Celtic collected all three points in one of their most comfortable away performances of the season at Dunfermline this afternoon. Anthony Stokes and Victor Wanyama gave them a half time lead before a Charlie Mulgrew free kick completed the rout in the second half.
Mulgrew set pieces, the source of four consecutive goals, have become important to Celtic recently and could have led to an opener in 12 minutes when Thomas Rogne was wrestled to the ground inside the Dunfermline by Barrowman, who used both arms to prevent the Norwegian getting on the end of the corner, but referee Ian Brines, who had a particularly poor game, along with his assistants, missed the incident.
Five minutes later Celtic were in the lead when Mulgrew’s short corner was worked out to Anthony Stokes who shot from the 18 yard line into the postage stamp corner, giving goalkeeper, Chris Smith no chance.
Moments later Stokes, Hooper and Forrest combined well before Stokes tried a cheeky shot to Smiths’ near post. Celtic were now in full flow and Wanyama saw his shot from 25 yards tipped over by Smith. Five minutes from half time Celtic were in easy street. Charlie Mulgrew free kick from 28 yards was met inside the six yard box by Victor Wanyama who volleyed into the net.
Dunfermline almost caught Celtic snoozing within 60 seconds of the second goal when Barrowman knocked a through ball onto Burns but his shot was saved by Fraser Forster.
11 minutes after the break a Mulgrew free kick made its way left to Ledley who clipped a cross for Hooper but the strikers’ header went narrowly wide. On the hour mark James Forrest ran at Dunfermline from 50 yards but his cutback from six yards didn’t find a taker in the middle and slipped past the post.
High winds played their part today and almost caught out Rogne and Forster who struggled with a high ball that held up but Dunfermline couldn’t profit.
Charlie Mulgrew completed the scoring on 69 minutes with a free kick from 28 yards. Dunfermline keeper, Smith, should have done better as the ball went into the middle of the goal just under the bar.
Samaras linked with Brown to carve an opening but his shot was blocked. The ball broke to James Forrest who shot from outside the box but Smith made no mistake this time, turning the ball over for a corner. Mulgrew fired in the resulting corner and Ki found a yard of space 11 yards out but his shot went narrowly wide.
Ki Sung-Yueng made no contact in a tackle with Paddy Boyle, the Dunfermline player hurdled his challenge, but then grabbed and threw Ki by the throat. Ki never retaliated, no doubt expecting the referee to show Boyle a red card, but instead Brines booked both players. It was perhaps the most ridiculous refereeing decision of the season.
Emilio Izaguirre made his long-awaited return from breaking his leg at Pittodrie in August but almost marked his performance with a negative contribution. Having controlled the ball he then tried to dribble out of his own six yard box but was fortunate not to be punished.
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Early on in each of the last few games Samaras has rifled some lovely low crosses across the 6-yard box.
Forster commands more of the 18-yard area with every game.
Adored Izzy’s gallus attempt to dribble past the winger having killed a cross stone dead on the 6-yard line!
He just wants to get involved again:)
TOSB,
Lol… Ah know, wot happened?
If the wee boy drinkin the super up the garages could see me now.
Mibbe give me a bit of a kickin
TMWTL, really hope we get Baba, looks a good player.
SffS
prestonpans bhoys
I’ll hear nothing bad about stovies!!!!
Pfayr
I’m friendly with wee Des, studied with him.
Brilliant guy, he’s now in Ireland living the good life.
Boyd will not be rejoining the Huns
Novo? Only if Jelavic leaves and his wages are similar(or more) to what he is getting at Gijon
Just remember, they couldn’t afford to keep Novo 18 months ago when they were in a better position financially than they are now
Just back from the game, but not yet defrosted.
It’s now the business end of the season, and points are more important than performances.
A couple of unsung heroes today were Scott Brown and Thomas Rogne.
I watched the players in the warm up , when a few of them looked half hearted as they went through their warm up – might be me, but , I reckon you can tell a lot about who is up for it from the approach to warm up.
This is where Broonie is important , as his energy , if properly directed, sets an example to others. Anyone notice him ‘phasing’ Wallace last Wednesday? Again, today, his energy inspired his colleagues.
Great to see Rogne play 2 games on the trot, if only we could keep him fit.
