Falkirk played some good football at Hampden this afternoon and looked competitive with the bottom half if the Scottish Premier League, but Celtic scored three, hit the woodwork three times and had a good goal incorrectly disallowed for offside, emphasising how comfortable a day’s work it was for the SPL, Scottish Cup and League Cup favourites.
James Forrest reached the goal line and cut back to Scott Brown, whose shot was deflected onto the post before rebounding to Gary Hooper who made no mistake. The nearside linesman did nothing for the reputation of Scotland’s officials by raising his flag despite a second defender being inside the six yard box while the Celtic striker was 8 yards out.
Six minutes later Thomas Rogne got his head onto a Forrest corner but saw the effort rebound from the crossbar. Falkirk maintained parity for 27 minutes before conceding cheaply. Darren Dods, aware of Rogne’s potency at set pieces, hauled the Celtic defender to the ground inside the box from a Mulgrew corner. Scott Brown converted the resultant penalty.
Stokes could have made Celtic comfortable six minutes from half time when he connected with Hooper’s cutback but his shot was blocked. A minute later Falkirk were level. Victor Wanyama misplaced a cross-field pass to Cha in the middle of the field, Emilio Izaguirre had pushed forward while no one dropped back to cover.
Cha and Wanyama both had chances to get tight on breaking Falkirk players but Higgingbotham feigned a shot and rolled the ball into the path of 17-year-old Jay Fulton, who finished clinically.
Within a minute of the break Rogne had a chance to put Celtic ahead again but mistimed his header before Gary Hooper set James Forrest through with Falkirk keeper McGovern to beat but the winger was denied.
Falkirk’s best chance to win the tie arrived six minutes after then break when Fulton drifted in unattended at Celtic’s left but his half-volley from 7 yards flew over.
Thomas Rogne hit the cross bar for the second time with a deflected shot after another Mulgrew corner. A minute later Anthony Stokes put one foot in the final when he lifted a free kick over the Falkirk wall and into the side of the net. It wasn’t the hardest struck free kick but he caught McGovern mid-jump on his line, so the keeper was slow to move to his right.
Falkirk pushed forward whenever they could and Duffy got the better of Joe Ledley to setup Alston but the substitute couldn’t convert. 12 minutes from the end Fraser Forster made an impressive double save after a corner. He stopped the first from Darren Dods and then saved from Stuart Murdoch.
Ledley saw a shot from a Matthews cross deflected over before the Celtic full back cleared at the other end when Weatherston got behind Wanyama to cross.
Gary Hooper secured the win for Celtic when he collected outside the box after 85 minutes, turned his defender and headed for the bye-line. His cross was converted by Stokes with Ledley waiting if needed.
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Hi, job done bring on the Killie, we should have scored more but happy with 3-1, top bhoys were Brown and Hooper. some other bhoys had a below par performance but we won and move on to Hearts midweek a game I so want to win.
a fine day’s work, never had to go near top gear………..does anyone know if the Brozek deal’s been done yet??
B-C-W
In the second half I wouldn’t have blamed Ledley. Mulgrew was shocking today and constantly moved inside leaving Joe to cover the whole left hand side of the park.
Auldheid – in my defense, it’s not one I’m familiar with. Sounds like it’s not for this site!
praecepta – “A Game” required at Swinecastle, as you say. They are always well fired up for our games.
The treble would be nice, but I’m not fussed….Lenny winning this title means everything!
HH
TTTT
There wasn’t much between the average age of the sides today – although Darren Dodds must have raised theirs a fair bit. Falkirk do have some promising young players, although it should be remembered that the likes of Marc Miller wasn’t good enough to make the breakthrough with us.
We didn’t play brilliantly, but we were by far the better side. Our keeper didn’t have too much to do, while we could have scored a few more than we did. Still, who remembers much about semi finals anyway? Onwards and upwards!
Had a seat in the South Stand today in the section next to the journos tapping away on their laptops. I’m now convinced that there are no decent seats in that stadium.
I’m probably one of the first back as I was in a car. For those in buses, they’ll just be reaching them by now! Whoever decided to park the buses on the other side of the M74 is an out and out tool.
SPF
hamiltontim says:
29 January, 2012 at 19:00
Wasn’t too sure how they managed it, or if it was something they were trying. nevertheless they had some success with the ploy.
Their speed and purpose in small spells, first half was a feature.
Good strength of character again to dig deep and win a game where we were below par.
Coupl eof observations……
Cannot understand reluctance to use Commons.
Big Wanyama is a young boy with good potential. He still has lotsa rough edges that hopefully will go in time, but rough they are.
