Celtic’s run of 27 games unbeaten in domestic football came to an end yesterday as Kilmarnock surprised even their own fans, who bought fewer tickets for the final than they did for the semi-final, perhaps anticipating a reversal.
The bedrock of that magnificent run has been incredibly strong defensive performances; even when Aberdeen scored to take a point earlier this month, their goal benefited from an enormous deflection and the interaction of two debutant defenders.
Kilmarnock’s goal yesterday benefited from no such fortune. Ki didn’t match the forward run of Lee Johnson and Kelvin Wilson didn’t attack the cross. It was, however, a good goal, exploiting the expansive Hampden pitch with some fine passing and excellent movement.
Cammy Bell deservedly won Man of the Match but none of his many saves were spectacular. It could be argued that the stop from Gary Hooper five minutes in turned the match but it was a gift to Bell’s highlights DVD.
Celtic looked like a team who have run out of steam. Profligacy in front of goal and a momentary lapse in defence was all Kilmarnock needed to secure the cup.
I didn’t get a good view of the Anthony Stokes penalty incident at the game, it was Hampden after all, but on the radio going home I heard the evidence clearly confirmed it was not a penalty, which Neil Lennon would realise after he calmed down a bit, despite his initial reaction on seeing a replay.
Television evidence could not be clearer. Michael Nelson went to ground to tackle Stokes and didn’t come within 2 feet of the ball but clipped the Celtic player’s ankle while he was in the process of controlling a fast moving ball.
There was no dispute that Stokes ankle was clipped. No claims were made that Nelson played the ball, or even got close to playing the ball. The incident was an indisputable foul.
When you are running at speed the contact required to force you to lose to lose control of the ball is slight, more than enough contact was made on Stokes to hugely reduce his chances of scoring. Nelson made a rash and ill-timed challenge which should have resulted in an injury-time penalty.
Our sincerest condolences to the Liam Kelly, his family, Kenny Shiels and the Kilmarnock players on the death of Liam’s father Jack in the minutes after full time.
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stephenpollock @ 17.24
Magnificent comment.
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon on 19 March, 2012 at 16:49
The last one also applies to league games
see last season at Inverness for confirmation
Hail hail
MME
hamiltontim on 19 March, 2012 at 16:51 said:
That’s why everyone of them is a Hun.
No class. Even the decent ones.
It’s in their breeding.
MWD
Jude2005,
regarding our conversation last night,i was never suggesting
we sign kyle lafferty or the other players i mentioned,i was only
pointing out that they had similiar traits to the ones you claim
jon daly had,it was a genuine comment,nothing silly about it
Sorry if already posted.
@Alexthomo: Three major exclusive interviews coming up soon on #c4news examining Rangers FC financial disaster.
Muamba reported to have spoken to a friend. Remarkable improvement. God speed his recovery
MWD
He’s a gem of a man but today took me by surprise.
Oh well time to give it tonto!! :-)
Re texts from huns: Best thing is probably not to give them your number in the first place….. ;-p
On that subject though, the best one I got was a good few seasons back, when the mini huns were beating us 2-0 I think, at HT. There were a good few texts sent at that time, then we went on to win 3-2 in the last minute! lol
To be fair, he did send a very funny message at FT about going away to live as a monk somewhere, and would no longer be available at that number……
Steinreignedsupreme,I can only speak for myself,I never said Celtic were in crisis,I did like many others say that we needed a centre half given that Wilson isnt good enough.If you care to read back my comments from this morning,I said that we were 1 maybe 2 wins away from winning the title,and in a semi final of the cup..Im happy enough with that..
Texts from Huns. We once went one down against some team. I immediately got a text from a Hun. ” Oh, Dear.” it said. We then went on to score three. I replied, ” Oh dear,oh dear,oh dear”
JJ
Text from orcs,Simply reply TICK TOCK TICK TOCK.
HAIL HAIL
John Barnes 19W 2D 8L (73% win, 31% loss).
Ally McCoist 21W 6D 10L. (57% win, 27% loss)
Administration CSC
Since 1967 at the age of 10,I have attended 12 Scottish cup finals and 12 League cup finals. I would have attended all finals that the ‘tic were involved in but work commotments and the fact I have resided in Suffolk for the last 25 years.
My own record is 10 Scottish cup wins and 2 losses, 1970 against Aberdeen and 73 against the huns.
The league cup is more dissapointing with 6 wins and six defeats.
By the way if we had to lose a final against any manager then Kenny Shiels would be the one I would choose. he was the only one that stood by Neil through all his troubles.
Good luck to you Kenny and what a pity it was overshadowed by Paul Kellys dad’s death may he RIP.
What is McCoists record in, say, the last ten games or so?
coorslad on 19 March, 2012 at 17:41 said:
We have about five cetral defenders at the club just now. Who knows, maybe we’ll get another one in during the summer.
Very harsh condemnation of Wilson, whose season has been hampered by injury, and he hardly had a nightmare yesterday – in fact he used his pace to good effect more than once.
Wilson did seem to get caught under the ball when it came into the box at the goal, but why not just accept it was a good piece of play instead of looking for a scapegoat?
Soon there will be no more Huns in Kenya.
Cmon the Fenian Kenyans.
