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.
582 Comments- Pages:
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Paul67
Into a cup final, we have a new Polish goal machine taken from Aunt Sally and Jellylegs on his way for only 5 Million.
Good day all round…
HH
Everton fans reaction
Quite funny really
http://www.grandoldteam.com/forum/threads/41340-Nikica-Jelavic
The Honest Cover-up says:
29 January, 2012 at 19:39
I agree that we are missing Kayal and I felt that we need a straight replacement for him in the midfield rather than shuffle the pack around. I got pelters for suggesting Ian Black of Hearts and fair enough but I think it will be difficult for us at times without Kayal or a reasonable facsimile.
I won’t repeat here what I’ve said about Michelle Mone on Facebook. I’ll say only that someone who threatens to throw people out of work if she doesn’t like a democratic decision taken in a referendum is someone the country can well do without, whether independent or not.
This selfish, arrogant numpty left the Labour Party when they put income tax up for top earners, and showed her colours well and truly.
Michelle Mone cares only about Michelle Mone.
I would be more concerned with the fact Salmond and his toady’s have offered to meet her and alleviate her concerns when they should have taken a proper stand and said they’d help her pack her bags.
The first act of any independant Scottish Parliament should be to pass a law saying companies based here who want to leave have to pay an “economic relocation tax”, to go towards the costs of helping the workers who are thrown out of their jobs.
In the end, this silly sod invented a bra. A bra. Not a cure for a deadly disease or a world changing invention. I think we’ll survive without her.
Brilliant quote from an Everton fan regarding the potential signing of Jelly
“I know nothing about him other than he has scored goals in Scotland, which is about as unreliable a form guide as is possible. For every Henrik Larsson and Paolo Di Canio, there are seventy Kris Boyds.”
MICK11,
The link to his silly interview will hopefully be on Shortbread.
The link to Sutton’s comments are in page 211 of his autobiography ‘Paradise and Beyond’.
i would have typed the whole page but think I would be in breach of copyrite law….
TJ
Watching Stade Rennais vs Marseille.
Huge black and red flares going off all over the ground. Wonder if any of the local polis will be reporting them to UEFA?
May you have a long and prosperous career son.
Renneais just scored a 25 yard cracker.
Oglach
You beat me to it,
Priceless comment from Everton fanzine
Evening All
Despite the victory today I can’t help but feel quite dis-satisfied.
I really don’t buy into this wonderful Falkirk rubbish and I worry about this current Celtic team.
A proportionate note of caution or a Victor Meldrew complex? I’ll let those still reading this judge.
It is becoming increasingly clear to me that Celtic are not properly drilled the way a professional outfit should be.
Celtic can look ordinary against any team.
The same silly mistakes, panicky actions and poor situation management rear their head time and time again. Such as …
Routinely giving up chances in the first 2 minutes of games
A predictable shape (stretch it wide when we’ve got the ball, keep it narrow when we don’t) which makes us look all over the place against any team that can play 3 consecutive passes in the middles of the park.
Getting a goal to go 2-1 ahead and then trying to play free kicks quickly instead of getting the cigars out.
Seeing the ref preparing to book an opponent but trying to interrupt him by a quick free quick when we are winning? (WTF – Ki ??)
Lack of recognition of the main danger in the other team – Falkirk’s best player today finally took a sore one in the, wait for it, 92nd minute.
Mistake upon mistake for the goal. Jesus wept.
1st – Wanyama’s shocking pass
2nd – Cha’s lack of commitment to the challenge
3rd – Izaguerre’s lack of backtracking
4th – Mulgrew being dragged out of position by a Falkirk player running towards two other Celts
5th – Forster’s slow reactions.
If just one of these 5 men had done an adequate job that goal would have been prevented.
A truly professional football unit would have used their experience to suffocate a bunch of young boys on such a big occasion. We were not that unit today.
Please be assured – I am chuffed to bits at where we are in the league and both cups but I think we are still a long long way from being a good team.
Hail Hail
PS – Brilliant point made on last thread by someone (Gerard766 perhaps?). If Falkirk are really that great, then NewCo can GTF. The Scottish game at the 2nd tier is in BRILLIANT health and bankrupt FC will clearly not be missed.
Izzy is clearly not fit.
Cha just not good enough.
VW and JF not at their best.
Big FF had a good game.
Missing Kayal to give the team shape.
AS didn’t do much but like a good striker scored when it mattered.
Room for improvement.
Paddy G, are ye gonnae send that picture thing to me and I’ll make an attempt to do something with the photie so that all can enjoy the moment, ta.
V
The Honest Cover-up says:
29 January, 2012 at 19:39
Bhoy67 says:
29 January, 2012 at 18:49
Good summary.
I think we are really missing Kayal.
I agree with that, I hope he is a quick healer, such a presence in the middle, always looking for the ball, mostly missed for his tackling back and tenacity.
It will be interesting to see what Ibahim brings to the team, hearing he is a proper no9 and very skilled.
lets hope
HH
Mike
What has the bold Michelle Mone done now, offered the Rangers management team her support? :-)
oglach
I read that. So true and so funny.
Very few Celts have failed down there compared to their wonder boys who almost to a man flop.
Interesting really.
James Forrest is Lennon says:
29 January, 2012 at 20:14
it is a mighty fine bra… although we’re better of without it ;)
My take on today’s game:
A team performance against inferior opponents, with a few individual moments of class to win the match. End of.
‘Mon Mone!
