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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Will Lenny give Mo Bangura a start against Peterhead in the cup?
…..in the mornin’s papers obviously.
quest channel 10pm
the astute nuclear submarine
JimmyquinnsBits
I agree but we missed him in the summer and can’t see him coming now. Bangura was cheaper!
portglasgowtim,
Indeed… You fae the port
Árd Macha says:
2 January, 2012 at 22:01
thomthethim,
Thanks to you and some of your clann for the News Year’s Eve company.
I really enjoyed myself.
Árd Macha
*********
Thanks. For my part, it was the social highlight of the Christmas Season.
Good chat. Good draught (?), of both kinds, and home in time for tea.
Due to meet Mr.90 tomorrow evening.
I’ve got it…..
we sign Deek riordan, he he just ejected himself from haiphong Cement or wherever, has he not?
Q.E.Derek!
stivs…
vmhan is 52.. holie goalie is 71…. o))
sorry vmhan isnt 52 yet…
Delighted with the result today – Big Vic strolled it. Stokes quality goal – Izzy back – a good afternoon all round
I wonder if the guys criticising Hooper’s effort today were watching on TV today.
You really do NOT get an appreciation of team movement on the box. You get a close up view of the controversial incidents but, unless you are getting the Goodyear Blimp camera angle, you do not see runs and effort well enough to judge effort.
Gary had an unproductive day. The balls from Sammi & JF that flashed across the 6 yard box were missed by both strikers so lets not be selective in our criticism.
Our team balance today was not great. Dunfermline packed the defence and midfield until they went two behind. No Celtic player was outstanding but we won 3:0 and achieved 10 wins on the trot.
No time for complacency but we can allow for some smiles and short shrift for moans. On to the Cup game in the frozen North. Should be a home fixture for Cults Bhoy.
Allgreen,
Still, have a sneaky… Don’t know how we could sign top scorer in Portugal, if we do though
Soal
Hope no, if it ain’t broke…..
TSOAL,
If Mo is to make a telling contribution in the league, he needs to be starting games like this.
Árd Macha
SFTB
oh dear we watch on TV so we cant give an opinion…
HT
So when do we play him?
Love
Joe Filippis Haircut says:
2 January, 2012 at 20:45
It would have to be silly money before getting rid of Ki or Mathews, they are too good to be moving anywhere
gsu
SFTB
Are you on the same bus as Gordon (the Celtic Historian)?
Not seen him on the blog for some time.
SwanseaBhoy
If we a losing Commons,Templeton might be a consideration…since Vlad has put his squad on the transfer list..
However,we need to bring our own Under-19s through into the First Team.
Noticed that there were none of them on the bench today….presumably because they are due to compete in the German tournament?
SFTB
I watched the game on telly and pretty much agree with your summary.
No stars, apart from Chas. Mulgrew’s major contribution.
No slackers either. Just an imbalanced team, playing against a stubborn team, in atrocious conditions.
Off to the cot. Have to pace myself this year.
G’night, sports fans.
Phil MacgiollaBhain – Maybe It Isn’t About The Money
setting free the bears says:
2 January, 2012 at 22:12
Was at the game hooper was poor,never closed down all day.Good goal scorer but needs to up his work rate.
Sftb
I had to watch the game on TV today and I would agree with you that it is a poor second to actually being there.
However, in my defence I’ve only missed a couple of games in Hooper’s two seasons with us. My views are based on what I’ve seen but I fully understand that others will hold a different opinion. I feel that for large portions of this season his application has been poor in comparison to last.
Glad you enjoyed it today, wish I’d put a few quid on my 0-3 prediction!!
SFTB,
Gloves, hats, n y-fronts off; you’re correct with the Sammi and jf balls. However, Stokes is always playin wider than hoops tho, and hoops should be huntin those balls.
Got to confess, I’m not convinced by Gary – intakes of breath. However, to be fair, I don’t think we play to his strengths.
Soal
In the final game of the season when we’re ahead by 8 goals but only need a draw to win the league!!
BT
“SFTB
oh dear we watch on TV so we cant give an opinion… ”
Yeah! that’s exactly what I said was it not??? :-)
To repeat, for those with reading difficulties :-)
On TV you get a better view of action in sections of the pitch. Your view (and, therefore, your analysis) is restricted by the section shown to you through the lens. You benefit by getting a great close up but a poor overall view of team pattern.
In contrast, those of us at the game have a better view of the overall pattern of play but a poorer view of the close up action. You can see better, because of replays, who was at fault for a goal or whether an offside was justified or not.
But, I would never dream of supressing anyone’s opinion, however poorly informed it was :-)
Swansea Bhoy
Yes, I travel on the same bus as Gordon. He was never a prolific poster but he reads regularly. if you have any questions about past games, I’m sure he’d get back to you.
thom the thim
It’s great when we win and we have improvement to come.
Saint Stivs says:
2 January, 2012 at 17:46
Joe Filippis Haircut says:
2 January, 2012 at 17:36
I will take Henricks judgement of a player over Guidis anyday Henrick says the bhoys a player that will do for me.Play him against Peterhead next week and if he scores watch him go from there on.H.H.
———————-
christina hendricks judgement is better than guidi’s
—-
St Stivs
Hope you had a good Christmas and awra best for 2012
JoeFilippi
I never saw the henke’s quotes on bang bang being the right guy for Celts…can you point me to them? cheers
HH
M
HT
Who do we play in the first weekend in March?
Great pity if we have seen the last of KC in the hoops. Where did it all go wrong? As previously with Riordan I suppose we will never know. What was the deal with o’connor today has he been on a night out with Declan? Looked like he was auditioning for a part in Miami ink or maybe just getting ready for joining der hun!
Gary Hooper had a poor game today. Neil said he was injured when he came off, so perhaps he was carrying a niggle into the game. It is good that he is willing to play with an injury.
SOAL,
3rd March Aberdeen away 12:00
17th March Dunfermline Home 15:00
Starryhope
Sftb….with all due respect… I watched the game on tv today and I note what you are saying…..but…… Gary is often caught offside when he is slow to return from a failed attack. Today, while watching on tv, I could predict exactly where he would be positioned(usually in the wrong place) because I’ve seen it so often both live and on tv. Right now I don’t believe his heart is in it
Hooper is great in 6yd box and Id always have him in the team.. Player like him always score goals.. So would be surprised if anybody is Dis ing him
I’m only giving an opinion that Stokes does a bit more on the ball but probably not as much of it…
I also believe Stokes more likely to be at Celtic for the long game.
sftb/jimmysanderson…
where you at the game caller?
if not, you have no right to speak about it…
I am no longer a fan then?
hamiltontim
I accept your view of Hooper in the games you watched live. Today he ran often enough but did not get great service. Neither did Stokes.
JQB
Stokesie did often pull wide and it worked for our first goal but we are excusing him a bit. After all, we had two wide men in Sammi & JF so, when they are putting the ball across the goalmouth, both our strikers have a responsibility to get on the end not just the one we are currently taking a dislike to. Gary Hooper has outscored Antony Stokes in this season’s SPL race.
Soal
Sheep away
saltires en sevilla says:
2 January, 2012 at 22:29
Saint Stivs says:
2 January, 2012 at 17:46
cheers bud, same to yourself.
and offcourse i did, 3 wins, 9 points, and them huns are a rattaling.
BT,
From last night,
It was just fine probably his best effort to date.
Gave us a wonderful afternoon, food Pepsi Max and company.
As for the food, i’m not yet ready to hand over the mantle, but maybe one day soon.
Mail to you tomorrow.
Martin42