Rangers FC… in Kenya on brink of oblivion
By Ewing Grahame
Last Updated: 5:25PM GMT 12/03/2012
Financial concerns have brought former high-fliers Rangers FC to the brink of
oblivion, players’ contracts haven’t been honoured, the club have
admitted that they may not be able to fulfil their fixtures and they’re in
danger of being relegated from the Premier League … in Kenya.
Talk about synchronicity: the African Rangers embarked on what has proved to
be an unsustainable signing spree in an attempt to win last year’s Kenyan
championship but, after flirting with glory, they slumped to sixth.
Unfortunately, when a proposed sponsorship deal with Dairy company Diama
failed to materialise, the Nairobi-based club’s economic position became
perilous.
“We can’t ignore that the club has financial issues: we want
well-wishers to come forward and help the club,” said club chairman Yobes
Ongeri. “We have made a promise that we will soldier on and honour our
matches.
“I thank all those who have showed interest in assisting the club. We as a
club are ready to go forward to meet whatever condition they set without
placing any conditions for them.”
The team are third from bottom of the 16-team KPL league and last week their
players elected to withhold their labour before a league match against
Sofapaka in protest against unpaid salaries.
It took special pleas from Kenyan Football Federation official Hussein Terry
to persuade the team to go ahead with the fixture. They lost 2-1.
Manager Willis Waliaula has demanded that the Kenyan government coughs up to
save the club from going bust.
“Rangers FC is in trouble and this club is a very important part of what we
are calling the success of Kenyan football so I am calling on everyone who
has football at heart to save this club from collapse,” he said. “I am
particularly requesting the Ministry of Sports to intervene and do something
before it is too late.”
aw naw nae anonni etc post 13.15
A song by a group called magic in the 70s
(january) dangleberrys sick and tired youve been hanging on here
lol
I work in a university. This morning i took the register. There were five students absent, all Celtic lads. I asked if anyone knew why they were off. A big grinning hun couldnt wait to blurt out that ‘they were all sick after yesterday’s result haha’. To which I replied….’well they wont be in next Monday either as they all have hangovers’!…..boom!!!
Oh how they grimaced.
Just found the stats myself. Since Christmas Eve , McCoist`s record is:
P 13; W 6, L 6 D 1.
This is the record of a manager of whom The Herald said last week that his reputation was growing!
JJ
I’m not looking for a scapegoat,Im of the opinion that Wilson isn’t good enough..I never blamed him for yesterday..Team didn’t play well yesterday,so no one player should shoulder the blame..It’s about opinions..We will play poor again before the seasons out,it happens.
Jungle Jim on 19 March, 2012 at 17:59 said:
“Just found the stats myself. Since Christmas Eve , McCoist`s record is:
P 13; W 6, L 6 D 1.
This is the record of a manager of whom The Herald said last week that his reputation was growing!”
But not nearly as fast as his waistline…
re huns
work this morning
my reply was te one posted on here last night..
disappointment is temporary..liquidation is permanent..
cue multiple laughs from non orcs.. orc just said can you not let me win at anything..
I replierd a simple. no..
alex thomson @alextomo
Three major exclusive interviews coming up soon on #c4news examining Rangers FC financial disaster.
—————–
Asking a favour as I can’t get C4 here. I’d be very grateful if someone could record this and get it online. Thanks
Any texts from Huns just text back
GLASGOW CELTIC CHAMPIONS
oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
blantyretim on 19 March, 2012 at 18:05:
“re huns
“work this morning
“my reply was te one posted on here last night..
disappointment is temporary..liquidation is permanent..”
That was me. And all my own work.
A proud moment…
Stephen Pollock, 17.24
Very well said indeed. Exactly my feelings since finding out about Mr Kelly, but lacked the words to say it.
steinreignedsupreme…
8-)
Steinreignedsupreme
“disappointment is temporary..liquidation is permanent..”
Chapeuax to you good sir!
We’ve already signed one centre back for next season. It remains to be seen how many will leave, bearing in mind we have O’5ea and Thomson out on loan as well as those at the club this season.
Today the administrators were going to court to try to get an administration order.
What was the other thing that was supposed to happen today? – I remember thinking D&P were going to have their hands full today,
Steinreignedsupreme,
That is a beezer. A topper. A steesher.
Well done.
TJ
Shortbread asks what is your teams greatest moment? What about the last three seasons for the hoops? Mine has got to be 2-2 draw at mordor when we had 10 men we were still by far the best team by miles
Ten Men Won The League on 19 March, 2012 at 18:12:
Almost a jelly and ice cream moment…
Tommy Joad on 19 March, 2012 at 18:15:
I’m not used to this amount of praise … but I’m learning to deal with it…
Just saw the Hearts goals for the first time. Who would have thought that Craig Beattie and great first touch would ever go in the same sentence?
G’day Celts, just back from the game and although disappointed in the performance I’m over it, there’s a league and Scottish cup to win and preparation for Europe next year.
V
Just watched the Huddle online and it’s a penalty all day long, Bell is waving his finger to say no but the defender knows it’s a penalty. Tony Hamilton beelin’ in a restrained Tv kinda way also said Lenny was fuming.
Anto was about to take the ball round Bell who had already committed himself when the defender goes through him from behind.
Wee Gollum one to watch and watch and watch..
Scotland must be the only place in the world where the tackle from behind is welcomed and in fact rewarded!!
Dirty Cheats..
SP
My missus just brought me home some jelly & ice cream tae fix ma feelins’!
She also got summa thae fancy wee caramel biskits tae go wi it!
Aw…