;)
Kayal33 says:
29 January, 2012 at 20:06
You’re dead right about the need to give our youngsters more of a chance and young McGeouch will be a star for us in time (soon I hope). I’m like a wean in a sweetie shop. I want Celtic to sign all the great footballers and live in eternal fear that if we don’t, they (Rangers) will.
James Forrest
An Independent Scotland can go F*** itself up its Loyalist erse.
If idiots vote for it I will take my wife and kids across the border that day.
One Nation? Not for Roman Catholics like myself as far as I can see…
Mick11
Les mots plus justes.
Elvis always was and is a phoney; A clown figure whose poor credentials have been a godsend for Jabba et al their huddled attribution the next day knock down of any manager but Sally in a smoke screened universe of similar copy across the rags, both redtop and broadsheet.
Jabba is the key, a twisted sister Tim lost for all eternity the lying entreaties the busted flush who promised floating pitches and moon high casinos upon them golden fields of Govan.
feckthemall.csc
James Forrest
Surprised you are getting your underwear in a twist over the pathetic self publicist fat bra woman……sorry but talk of salmond getting involved in anything connected with this individual makes me even more sure we are heading for some 3rd world bannana republic…….government by soundbite and soundbite alone.
Mick11
For me it was us who should be glad sutton left when he did. His attutude was pathetic after Larsson left, and when the gravy train was drying up, even worse for comeone so well rewarded as he had been. As with MON he was good when Larsson was there and the money was flowing into their accounts and all looked fine…… when the going got tough then these guys were best to be gone….It was all transactional, no walking over broken glass involved I am afraid.
Lads is it true there’s a 20% sell on clause going to rapid for the sale of jellyfish?
ASonOfDan says:
29 January, 2012 at 20:24
James Forrest
An Independent Scotland can go F*** itself up its Loyalist erse.
100% correct
nuff said
HH
Mike
Vmhan Supporting Lenny! says:
29 January, 2012 at 20:18
You still on the Shammy email bud??
Wonder what the headlines would have been tomorrow if Lenny had pushed falkirk players out of the way in an effort to confront the referee like big elvis did at half time.
The after match interviewer bottled it by failing to let elvis know that the referee was indeed correct to award the penalty that had upset him so much, and indeed incorrectly chalked off a perfectly good celtic goal.
Just hearing we have formally bid £250k
To bring Fojut to the club before the window closes.
Cant say the board are not backing Lennon this time around methinks.
HH
Mike
If anyone can access James Forrest devestating and hilarious critique on facebook about bra tycoon Michelle Mone I would urge them to do so,its the funniest thing ive read in ages
ASOD
Was that necessary ?
Not fit for the blog.
I can’t believe I was watching the same game as the BBC commentators today.
Falkirk should be up at half time? I thought they played some nice passes in midfield but had little or no penetration. I counted the goal, a wild shot from the left side of the box and the cross FF caught with one hand as their only threats. Celtic had a good goal disallowed, most possession, hit the woodwork a couple of times, keeper had a couple of saves. BBC hardly mentioned Celtic at half time.
Second half, always felt we were in control.
Thank god I wisnae watching it on the wireless. I would have been convinced we were getting hammered.
Thought Scott Brown did well today. Rogne was strong.
I feel we can be vulnerable if two full backs go forward and no-one tucks in behind. The diagonal ball into the full back space seems to be the main threat to us.
The interviewer at the end was a disgrace, allowing Elvis’ rant to without pointing out the good goal disallowed and the fact that it was a clear penalty. Alos thought we should have had a pen when the guy knocked the ball onto the bar with his arm.
Still, good to be the only team who can win a treble.
ggh
I really really have a good feeling about brozek but I have a sneaky feeling that sammi may be sold on tues?
ASonofDan
I agree with you completely.
The good news is that I’ve not met anyone yet who is in openly in favour of independance.
SPF
Look lhads it’s a fundamental part of the fabric of this special place that we stick-up for well-upholstered females of a certain vintage……..
She may be a self-aggrandising, wanton, self- publicist, but she’s Our self-aggarandising………..etc etc.
HH (size)
Well, no one can say Michelle Mone doesn’t have her knockers now.
I just think Kris Commons should be playing from the start, today was an ideal opportunity for that. There was a number of players not quite on form today and I think he would improve the team.
hen1rik says:
29 January, 2012 at 20:27
Have Rapid even been fully paid for the original transfer fee?
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy says:
29 January, 2012 at 20:13
Can’t say I’d want Ian Black any where near the club but I agree we don’t have a like for like replacement amongst our impressive quota of midfielders. I think it says a lot about Ki that he still can’t get into our first XI with Kayal out. I don’t see the £10m player people talk about. Just see a player who rarely gives away possession but even more rarely wins back possession, breaks up moves or plays a killer pass. A taller, more marketable Mark Crosas if you will! Hits a good shot but his corners are woeful. Having said that, he did fine today though when he came on.
I think we are just going to have to plunder on with the midfield options we can. The board, quite justifiably I think, would scoff at the request to sign yet another midfielder.
Read at the time that Kayal’s absence could be “up to 4 months”. With a bit of luck that will be the worst case scenario and he may be back sooner than we’ve been told.
pauloantony:
Apparently there was a rumour doing the rounds today that he’s wanted by a club in Spain and that they’ve made an offer.
I’d like him to stay. Obviously.
macanbheatha says:
29 January, 2012 at 20:34
hen1rik says:
29 January, 2012 at 20:27
Have Rapid even been fully paid for the original transfer fee?
Beleive there is still 1 million to pay plus 20% of any sell on fee
HH
Mike