One last bit, I suspect the weather may pay havoc with the Peterhead game – if it does, we shouldn’t let it phase us. If the game ends up being postponed 2 or 3 times, we need to deal with it, and ensure it doesn’t disrupt our title challenge.
Finally , Dushanbe Bhilly Bhoy , saltires in Sevilla, and marcusog , if you are lurking , happy new year to y’all.
JimmyQuinnsBits says:
2 January, 2012 at 20:38
TOSB,
Lol… Ah know, wot happened?
If the wee boy drinkin the super up the garages could see me now.
Mibbe give me a bit of a kickin
……………………………………..
You’re a good mhan. Just kiddin on.
I’m a Coatbridge Bhoy ….. Chateau Buckie – ye cannae whack it! :-)
If we are to get the two first team players Lennie wants we will have to sell first, Hooiveld has gone Commons looks like hes going and I said earlier in the week Matthews and Ki must be at risk as we have plenty of cover for both. Also if we sign another striker I would expect one striker to also move on the January window could be very interesting indeed.H.H.
JQB
the one i have is from the Curico Valley
virus….phylloxera
btw ..i was introduced to it at a winetasting night
the vinter advised that it should be decanted the night before if possible
i can testify that it does make a difference as i decanted the first bottle the night before but only gave the second about tens mins :¬))
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy says:
2 January, 2012 at 20:27
To be honest Gary Hooper’s from has been a concern of mine all season. At times he can look a wonderful striker – watched a video of some of his goals last season – and they were class. This season however I can see no improvement to his game. Bit of a deterioration really. Not good in the air, poor control of the ball, and his atempts to dribble past defenders mostly are futile. But the biggest fault in my opinion is he does not gamble in the penalty area, does not seem to anticipate a cross and will for the most part stray to the far post in the hope of a cross beating an entire defence. Not the trait of a predatory penalty striker.
That said you’re correct, the service to him today was poor. I remember posting at the start of the season that in my opinion we would not win the league if we did not sign a striker better than Hooper and Stokes. That may not be 100% true at the minute – but we still need a striker who is an automatic first choice – and let Hooper and Stokes fight it out for the second striker’s place.
Cheers Lhads
Got to rejoin the family before divorce papers are served. Things are looking so good for us right now. Let’s keep our eye on the ball and worry less about them in the south side.
Hail! Hail!
Good Evening.
Imagine the picture. You have a young footballer who has come through the youth ranks and breaks into your first team. He proves to be more than adequate in amongst the big boys in your club and over 76 or so appearances he more than holds his own.
Somehow or other though, you are not able to hang on to him, and after that decent number of appearances he moves on– on a free transfer! How annoying is that? How annoying, especially when he moves to a charasmatic team like say a Stoke, or a Blackburn or an Oldham! I mean no disreoect to any of those clubs or their supporters, but part of me thinks that when a young man proves his worth it is always a wee bit of a surprise when he leaves for– well— Oldham?
It would take 167 appearances in an Oldham shirt before he would be snapped up by a so called glamour team.
Yet it would be the 368 appearances in the glamour side that would become memorable– yet it is probable that even the most ardent of fans of each and every club he played for could not name a single game in which he was the outstanding player afield or where he himself was just a stick out. Yet, arguably the most successful manager in British Football History will tell you that he was the best pound for pound signing that he has ever made!
The name of this player, with more medals than you can shake a stick at, with hundreds of appearnces in the top flight, who was always the first or second name on the team sheet no matter what?
Denis Irwin!
The Cork man was absolutely indispensible as a Man Utd foolback– on either side of the pitch. Never Mr Spectacular, always Mr reliable. Just a reliable Joe.
I raise the issue and career of Irwin because I want to raise something else that I seriously think has been overlooked by some, but which cannot be shouted from the roof tops often enough.
In all the arguments and debates that come over this transfer window, whether they be about quality signings, smart signings or even Willo type signings, surely the best– the absolute best— piece of business that Neil lennon has been able to pull off, has been the capture of our very own reliable Joe!
You sometimes for get that Joe Ledley was purchased for the precise sum of £0!
It is also easy to forget that by the time this young man pulled on a Celtic shirt for the first time, he had made some 226 appearances for cardiff City and was an experienced international.
It is also easy to forget that before he came to Celtic and gained any European experience, West ham had bid £4m for his services and Stoke City had tabled a £5M bid– both of which were obviously rejected.
