Celtic did enough in the opening 16 minutes to put this game beyond Dundee United but only managed to score once, an excellent effort from Gary Hooper, before United tightened up and made a contest of the game.
Georgios Samaras sprung past the United defence inside the first 30 seconds and squared the ball across the six yard line but Stokes arrived a split-second late to convert. That signalled a period of relentless Celtic pressure as the home team found it impossible to get out of their own half or hodl any kind of possession.
Gary Hooper controlled a long clearlance inside the centre circle on 12 minutes before knocking the ball square to James Forrest, who had space to exploit. Forrest drove forward before returning the pass to Hooper inside the box. The Celtic striker turned outside Gunning before driving a shot low inside Dusan Pernis’ right had post to open the scoring.
Celtic continued to press forward with Forrest again involved in their most dangerous moves. The young winger threaded a through ball to Anthony Stokes on the edge of the area before racing past the defensive line to meet the return pass on the volley but his shot struck Pernis.
Give-and-go football was proving effective for Celtic and on 41 minutes Cha Du-Ri played a one-two with Forrest but could not convert his shot.
Celtic were so dominant in the first half their only real concern must have been why they were not further ahead but the second half proved to be more of a contest. Dundee United’s passing was poor all afternoon but Celtic slipped to their level, frequently succumbing to unforced errors. The visitors were never in any trouble defensively but Neil Lennon decided to shake things up in midfield, and substituted central defender, Glenn Loovens, pulled Victor Wanyama back and brought Scott Brown into midfield.
The subsequent change, bringing Ki on for Stokes gave Celtic more athleticism and meant that the final few minutes, which are often tense when defending a one goal lead, were contested almost exclusively in the United half. Fraser Forster had a few catches and the odd punch but had a relatively easy afternoon.
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HT
I knew you were jealous of my BoSelecta bear hat!
BT
I love Sammi – listen to the Carluke Shamrock TicTalk podcast available on itunes, you’ll hear ;-)
hh
bjmac
Beamishismypint
That will count them out of the league title race then.
Jim Mcintyre Dunfermline Manager good Celtic Supporter from Dumbarton
Bjmac
Remember, a pet is not just for Christmas :))
BABASONICOS71 says:
4 December, 2011 at 18:42
If Neil joined the GB would that make him a Marxist-Lennonist?
Made me laugh out loud.
The wife interrupted her ironing to find out why I was laughing, so don’t do it again.
‘GG ;-)
ELD
True.
Paddy Crerand even??
bjmac
saved for train trip tomorrow morn…
jude2005
Hertz next Saturday.
No game this Thurs it`s the following week and then Sunday the 18th in Perth.
Another dodge from the tax dodger?
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/rangers-and-their-accounts/#more-1800
Celtic_First @ 15:44
Thanks for what you wrote.
Mhan, making your acquaintance has been one of the highlights of my various travails around the UK this past 10 years.
I’ll be happy to be nearer the Bhoys however I’ll miss the trips up and down the motorway with you, John67 and the occasional passengers we would pick up in Partizan and The BarcaMole?
I can’t find the words to do you justice. A top Celt, a top CQN’r, a fine Man.
SwanseaBhoy
San Diego Bhoy says:
4 December, 2011 at 20:54
‘Pacific Beach’ – noted. My oul’ Da (RIP) would be amazed at the places the Celtic support have evangelised.
Vmhan – the only Londonderry I’m aware of is located in North East England.
The only letters you should ever see in front of the word Derry is FREE….!
T4
ElDiegoBhoy says:
4 December, 2011 at 20:19
Ron Bacardi
Not wishing to appear to be a wise guy but the church next to what was once St Patrick’s High in Dumbarton is St.Michael’s.
The primary school that was built on the grounds of the old St Patrick’s is St.Michael’s.
—————————————————————————————————
Thanks for that, you are correct. My memory is obviously going as it was in the mid sixties when I was St Pat’s and I am now in my sixties.
St Patrick’s church was/is in the centre of Dumbarton, near the courts?
Seanbhoy69
Totally agree
BT
Calm down, and get yourself to St Josephs tomorrow for some quiet reflection then to the Parkville for some spiritial uplift
100% guarunteed NOT to be shown on BBC tonight at 10pm…
__________
RFC v Dunf
10mins into the 2nd half
a lovely one-two at pace saw Dunf player go from 40 yards to 30 yards out bursting thro on goal in open space…
WALLOP !
….big Goyan barges the fella flat-out !!!
a strong hint of a RED card !!
not even the faintest shade of PINK was considered and NOT EVEN A FOUL was given
sweep sweep
move along
(and to top it off, i heard Rob McLean on ye old radio commentary say “at times in the first half, Rangers were IRRESISTABLE !!! – and i kid you not when i say that they (and esp Jelly !) were utter gash !!!)
haha
what a place !
seanbhoy69 says:
4 December, 2011 at 20:59
I’m in Italy on the 15th Dec supporting a certain Glasgow team………………. then off to Perth the following Sunday:-)
Facebook inventor on bbc2
a few clips of the great man in all his pomp. Can’t believe it was almost 30 years ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnoz4NuYMU8&feature=endscreen&NR=1
BBC Four now
The Interrupters
How To Stop A Riot
true docudrama…
re Chicago
Swanseabhoy
It was a lovely post. You could feel his pain.
BT,just give it the rendition in the shower,love it..
Vmhan,you were dyin to bite,but you were busy hunbashing..
