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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up_over_goal on 19 March, 2012 at 12:15 said:
ibleedgreenandwhite1
I quite like that team, particularly the front three. Paddy deserves a start – the problem is he’s been out so long there’s no experience in terms of linking up with other players, but what cares Paddy for linking up, right?
On a separate note, if we go with three midfielders (which I think we should) Cha, not Matthews, is the man for RB.
Not overly optimistic as we have a pretty poor record at Mordor with the exception of Sammi Sunday, so the need to get the right teamsheet is paramount.
I just feel the team has gone a bit stale lately,,,the team i went for is a bit different,,,but i think it would be very effective!!
Hail hail
shimmies33
Does your computer have a McCourt-activated alarm system?
Gollum strikes again! I would say that is now a League Title and a League Cup his disastrous refereeing has cost us in the past two seasons.
One of the SFA’s best?
God help us…
Kev Bungle – Don’t you have literacy classes on the Big Plus to go to? (thumbsup)
up_over_goal – Does your computer have a McCourt-activated alarm system?
That was a green alert. (thumbsup)
Condolencies to the Kelly family-tragic event for what should have been one of the best nights of their lives.
It obviously must have taken the gloss of what was a great victory for Killie.
My disappointment about the result particularly after the penalty decision soon evaporated after I heard this news.
To the game-Killie played well above their normal standards ,we fell well below ours hence the game could have gone either way.
I think we probably unconsciously under estimated them.
Not 100% sure but I think Killie were the first team this season to take anything from rangers on their own ground-know rangers are a pretty poor team but to that point they had been sweeping all before them away from home but playing poorly at home(except for the second half in the 4-2 game against us)
Killie also played well against them at Ibroke when they had a full house belting out the party songs after their administration and should have won by more than 1-0.
I know they have also had some dire performances but they seem to be able to raise their game when required.Don’t forget how well they played against us in the 3-3 game and the character it took to make the best chance after we equalised.-most other teams would have crumbled in that situation.Also doubt we would have got back in it if Bell was in goal.
Sure Lenny probably got the team and tactics wrong but we are a young team both at managerial and playing level.But we will learn from this and ,man in black permitting ,am sure we will go to Ibroke on Sunday and win comfortably.
Keep The Faith and keep behind this young team.
Next Sunday. Win the battle first, don’t play out of form players, strength through the middle.
Forster
Lustig/Cha Rogne Mulgrew Matthews
Brown Ki Wanyama Ledley Commons
Samaras
Subs Forrest Stokes Hooper Lustig/Cha Brozek Zaluska Wilson
hoopeddreams on 19 March, 2012 at 12:14 said:
//////////////////
Surely your not suggesting that we should need a penalty in the last min of a, cup final v’s Killie to draw level ?
Hail Hail
Hi Paul,
”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.”
Agreed, I posted some while back this was an exciting young team but was lacking in consistency and prone to tardiness.
A wonderful unbeaten run with many victories may have masked this but it didn’t eradicate it.
The players and the manager are learning and it will take a few seasons for this side to peak, I’m quite happy to wait, though we will do little in Europe with these traits.
What would we give for sublime acumen of a Lubo? However, although I didn’t agree at the time, an experienced striker in January would have been good, not that our front two aren’t good enough just that healthy competition for the berths may have them more focused.
The penalty decision was as predictable as it was mistaken, but it was Kilmarnock that won the game, their players and manager conducted themselves in exemplarily manner.
No complaints.
ButTheTrebleWould’veBeenNice.
For this team to prove its credentials, I think we need to win at Ibrox next week.
Everyone else has!
Kayal33 – It’s a shame Rangers (in administration) are banned from signing players, and poor Super Ally is forced to to deploy operation Werwolf.
I hear Bob Malcom is free.
Not only does he fit their recruitment profile, but they’d be able to say they have Malcolm in the Middle. (thumbsup)
philvis
Paddy can bypass most types of security with the skill of Matthew Broderick in War Games.
Kayal33
Interesting!
How’d you describe the form of:
Lustig
Cha
Commons
Not trying to be funny just fascinated by your reasoning!
HH
Paul 67,
You are right to call out Collum.
He had three options yesterday
– award a penalty
– dismiss it as a stumble
– book Stokes for diving.
If he had decided Stokes had stumbled (which he didn’t) , I could sort of forgive, but he made a conscious and IMHO wrong decision to book him.
Also on Kelvin Wilson and KI.