In a Celtic shirt, Ledley has simply epitomised the steady Joe tag with his performances at left back of in the preferred midfield. He has contributed important goals, and from what I am told he has absolutely embraced the whole idea and the ideals of Celtic the club!
We are often quick to damn Peter Lawell but whatever negotiation he conducted re Ledley must have been masterful and ranks as one of the shrewdest pieces of business we have conducted since the signing of Henrik.
I appreciate that Izzy was a masterstroke, Hooper a great success and Wanyama a great find— but none had that number of appearances or was signed for nothing under the noses of a number of premiership clubs.
In my view the comparison with Irwin is apt. Here is a guy you can rely on as a player and a man. I am not saying that he will stay at Celtic till the end of his career but he is the type that I would want to see at Celtic park for a very long time!
Commons, I’ll miss him if true. Hooper, lazy lazy player. Non trier in past few games. Head elsewhere? Wanyama, I lied this guy after his first kick of the ball. A strong, holding/forward midfield general player with no fear. Forwards injured? Stick Vic up front and rummel them up. He’ll score and knock f@?k out of any opposition. Vic is the future.
hamiltontim
my brother Brian is one of Des` best pals was at his wedding etc
also a few years ago when Des `s was over during the festive period i had a night out with him and some of his Irish pals
praecepta
I think Victor will be right up there with the very best defensive midfielders in the World game. Clarence is probably more creative/offensive than Victor but we must remember the actual age of this kid and anyway Clarence has nowhere near the physical presence of this Bhoy. ;)
The thing that most impressed me today about him was that he went out there and ran the show as if it was still Rangers he was playing against, that is a very special mental quality to have.
The young man really gets Celtic and what it is all about, I am sure of that. We will get to enjoy him for the next 5 years and hopefully by then the whole footballing landscape shall have changed and he won’t need to leave to reach the very pinnacle of Club football. He is destined for it, whether with Celtic or another very Rich club.
The most pleasing thing about the last few weeks is watching the belief and mental strength of our young team growing.
We are not quite there on the footballing side yet but it’s coming and some team is going to get a real hammering.
Hope it’s hearts,mother well or their hun big brother.
Anyway, finally discovered why the wife’s no speakin since New Year…
Apparently, I’m a “half-arsed laze b@@s&#d”
I have to agree. What with the 12 hour days over the last few years, I’ve just not been applyin myself. It just isn’t good enuff. I really need to focus and put some effort in. A full-arsed lazy B isn’t goin t happen by itself.
So, packin in the job tomorrow, an gettin one o those 3d tellys an startin to home brew.
I think she’ll like it
well well well
Have they just suffered one of their worst defeats again against the ragers ,hope wee Stuart ain’t holding his breath for the gers gig anytime soon ,cos his players seem to be letting him doon .
hail hail
Good win for the Celtic today. We must keep doing the simple things right and our superior talent should see us win most of these games.
We need to stay 100% focus though. We will not be handed this title.
Árd Macha
Lied=liked. BRTH…….I, like many, forget Joes contribution. He is yet another gem. We really do have some class players
petec says:
2 January, 2012 at 20:52
If young Victor keeps playing the way he has been ,I doubt we will get 5 yrs out of the bhoy .We would if we were in a different league ,spl no chance
hail hail
BRTH
Agree with every word of that.
I also claim to be the first fan who got confirmation the Joe was signing for us. Happened as I went to the loo in Lurgan No 1 CSC during the roadshows which were taking place at the beginning of last season. Just as I was going in I bumped into Peter Lawwell. I said ,”Peter, Joe Ledley, thumps up or thumps down.”
He smiled and gave me the thumps up.
So there y’are!
I posted this a few hours after the Celtic – rangers game.
I’m not claiming to be psychic, just saying what everyone else knew. But surely when the result of a game can be so convincingly known by everyone days before the game, questions should ber asked. . .
=========
The Comfortable Collective says:
29 December, 2011 at 01:39
Given that (ex hun Stuart McCall) began his career as Motherwell manager on the January 1st 2011 with a 0-0 draw against Hamilton, perhaps this is a good time to appraise his league record.
In this calendar year, McCall has pitted his wits against 12 different teams on league duty. (this seasons teams, and Hamilton who were in the SPL last season).