I think Pat Fenlon’s Hibs will beat Rangers next Saturday, after a great 45 mins on Friday his team will be desperate to get at them.
San Diego Bhoy
Living in a hun free enviroment is something I treasure, I had no idea it could be so rewarding, I’m fortunate that football here is second to nothing, and I always wear a Celtic top of some description, and every where I go, I get the same reaction,
Ah Celtic Glasgow son muy buenos, disny get me many free drinks though, they are skint :<((
prestonpans bhoys
Good man.
JCGE
Can we get a repost of C1st please..
can’t be bothered going back to look..
SwanseaBhoy
Celtic First’s loss will be our gain!
hh
bjmac
Goldstar
Spiers has tweeted that he is off for 6 weeks holiday and that after that he hopes to do some freelance work.
BJ Mac– I am good thanks, but no great news to speak of, Hope the job goes well and no doubt we will speak during the week.
Mr Stimpson– on Socrates — apart from my earlier thoughts– I recall going to a dinner when Roughie was speaking about that match in Seville. The day before the game the Scotland team came to train on the pitch only to find the Brazilians had not finished their training session. They looked on as the wound down by standing about doing some amazing ball juggleing tricks.
Eder, Socrates, Zico, Juhnior, Serginhio and co were playing a keepy uppy competition and each had lept the ball up for an age and showed no signs of leaving, so the Scots just went down the other end of the pitch.
Rough, said that someone– possibly Alex McLeish– shouted at rough to give him a ball as he wanted to show the Brazilians that the scots could do anything that they could do. So McLeish starts his keepy uppy and gets to 3— the only thing was that no 1 had started on the goal line and no 3 took him to the half way line.
He got the impression that the Brazilians weren’t too worried……………….
He also said that in the tunnel before the game Socrates at 6′ 4″ looked down at Strachan, Hartford and various other wee red faced Scotsmen with a look which seemed to say ” Christ, it’s the seven dwarfs!”
TTTT ah I see now, never knew there was a Londonderry in the NE of england.
I should have asked wee Shaedan he’d have known that.
V
HH
BT
Can’t I’m using my phone but its on page 1 of this thread buddy.
HT
cheers.. going back..
Evening folks,
Just back from Donegal and then Tyrone – not an easy place to get watching the footy!
Missed the 1st 5 mins.
1st half excellent – 2nd half poor.
However – that Celtic team were winning away from home by a single goal, didnt play well for 45 minutes – yet NO sign of a wobble, NO threat or NO danger we would chuck it.
Something has changed, I am not sure what it is.
Maybe its more physicality, maybe its Kayal and Wanyama bossing every game they have played together in?
Maybe its mental?
Il not go in to one about tactics etc – if we can improve our fitness levels as the next port of call, then il be even more enthusiastic.
Is it possible because the players have been dropping like flies picking up every type of injury – we have been taking it easy, trying to avoid risking any further injuries?
Its possible and plausible. Its also possibly way off the mark.
Im a wee bit concerned certain people look jaded towards the end of a game – also concerned that what happens if you are physically tired, you lose concentration etc.
THE EXILED TIM says:
4 December, 2011 at 20:55,
Stop watching that cac-:)
Here’s a list of all TV that should be avoided:
Big Brother; I’m a Z list Celebrity; Strictly Come Dancing; Britain’s Got Talent and the X Factor.
This is celebrity culture explained (sweary words):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQAr_AjZt-E
Full rant mode.
Árd Macha
Celtic_First says:
4 December, 2011 at 15:44
I might as well tell the blog before he does that SwanseaBhoy’s shocking news has been affecting my dreams.
His revelation that he is to return to ML5 in the new year, leaving the Chester bhoys bereft of a regular, reliable, safe, comfortable, over-generously affordable lift to Celtic Park, provoked an anxiety dream last night.
I dreamed that somebody organised a bus from here from a Celtic game. I turned up and it was all these guys I didn’t know, all well oiled for that time in the morning. It was a world away from the trip with SwanseaBhoy, John67 and Partizan when we picked him up in Penrith.
I realised, in a panic, that I had left my card in the house and got off the bus to go and retrieve it. When I got back, the bus had gone, leaving me frantically calling people and posting on CQN to see who could get me to the game on time. Life here will be much more troublesome and less enjoyable without SwanseaBhoy and Mrs SwanseaBhoy, and their dogs (one of which has never been the same since they let me watch the 3-3 draw at Kilmarnock in the splendid home that they now, remarkably, are on the point of giving up to move back to Coatbridge, and I terrified the poor beast when Stokesy’s second goal went in).
Coatbridge’s gain is Chester’s great loss, and it’s not as if Coatbridge didn’t already have all the advantages.
share
Ron Bacardi
I was at St.Patrick’s High School in the 60’s though many on here who have met me would reckon it more likely to be the 70’s:o)
Yep the church (not chapel) is in the town 5 minutes from the court.
Was St. Eunan’s your primary school?
Paddy G
thanks buddy, I don’t need to paste now..
T C
Irresistable?? too attractive or enticing to resist according to the O D. I think I’m going to be sick!!
seanbhoy69 says:
4 December, 2011 at 21:06
it`s not drink talking….I am truly concerned that as the walls start caving in at Mordor, then they will stoop to any lengths/depths. Classic 5th column tactics, use two of our own to inflict damage. Golum and Conroy, McDonald and Dallas by proxy/
EWO
Is it possible our manager has had something to do with it :)