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.
Check out ‘Celtic in the 1980s: The Lost Decade’, by CQN Magazine contributor, Sean Huddleston. Available on Kindle for a bargain £1.64.
Issue 7 of CQN Magazine is out now! Go to the dedicated magazine site here to read it properly (which you’ll not be able to do below).
We are now shipping hard copies of the magazine from the UK – and sold out last month. Order your copy by clicking on the link below.
Pay by card or Paypal.
You can support the online edition by making a discretionary donation here.
955 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- ...
- 26
- »
Steinreignedsupreme
Hope you don’t mind but I also used your quote today!
How many times will Collum be allowed to cheat us
The litany of poor decisions is regular and draws only one conclusion …. He is biased against Celtic
Disgraceful cheating
hamiltontim on 19 March, 2012 at 18:31 said:
“Steinreignedsupreme
“Hope you don’t mind but I also used your quote today!”
Not at all. Chuffed to bits… It’s the first original though I’ve had in years … well one that I can share with people, that is…
If this wiz that Twiter I might be part of that ‘trendin’ carry oan…
It’s the first original ‘thought’ that should be.
Collum is a prancing prat. He must be the only referee who can miss an obvious penalty when he is looking at it but give apenalty when he has his back to play.
Celtic should take the SFA to task over his performances. Whether we would have scored from a penalty is irrelevant, or whether it occurs in the 1st or last minute of a game, penalty remains a penalty.
….PFayr on 19 March, 2012 at 18:33 said:
How many times will Collum be allowed to cheat us
The litany of poor decisions is regular and draws only one conclusion …. He is biased against Celtic
Disgraceful cheating
Agreed. I sent an email today regarding Collum and hopefully Celtic will make sure he doesn’t referee another Celtic game again.
As I said earlier last year he denied us a stonewall pen against Hamilton when Nial McGinn was butchered in the box.
bournesouprecipe on 19 March, 2012 at 17:50 said:
John Barnes 19W 2D 8L (73% win, 31% loss).
Ally McCoist 21W 6D 10L. (57% win, 27% loss)
—————
Interesting stats. Even more intriguing, would be to get the exact count of ‘own goals’ scored to benefit each team. (3 for Ally, and none I would suspect for Barnes). Also, penalties awarded/scored, for each managers team……
Considering Barnes would be up against the refs, and Swally would have benefitted from a fair few ‘honest mistakes’, that makes these stats look even worse!
PFayr on 19 March, 2012 at 18:33 said:
How many times will Collum be allowed to cheat us
———————————————————————
Your right,it is a disgrace,I actually believe someone not ” linked ” with Celtic would have awarded the penalty but not that odious little creep.
That said Rogne off a blunder,Wilson was involved in at least 3/4 scares before his ultimate non attempt at the cross.
His involvement being shoehorned into the mix is an error,Loovens, faults and all is better,and when you consider O’Dea out on loan its a travesty,he would have bust a gut,as opposed to Wilsons could not care less attitude when they scored,watch the replay,no emotion.
That said Hooper and Forrest going through the motions.
These are the Lenny blind spots,he needs to know and act.
@alextomo: At 5Live debate in Govan to hear what Rangers fans think.
I’m not on the panel!
The more times I see the Killie goal the more culpable Wilson is he doesnt even jump to try and put the striker off he just turns to face his own goal and watches the ball going into the net.I just hope he improves greatly as currently he is not Celtic class.H.H.
At work just now so can’t get access to Channel4 News.
Am I right that this is on at 7pm?
So 3 major exclusives on C4News but Alex Thomson is at Govan speaking with Rangers fans for 5Live radio or TV?
Sparkleghirl
D&P were at two courts today. Admin status and removing Whyte from the scene.Administration has been bestowed upon Rangers and it is official as they have accepted it without suing Judge Hodge. The whyte removal will not be decided upon for another two weeks.
HH
Right boys another ?
Would Collum gave that pen if huns were in same predicament.
John Barnes 19W 2D 8L (73% win, 31% loss).
Ally McCoist 21W 6D 10L. (57% win, 27% loss)
—————
GLASGOW CELTIC CHAMPIONS
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Hen1rik
he booked McGinn for diving
Also don’t forget his a penalty award for the Hun when he clearly didn’t see the incident
Too many poor decisions too often
His very appearance and demeanour irritates the hell out of me
Lads sorry that was a separate tweets from Alex Thomson.