He has won points against EVERY SINGLE TEAM he has played in the league bar 1.
The only team ex hun Stuart McCall has not managed to win points against in his tenure as Motherwell manager is rangers. THE ONLY ONE.
Ex hun Stuart McCall has played 40 league games as Motherwell manager. Here is his record versus the 11 teams he has played ( excluding rangers)
played = 37
goals for = 40
goals ag = 44 (less than 1.2 goals a game)
points = 57
Ex hun Stuart McCall has played 3 league games as Motherwell manager against rangers, here is his record.
played = 3
goals for = 0
goals ag = 14 (more than 4.5 goals a game)
points = 0
Now, when the huns win their next game convincingly, dont be taken in by the MSM bull about how they are ‘on the rise’ and how the fat bin man has ‘steadied the ship’.
Just remember one thing.
Ex hun Stuart McCall.
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As you can see from my own post– the oul spell checker doesn’t take account of the author being on the– ahem– 3rd,4th or is it 5th glass of a rather cheeky Voignier!
If it is phonetically correct it will do for me at this stage!
Lurgan 53 says:
2 January, 2012 at 20:47
Would have to agree that he hasn’t been as good as last season but for the first half of this season (August to mid-November) none of the team looked as good as they did last season. As someone pointed out above he has scored 9 goals in his last 11 appearances. In the OF game on Wednesday, I thought he was tremendous. McGregor copuld only parry two of his rasping shots and he was unfairly and wrongly pulled up for offside when going through one-on-one with McGregor. I feel confident he would have scored.
I think he is scoring different types of goals from last season – tap ins from close range. These have been valuable in our resurgence. I think he is being kicked and hustled a lot more as well in the way that Samaras was today by opponents. To be honest I don’t think I’d ever drop him but I fully agree with you that we need to sign a very good striker. You can never get enough.
Pfayr
Couldn’t make the wedding as I’d already booked a holiday before it.
Could tell a few tales but probably best saved for another time :-)
JimmyQuinnsBits says:
2 January, 2012 at 20:53
throw away yer shovel mate ,seems like you have enjoyed yer festive season but it’s coming to an end .say yer apologies and keep your head down for a couple of weeks and the worlds yer oyster
where’s Kitalba ?
TOSB,
You’ve reminded me of my first ever sair heid. Lithgae Marches and a hellish cocktail of Breaker Malt Liquor (anybody remember that manure) and pomagne, to make a cheap snakebite. Shudder.
petec says:
2 January, 2012 at 20:52
Don’t disagree with your assessment but think he will become more offensive as he matures – he will do damage from outside the box.
He will exploit space around the ‘D’ – opposition back-off him when he surges forward – he strikes a good ball – I think he could be a double-figures scoring midfielder for us by next season.
hamiltontim
probably heard a good few of them over time
a large number of the Newarthill bangers were there …bedlam
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Kano 1000 says:
2 January, 2012 at 20:49
Excellent and insightful comment as always.
Joe Ledley is a fantastic Celtic player and having a left footed player who can play so many positions very well is a Great credit to the man.
I am a big fan of Joe because he just gets on with things and works hard all the time no matter where he gets asked to play.
There’s bound to be some ‘brither’s in arms’ masonic schtick going on between that pair…….
For the greater good etc etc etc………..pantomime chicanery, a sort of hun, ned ‘noblesse oblige’
” For the Gaffer!”
Aye!
Brogan RT & H,
Some of their fans called Irwin the accountant – everything he did was measured, just so.
Great comparison. Ledley always finds a way to make himself available for a team-mate in possession in a tight spot. Class act.
Put quite simply,neither Bangura or Hooper are pretty enough to fill the strikers’ jerseys for Celtic..
Would they meet the exacting standards required for admission to MWD’s Exclusive Gay Coven ?
Mibbies Aye ?,Mibbies Naw…?
Did Lasley get booked the day?? I think I know the answer.
Ron Bacardi:
I’m at work mate, have been for the past hour and a bit. Game is on at 1.00 am here, finishes at 2.45 am and I’m up at 4.45am, so I have to record it and watch it when I get home. Doesn’t stop me searching through the blog for bigjie @ 18:42 ‘cause I just know he is going to put up the goals. He is the patron saint of overseas workers who can’t see the game live.