KELVIN WILSON can’t jump FACT . He is a weak link and is now being targeted by opposition managers.
On Ki , our performances are statistically poorer when he is on the park – a shame , because he has nice touches, whilst for Rogne it is the opposite FACT
We have a young manager, who was outsmarted yesterday, but , whom I believe will learn from the experience.
up_over_goal – I agree.
He’s like a young Abe Froman. (thumbsup)
Mort, Bankiebhoy
Thanks.
So the hun is back in administration.how relieved they must feel
What I fully expect to hear this week from Duff & Phelps is that the late bid that is coming in as we speak and by say Wednesday afternoon will have Jim Traynor labelling it as a definitely a goer with Tom English backing up daft fat Jim on the BBC sportsound Wednesday evening followed by some lovely Irish brogue but a complete pack of lies presented to the hun on Thursday morning that the future is indeed bright and it is indeed Orange so that the game on Sunday can pass by with the minimum of fuss.
It is the week after that that things will become a tad clearer. The SFA fit an proper person, The SPL investigation and then only a one or two week wait for the FTT tribunal. Since Valentines Day the hun has racked up at least 2 million pounds more in debt. Another month of administration and it will be another 2 million.
Now if you were really interested in taking over the hun wouldn´t you do so quickly ?
I expect the Serious Fraud office to make their moves sometime in May.
Hail Hail
We of course should not be deviated from the vision of the halal hun carcass
Paul67 –
We played no worse yesterday than we did at Tannadice last week. Sometimes the ball won’t go in.
Disappointment is temporary but liquidation is permanent.
I don’t know why certain players are getting slated for Killie scoring a great goal.
We had enough chances to win a couple of games and our forwards squandered them. Stokes should have put his foot right through the ball before the tackle came in. The only thing I will have a go at Neil Lennon for was allowing Forrest to stay on the park as long as he did. He was a complete waste of a jersey yesterday.
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 19 March, 2012 at 12:29 said:
A slow or ‘no’ news week regarding all things Rangers would be in everybody’s best interests to be honest.
If the FTT in particular finds against them this week and publishes it would not be good timing. Monday will be fine for that.
I personally don´t think Forrest was that bad. He got to the by line a quite few times, won some free kicks in a decent part of the pitch and was unlucky with a couple of blocked shots.
Kevin
Bell made a really good save from Stokes header and from Brown’s rasping shot. He also made a very fine double save at the end from Sammi and then Commons.
Mort
It was disappointing to read some of the reactions on QN since yesterday. And yes, the same people will be lapping it up if we win at the Bigot Hoose on Sunday, whether or not it wins us the league.
Let’s not forget that Neil Lennon is still a rookie manager and he did make one mistake yesterday, in my opinion, and that was the omission of Samaras. It’s a fickle game and if Hooper scores early on, there would probably be no negatives towards the manager. In fact, there’s another rookie manager in the city, but ten years older, and having served an apprenticeship under the ‘great walter.’ He’s turned out to be the worst in his clubs’ history.
The double is on and this will still be a season to remember, even without mentioning the Ibrox Scandal. After putting up with what no other manager in the history of football has had to endure, Lennon will rightly be lauded as a hero. I’m also confident that in summer, NL will show a little more ruthlessness and he’ll sell on some players to make way for a bit of quality. A poster last night rightly stated that we have spent around 7-8 million on fringe players. I agree with his comment that we can sacrifice 4 or 5 and bring in a talisman striker or midfield playmaker, or both. Anyway, keep the spirits up. Sunday can’t come quick enough.
hh
neveralone on 19 March, 2012
In order to play Mulgrew in central defence and Ledley in midfield we would need to move Matthews to left back (assuming Izzy isn’t being considered), leaving only Lustig or Cha for right back position.
Commons instead of Forrest, can’t be any worse given James’s form dip recently. We lack a creative player at present, and if Commons finds last season’s form he could give us that.
I thought I read somewhere that Hooper and Forrest are already big doubts for next weekend? Can anyone confirm.
Anyone think that if Hoops is out, then big Pawel Brozek could come into contention for Ipox? He could be more suited to the physical battle…
In an administrative move the current administrators of Rangers FC PLC (in administration) have been retrospectively appointed administrators of the club, backdated to the date they were originally appointed as administrators to administer the club in administration.
David Sellar QC, for Rangers, said: “The interests of the creditors would not be served by the confusion of potentially invalidating the steps that have already been taken in the purported process.” (This is a real quote!)
