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.
940 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- ...
- 24
- »
Eyes Wide Open says:
4 December, 2011 at 21:09
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.
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.
****************
As Celtic supporters we tend to watch our players – the truth is today that the opposition ran on empty for the majority of the second half, due to the very high tempo of our game.
hamiltontim says:
4 December, 2011 at 21:15
I hope so.
There is nothing on this earth (that doesnt include money!) I would love more.
coorslad is Neil Lennon says:
4 December, 2011 at 21:04
BT,just give it the rendition in the shower,love it..
Vmhan,you were dyin to bite,but you were busy hunbashing..
Is that right then.
ElDiegoBhoy says:
4 December, 2011 at 21:11
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?
————————————————————————————-
St Eunan’s was my primary school. Got an A in the IQ test as it was known then and went to St Pats because there was not a Catholic senior secondary high school in Clydebank at the time.
St Pats was great. Great teachers like Jack Gilroy, big Jake Deunink, cowboy McCormack, wee Toomy, uncle Ben Ferry, Tojo Quinn, wee Matt Bryson and others I can see but forget their names. And headmaster Rinty Monaghan.
jmmcormick
The more things change the more they stay the same.
The MIB are are disgrace and certain sections of the media are the same.
Did the Aluko dive get the same treatment from the press as the Inverness red card?
Scottish Sports Awards on STV
Neil Lennon just won the ‘Scotland – He brought it on himself’ award voted by Scotland’s Media, sponsored by Rangers FC and the Orange Order.
MWD :o)
Árd Macha
Trust me I don’t watch it, I hear it mind you, and as for the others, TV at it’s worst.
Never watch yer man as the boss who controls the remote doesn’t find him funny, just as well I am the same as her then :>)
S69
sure we will get 15minutes on sportscene tonight..
when the orcs pen will get 5 secs..
PG,
exactly what I was thinkin watchin the game… the talk over a number of games now has been about how poor the opposition were… I think somethings changed in our game – can’t put my finger on it – which is disrupting other teams play. Maybe the fact that Kayal is gettin back to his best, maybe Wanyama, but it was helluva reassuring today. For the first time in a while, I felt comfortable at 1-0.
heading to London tomorrow, good to get away from all the sh*te that will accompany the Aluko incident. What price Nakamura gets dragged into the debate?
canuckbhoy says:
4 December, 2011 at 21:24
Let it go mate please – Vmhan is one of life’s good guys and runs on green fuel. I don’t know you and aint judging, but you ain’t doing yourself any favours.
canuckbhoy says:
4 December, 2011 at 21:24
coorslad is Neil Lennon says:
4 December, 2011 at 21:04
BT,just give it the rendition in the shower,love it..
Vmhan,you were dyin to bite,but you were busy hunbashing..
Is that right then.
share
Sounds just about right to me..Why is this the bit were I should get nervous?
blantyretim
:)
No, it`s were you should lie down before you hurt someone. Feel like your in the tent yet?
To the BBC etc on the rankers (obligatory) penalty…..” I think thou dost protest too much” …which is testament to your bias and leanings…..it would be amusing if it weren’t so pathetic…
JimmyQuinnsBits says:
4 December, 2011 at 21:28
On a roll and waltzing through an opposition team that never threatened once, ten out of ten for me :-)
Ron Bacardi
I also got an A at the time.
Remember all those names plus an English teacher Bernard Docherty I think it was who I met a few years ago doing tours of Celtic Park. he was retired and lived abroad but came home for a few months each year.
McCool and McCluskey were Chemistry and Physics teachers. Didn’t like either of them.
Evan Williams father in law was tottie McLaughlan, might have misspelled, he was an art teacher.
Chalkie Neeson, a Latin teacher. Barlow, a music teacher as was Jackie Pickup.
My register teacher for a while was John? Walker. Father Simcox had a weird joke about Mr Walker and Spirits that he told everytime he visited our classroom.
Memories.
Great first half performance and a very welcome three points and clean sheet at what is normally a difficult venue today.
