and they must be getting paid overtime rates.

     

     

    CQN-PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE OTHERWISE UNEMPLOYABLE

  4. BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS says:

     

    4 November, 2011 at 01:08

     

    **********************

     

    Just check all the brand new blog names over the last few weeks, I think the huns are well and trully amongst us, converse only with who ye know mi amigo!

     

     

    Even yir CQN’ers that you normally would not communicate with, then at least you know their good uns and not manky orcs who refuse to pay the queens tax.

     

    V

     

    HH

  5. Vmhan who Supports Neil Lennon says:

     

    4 November, 2011 at 01:24

     

    ……………………………………..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,………………..

     

    The Celtic support through-out all of my lifetime have been accused of, paranoia whenever we smell a rat!

     

     

    But, you take the biscuit onto a whole new level!

  6. Tonight’s a good night for hun skelping. Excellent spectator sport btw.

     

     

    Any of you taxi drivers seen Ki? Celtic medical staff still looking for the big fella – rumours are that he’s hiding in Sammy’s beard.

  7. Hail Hail CQN,

     

     

    Well what a nice surprise waking up this morning……. Good result and from what I read a decent 2nd half performance….

     

     

    3 goals in Europe sets up nicely for Fir Park, we will beat them………!!!!

     

     

    Anyway happy weekend to all and off to golf at 10am your time today for a few sociable bevies…..

     

     

    Hail Hail

     

    SPC

  8. Big Packie's Accent on

    Kevin – Put the Green Brigade into a new Jungle says:

     

    4 November, 2011 at 01:26

     

     

    Cheers, Good Night ‘n’ God Bless.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Hail Hail

  9. Nollaig a chara on

    Great result 2nite lad finally showed a bitta balls….

     

    Have to say I’m really pleased for big Sammi, so happy things went well for him and he’s not whipping bhoy tonite….

     

    Have to disagree with P67 though I thought Paddy did well tonite considering he’s had so little game time I liked what I saw….

     

     

    Sure if nothing else Sammi may have added an extra Million onto a possible transfer fee

     

     

    Well done Bhoys hail hail

  10. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    VMHAN

     

     

    Compare my comment at 0123 and that of FFM at 0121

     

     

    Also spooky!

     

     

    FFM and I converse occasionally on the nightshift,sad gits that we are,but independently to notice the pair of them at it and namecheck MICKTHETIC…jee-zoh!

     

     

    BTW,I was in 111 tonight wi my Dad and YOUR LOT WERE FAFFIN’ MAGNIFICO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  11. Kev

     

     

    I’m off to bed before I lower myself any further :-)

     

     

    You have mistaken me for someone else who has technical skills- I’m an old fogey.

     

     

    I was assuring you that Maggie McGill ain’t no lady- that was my reference to Thailand (But you may have misunderstood my post.)

  12. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    sftb,

     

    how very dare you malign such a sweet and innocent maiden

  13. Vmhan who Supports Neil Lennon says:

     

    4 November, 2011 at 01:29

     

    ………………,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,………….,,,,,,,,,,,,,,……………,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,????????????????????????

     

    The Woltetones version is better but, i don’t know how to do the link thingy!

     

     

    Sorry.

  14. Vmhan who Supports Neil Lennon says:

     

    4 November, 2011 at 01:37

     

     

    Wheres aw the Aussie tims?

     

     

    I know yir up ,its 9:35am in Perth and 11:35 in Brisbane……. so hows my two bhoys doing?

     

    …………………………,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,…………………………,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

     

    Maybe they’re still pissed-off by our performance in pre-season ?

  15. Kevjungle,

     

     

    I’ll give you this, it’s never a dull moment when you’re about :)

     

     

    For anyone that still thinks you might be a hun, i’m jumping right in there in your defence; you’re not.

     

     

    No Jack Irvine agenda either.

     

     

    The proof is in the pudding – if you were subtley convincing fholk that a + b = d it might be a worry.

     

     

    But you are so radio rental that you unite this blog against yer mental Gerry McNee-ness.

     

     

    Luvvin yer work.

     

     

    For what it’s worth, KevJ makes some excellent points that often get lost amidst the nuttiness.

     

     

    He IS Gerry McNee :)

  16. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    FFM 0142

     

     

    I must admit,as subtle boots in the baws go,that wis a cracker.

     

     

    As character assassination goes,you have few equals.

     

     

    RatherbecomparedtohitlerCSC

  17. Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire on

    night night and god bless all good Celtic supporters

     

     

    hail hail

  18. Imatim and so is Neil Lennon on

    2010 Never Again

     

     

    Attention everyone.

     

     

    The nightly blessing will commence in 5 mins time……..at which time a wee prayer will be said for those dedicated and relentless officials from Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs.

  19. BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS says:

     

    4 November, 2011 at 01:34

     

    ***********************

     

    Just having the craic with CQN’ers mi amigo ….. you and I ken who the tims are and the newbies are well……

     

     

    Glad you enjoyed it, I’m a new person in the section and I’ve been made to feel like I’ve been around for ever, thats the way it is in the GB, they treat you and expect to be treated like just another Celt…… the difference is that the group will sing for 90 mins regardless of the score…. the huns don’t like that, our fellow Celts do …. HH

     

    V

  20. Fortunes Favour Mibbes says:

     

    4 November, 2011 at 01:42

     

    ………..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,………………,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,?????????????…………………..

     

    My Amigo!

     

     

    Can I safely assume that, in the future….if/when I find myself up one of CQN’s dark alleys that, you’ll grant me permission to re-post your post verifying that, I’m a CELTIC SUPPORTER ?

     

     

    P.S. Now I know how a, hurting fellow Tim like Gerry McNee felt when, trying to shine the light of truth onto the fact that, if the Celtic fans didn’t get their act together in 1993/94 then, Celtic where heading over the cliff!