Another Final for Celts under Lenny, well done bhoys
tully
p.s. 7-1 is still today a record score in any cup final in Britain.
New Bhoy looks good 1on1 with keeper, has a good strike on him and isn’t afraid to head the ball praise be! Early days but this guy could be good.
The SPL board have agreed to delay making a decision on bringing back the winter break until next month. (Mail on Sunday)
Hmmm i wonder why.
STV news saying that Everton are in for jellylegs.
SPF
bankiebhoy1 says:
29 January, 2012 at 18:46
Is Pawel a Lawwell signing?
———————————
Don’t know if he is but the orks on FF are scunnered by it to say the least.
Southbhoy
Done bar the medical. Have a look at his 50 goal video on YouTube
Chris Sutton on Pressley:
Felt better about not being part of new regime at Celtic when he realised GS was signing the likes of him
Demeanour and manner was very odd at Hearts, all a front
Would be vocal in the tunnel and shout ridiculous things, a”buffoon”
Sutton witnessed youth team players mocking him as he tried to wind himself up pre match
Loved playing against him, not particularly capable
As I said earlier he is doing a good job at Falkirk but he has delusions of granduer, thought he was a great centre back when he was average at best.
His comments on Shortbread today were an embarressment.
Our manager recieved an unprecedented 6 game ban at Tynecastle last season for protesting Joe Ledleys harsh red card.
I wonder what Elvis will get for twice questioning a referees integrity?
TJ
Celtic in cup finals!! We live for these days…delighted .. Well done to the Bhoys…. Great answers too post match.. Media setting us up with treble talk .. Stokesy just batted it straight back.. Smart BHOY…
We sleep well tonight hoops..
Hail hail..
hamiltontim says:
29 January, 2012 at 19:00
Generally speaking that mistake happens once and is then rectified.
The fact it happened 4-5 times leads me to believe that Mulgrew was told to cover inside for something or someone we dont know, and that Ledley was instructed to cover their winger.
Not sure id be blaming Mulgrew for it, have convinced myself a pro footballer wouldnt just do that.
the atmosphere sounded good today, were yous in good seats?
Comfortable win without being anywhere near our best. Falkirk a decent team and would bring a lot more to the SPL than ICT, Dunfermline, Hibs and Aberdeen. Thought their numbers 2 and 10 were excellent. Result never in doubt and we should have won by a larger margin had we converted our chances.
Cha, why? We have Matthews, who is an excellent prospect, and have signed the Swedish international right back so why do we percevere with someone with no positional sense, is a poor passer of the ball and is generally useless. His only attribute is being fast, which on occasion gets him out of jail.
Brozek to sign. Think he will be an excellent signing – his age, international experience and goal scoring record all looks good, plus he genuinely sounds delighted to be here. I also watched some of his goals and he can sure finish.
On another note, Forrest looks more comfortable in a Celtic shirt every time I see him.
Also – rogne looking good.
Celtic-Lennon-Kano
I watched that yday – impressive, he can score all types of goals, including headers :)
…may have to open something from the older cellar…
;)
I personally think that Gary Hooper was the only football player on the park today. In a game bereft of forward involvement – when he did get a touch he was a calm influence – it sort of marks the differences between Stokes and him – yet Stokes has 2 and all the interviews.
They were eager and young and full of… vigour – but they were beatable – and I still think our manager’s set-up had us on the back foot, especially in midfield.
That’s just me though.
U
Bigjie = Thanks for posting those. Always appreciated.
T4
Just did a wee bit of google.
Murray Wallace, Falkirk’s No 5, made his debut for Falkirk in August. He celebrated his 19th birthday 2 weeks ago.
His career to date comprises 19 starts in SFL division 1.
Let’s not get carried away with pace to burn….
Tommy Joad
Pressley comes across as taking himself WAY too seriously.
He really needs to stop sniffing his own socks so much…
Good support today. From my berth in the North stand, it looked like we had filled both the North stand and the Celtic-end.
Wonder why the SFA didn’t pushed things and sell more seats.
They could’ve opened the other bit of Rangers end to the Celtic support.
How every good Rangers Man should celebrate his 40th!
Me and my brother-in-law on his 40th in Fort Lauderdale. Good sport.
AgentScotlandAgent Football
Everton have had a £6m bid for Nikica Jelavic accepted, £3.5m up front with the rest in installments (could rise to £7.5m on future success)
1 hour ago
dear oh dear, the inmates in FF are perplexed!!!
Paddy G
you tease..
I couldn’t see it.