Another reason to be cheerful – after having refereed the first Glasgow derby this season Craig Thompson is very unlikely to get the game on the 28th Dec. This is just as well for us given his masterclass in shady refereeing today.
Lads any of you know what this means shshshshshshs gbnl
People have been talking today of where the message of Celtic has been spread. Apart from my own following of the Tic from deep in the jungle of Borneo, the most remote place I have encountered the Celtic View was in Sacred Heart College, Bamenda, Cameroon. It belonged (quite appropriately) to 2 Scottish Marist Brothers, who had moved there from Biafra. We are indeed a world wide family.
Whoever refs the game on the 28th will not be impartial. Be certain of that.
Vmhan
have you annoyed somebody lately?
MWD
Sone Aluko on the penalty – “I’m not one who normally dives”.
Not only is he Naismith-esque enough to play for the huns, he’s proven he is thick enough!
Mind you they do say a fool and their money are soon parted.
THE EXILED TIM
Some people like Sven seem to get good/well paid gigs no matter what they do!
Lads its sound it maybe god bless neil lennon
We could do a lot worse than the post-Dallas Thomson for referee on the 28th!
Gollum or Charlie Richmond spring to mind….
T4
canuckbhoy says:
4 December, 2011 at 21:32
No, it`s were you should lie down before you hurt someone. Feel like your in the tent yet?
share
Here,do you know what,Im better than this,you shall be ignored from here on..
hen1rik says:
4 December, 2011 at 21:36
the sound… yer first Can?
El Diego Bhoy,
My money is on Gollum being the ref.
The other contenders that I can think of:-
Callum Murray – Doesnt mind being manhandled by Orcs but sent 3 off v Celtic so no chance;
Euan Norris – Has impressive stats in terms of awarding penalties to Rangers but too soon, needs to send off a Celtic player to prove his credentials before getting a Glasgow derby;
Charlie Richmond – Regularly gives good decisions against Celtic (blowing up at Fir Park for full time when Fortune was through on goal) but hates Hugh Dallas so again no chance;
No Gollum it is. Unless the SFA go “belt and braces” and bring Jeff Winter out of retirement!
bed time I agree with T4… o((
coorslad is Neil Lennon says:
4 December, 2011 at 21:43
canuckbhoy says:
4 December, 2011 at 21:32
No, it`s were you should lie down before you hurt someone. Feel like your in the tent yet?
share
Here,do you know what,Im better than this,you shall be ignored from here on..
I waited 13mins for that. Likewise
I’ve just watched it again….incredible, and tells us everything about what we are up against
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16023596.stm
The Scottish FA are likely to review an incident that let to a penalty for Rangers in their 2-1 win over Dunfermline, BBC Scotland has learned.
Pars manager Jim McIntyre claimed Rangers’ Sone Aluko dived to with the spot-kick, converted by Nikica Jelavic.
Alleged simulation can be processed using the SFA’s fast-track procedures and compliance officer Vincent Lunny is expected to review the incident.
A decision would be made on Monday at the earliest.
The penalty was awarded by referee Steve Conroy when Rangers were already a goal up, with Martin Hardie the player penalised.
However after Jelavic netted, Joe Cardle pulled one back for the Dunfermline to set up a tense second half.
I once got ROBbed in Windsor Ontario. What an Arce I felt.
MWD
MWD
missed your call this morn… o))
67Heaven
Steve Conroy had an excellent view of the dive.
That tells us everything we need to know about the MIB.
Moonbeams WD. \o/ Supporting Neil Lennon 100%. says:
4 December, 2011 at 21:50
I once got ROBbed in Windsor Ontario. What an Arce I felt.
MWD
Not a place to go feeling peoples Arces. It is South Detroit after all.
JimmyQuinnsBits says:
4 December, 2011 at 21:43
hen1rik says:
4 December, 2011 at 21:36
the sound… yer first Can?
2nd m8 lol 2 can dan haha
seanbhoy69 says:
4 December, 2011 at 21:52
We need to keep up th pressure against these refs.