@alextomo: At 5Live debate in Govan to hear what Rangers fans think.
@alextomo: I’m not on the panel!
19 wins in 29 games for John Barnes isnt a 73% win rate
Joe Filippis Haircut on 19 March, 2012 at 18:50:
Wilson got caught under the cross, partly because it was a brilliant delivery.
Why not just give Killie a bit of credit for some good play?
….PFayr on 19 March, 2012 at 18:52 said:
Remember he was stopped from doing our games and he creeped back upon us again.
Wilson is a bombscare
Poor , soft ,positionally niave defender
simply not good enough
Kraljski on 19 March, 2012 at 18:51 said:
So 3 major exclusives on C4News but Alex Thomson is at Govan speaking with Rangers fans for 5Live radio or TV?
I’m sure pat the rat is on the panel.
Thai Tims Concert Hall Glasgow
http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=2349
Radio5 has just cut me off telling me I’m not allowed to listen because I’m not in the UK
Paul67 et al
“Distinguished panel” on Radio 5
First up, Mark Hately!
Also mentioned, Andy Gorum!
Stienreignedsupreme. I think if you check back to yesterdays post I was one of the first if not the first to congratulate Kilmarnock. I also dont suscribe to the Lennie view that we lost the treble because we didnt get a penalty for the Stokes incident we should have had the game well won imo by that time.I could agree with your theory that he got caught under the ball from the cross but that does not absolve him for not at least jumping to try and put the striker off his header sorry fella he was culpable.H.H.
Nothing on C4 news tonight.
No mention at the start of Channel 4 news about any special report on THEM !
T4
Link to Radio5’s discussion – http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/bbc_radio_five_live
Any news on our injuries?
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 19 March, 2012 at 18:52 said:
Thanks
PF Ayr @18.33
Re. Gollum being biased against Celtic. I don’t think he is, in the ‘normal’ way as was shown by e.g. McCurry and DougieDougie.
First he is incompetent at any kind of high level/pressure situation: witness the numbers of bloomers in Europe as well as in the bigger games in the SPL. But, I am totally convinced that since he was exposed as an RE teacher in a Catholic school in the run-up to his first Celtic v. Rangers game, he has been successfully ‘got at’ by our impartial media and now takes every opportunity to prove he will not favour Celtic, ever, and does this in places such as Celtic Park, Hamilton and, of course, Hampden. I was truly fearful of his influence on the Final on Sunday as soon as I knew he was the referee. I feel that in order to win any game he referees we will have to be exceptional – IF Hoops had scored early in the first half, IF Ledley had put the ball in and not stabbed it past the post, then Gollum could have had no influence on the game. But they didn’t, we were relying on him being fair and balanced, and the rest is history.
I forecast that this situation will continue for the foreseeable future, i.e. we will need to win comfortably if he is the clown in the middle. It is only my own opinion, but I’ve felt that, after the shennanigans last season, there has generally been a change for the better in the refereeing witnessed this season, i.e. they have tended to be fair and balanced. Gollum is neither because he has been ‘got at’!
No Alex Thomson on C4 tonight.
Nothing on 5Live yet.
Anticlimax.
ok forget that I think I’ve got it now – Radio5 that is.
Collum at the Hamilton game also gave JF a straight red for a tackle that barely merited a yellow.
Was it not him on the 28th of december who only yellowed healy for his shocker on JF.
Like dallas he cant ref Celtic games without cheating.
No, cut off again. :(
You guys who keep on about Hooper going through motions ffs
gonna watch the game again!
he held ball up well he linked up play well he fed balls to wide players and his pass to ledley was pure class
Yes he missed chance but his overall game was good and then look at stokes no movement doesnt hold ball up doesnt read passes and only reacts after the event
So watch game again and watch how many times hooper links up with other celtic players
bankiebhoy1 on 19 March, 2012 at 19:05 said:
Any news on our injuries?
———————————————–
Hooper & Forrest limping heavily at time up yesterday – look like they are extremely doubtful of Mordor.
TFOD heavyweights will certainly line up against us in what will be a bruising encounter.