Agree about Elvis.
If he exhibits even a modicum of intelligence he should realise that he has made a prize ass of himself. Even taking everything positive from a Falkirk pov. His players done him proud today but he seemed hell bent on making the headlines and left his club looking small minded. He has kind of robbed his team of some deserved headlines.
HH
Pabloh, encouraging isn’t it.
9 of those 50 goals were headers, which is positive, only one penalty, he looks sharp and quick also.
Two good feet. Stokes and Hooper need help, we forget they are still in thier formative years as footballers, we have no right to demand 30 goals a season from 23 year olds.
And we took Pawel him from under their noses. Hahaha.
What an incredible time to be a Celtic fan.
TJ
I’d get Rogne on a long term contract. Man of the match by a mile.
test
Bill Kenwright last night gave himself four days to find backers for his regime at Everton or hand over control.
Bill Kenwright last night gave himself four days to find backers for his regime at Everton or hand over control.
The Everton chairman left a stormy two-and-a-half hour board meeting, admitting he was ready to walk away from running Goodison Park if he failed to come up with alternative funding for the club.
Friends of the theatrical impresario, such as the billionaire head of British Home Stores, Phillip Green and Tesco chief executive, Terry Leahy, have either been unable or unwilling to come to Everton’s aid. This leaves the investment package proposed by Kenwright’s former ally and now bitter enemy, Paul Gregg, as the only alternative.
Gregg, who failed to attend a single home game last season, has employed a PR agency to attack Kenwright in the Merseyside press to widen the gulf between himself and his former friend. Kenwright is incensed that one of Gregg’s chief proposals to raise investment – a share issue to fans -was precisely the idea Gregg rejected two years ago.
However, Kenwright was a reluctant chairman when Sir Philip Carter was ousted four years ago and would quit if he judged the circumstances were right. Yesterday he said: “A personal vendetta has been waged against me by Paul Gregg. If standing down is needed to bring money into this club, then that is what will happen. I am totally irrelevant. All that matters is this club and the new season.”
There are several potential takeover groups and it is possible that Everton’s former chief executive, Trevor Birch, could return. Birch, whose resignation at the beginning of the month after six weeks in the job triggered the current crisis, spoke to several potential backers in his brief time at Goodison Park. He has the know-how and the ability to put together a takeover package.
The main hurdle any buyer faces is that they would want to buy the shares cheaply – or even take over a club that is around £40m in debt for nothing. However, despite the level of debt, it is manageable, especially with an asset such as Wayne Rooney for whom the club will accept no bid lower than £30m. That sum represents the loan the club took out, guaranteed on season-ticket sales, repayable at £2.8m per year. There is also a £5m bank overdraft.
Among the Merseyside millionaires with an interest, the smart money is on Mike McComb, who made his fortune in mobile phones, in an alliance with David McLean, who built up a housing empire. Both would want day-to-day involvement and unlike, Kenwright, who is based in London, they live in easy reach of Goodison Park; McComb in Ormskirk and McLean in north Wales
viewfaethewindae says:
29 January, 2012 at 19:28
agree, always thought he could be our best defender if we could keep him fit for more than 3 or 4 games
Havent looked back over the blog, before I do, I just wanted to say I thought we were flat but that happens against much lower opposition. Lenny got all the subs right in my opinion. Good for Izzy to get 45 and to know that he still has to go some to get where he was.
Cha wasnt great but the goal was from a poor pass from Wanyama (who just by remaining on the field actually and completely won the game for us in the end because he is, as we all know – Victor Wanyama!!!!)
Frazer was excellent but shouldnt have had to be so busy against 1st div opponents.
Finally, well done to big Elvis, Great guy and has the bairns playing great stuff plus in case we have forgotten pumped oot the huns earlier Woo hoo!
Id like to see KC get a bit more match time.
Rogne was good today, pretty solid at the back and should have scored one or two as well.
Rangers fans – heed Ryan’s words
And the dark can draw you in…
But if you’re lucky. An I don’t think there’s a mug would say you are – ‘cos only money made your luck – you’re left wondering if you are lucky now…
http://youtu.be/ZSyvZXtA0-w
Apologies to Ryan and his fans and me…
U
I thought Hooper was our best player. “Scored” one, made one and set up another good chance for Stokes at the end of the first half too. Broke well, linked well and never stopped running and chasing.
viewfaethewindae, Kayal33,
Excellent positioning, strong defensively, good in the air.
It has to be said though, his distribution is awful. A punt in the sky or out the park.
If this improves he will be a good Celtic player (just my opinion)
TJ