Everybody clear?
KEVJUNGLE 1154
Second-guessing MON’s tactics in one of the best European finals-notoriously sterile affairs-is possibly,even by your standards,scraping the bottom of the barrel.
Please refrain from offering your pearls of wisdom,they are merely grains of sand.
Sorry for being so polite.
I think it will be revealing to see if any non Rangers employee benefited from Rangers EBT trust.
I am thinking
Gordon Smith
Hugh Dallas
George Peat
Ken MacQuarrie
Donalda MacKinnon
Rob Woodward
Richard Findlay
Rob Shorthouse
Darryl Broadfoot
Bruce Waddel
John McLellan
George McKechnie
Harry Reid
Mark Douglas-Home
Charles McGhee
Donald Martin
Richard Walker
Jonathan Russell
David Dinsmore
Hail Hail
Not a happy rememberence but –
1961 SC Final, lost to Dunfermline (6 Lisbon Lions/pool players)
1963 SC Final replay, lost to RFC (NIA) (4 Lisbon Lions/pool players)
1964 LC Final, lost to RFC (NIA) (7 Lisbon Lions/pool players)
“Don’t be discouraged by a failure. It can be a positive experience. Failure is, in a sense, the highway to success, inasmuch as every discovery of what is false leads us to seek earnestly after what is true, and every fresh experience points out some form of error which we shall afterwards carefully avoid.”
John Keats
sixtaeseven: No NewCo in SPL and it’s Non-Negotiable! on 19 March, 2012 at 12:39 said
Forrest was done by a Killie player late on in the game (Collum didn’t give a foul let alone book the guy) and couldn’t run, subs had already been used. Possible he is doubtful for Sunday
A hun associate of mine was telling me of his own particular treble that he managed to place.
1) Celtic to lose the LCF to Killie
2) Rankers to win on sunday
3) The huns to walk away with minimum damage from HMRC
Interesting times…
Hail Hail
BlantyreKev – Parcel=> on 19 March, 2012 at 12:36 said:
Except a prospective buyer.
Hail Hail
Hailhailplc, agree.
Deekbhoy, agree, the Dundee United result didn’t reflect the game.
KevJungle, I don’t follow you. The manager may have picked the wrong team and no one is disputing Kilmarnock deserved the trophy but these things have no bearing on whether it was a penalty or not.
Chairbhoy, yes, as is the way with young teams.
Clashcitybhoy, there are some occasions when you do in fact need to play the game to understand a challenge.
Someone giving you a slight push in the back while jumping is enough to change a goal into a header miles over the bar. Same thing when you are clipped while preparing to shoot.
Steinreignedsupreme, aye.
KevJungle – “Lennons Lions Get Ready To ROAR!!!” on 19 March, 2012 at 12:21 said
The penalty was caused by an accurate long pass from Samaras to Wanyama, a perfect cushioned header into the alert Stokes, who broke at speed into the box. Stokes is then tagged from behind and fouled – look at the reaction of the tackling Killie player if you are at all unsure – the players instant reactions do not lie. Are you saying that because our good play happened in the 93rd min when we were 0-1 down instead of 5-0 up, we shouldn’t be rewarded for it? If the move described above had happened in the 23rd minute, you’d be fine with it? Are Celtic not entitled to a penalty as a reward for good play?
HH
TLK
It’s the league cup… i don’t even get worked up about it anymore. Every year this tournament finds a way to bring us down. Even when we win, it’s usually consolation.
It’s probably no more than the 10th time I’ve stated this on CQN – I hate the League cup. Might find I was less disdainful if we started playing the youth and fringe players. And now that I say that, why on earth don’t we? The third cup competition in most countries is usually a test ground for the big teams fringe players, and in some countries the big cup is used in this fashion.
The only reason we don’t is Rangers, and bragging rights and the usual local BS. Bites us on the bum almost every season.
Anyway, I can’t help but think well done Killie. They enjoyed it an awful lot more than we would have.
Please Celtic spare us another first team failure in the League Cup… ditch this from the first team agenda once and for all.
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon on 19 March, 2012 at 12:41:
So, are they still in Administration?
;o)
Gettin’ blatant now…..
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 19 March, 2012 at 12:42 said:
I think it will be revealing to see if any non Rangers employee benefited from Rangers EBT trust.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
you neglected Gollum! HH!
not sure if Im right but did we get a corner at the penalty incident