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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Paddy G, here ye go amigo!
Paddy Galls holiday snap with in law !
V
HH
macanbheatha
Perhaps mate!
That may be another aspect yet to be outed.
I hear the currants have been sending out letters looking for next season’s money. Hmmmm. Would you pay out now for next season?
Kojo @ 20:52
dunno who p*$hed in yer cornflakes today bud but i’m quite content with a 3-1 semi final result
HH
Just voted on that awards site.
RTC is not a football blog, he has made that clear, shouldn’t really be there.
southbhoy says:
29 January, 2012 at 20:57
guy on RTC blog
“everton apparently just had a 6 million bid for jelavic accepted.
3.5 mill up front and rest in instalments. rising to 7.5 million based on goals/appearances.”
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
£3.5M up front! Everton? really?!!! My bet is that if there is a deal it’s a disguised loan, get Jelly off the books and add an income ‘fee’. Rapid can whistle for their share of any sell on. As any accountant knows, 10% of eff all is eff all.
THE EXILED TIM says:
29 January, 2012 at 20:53
Bhoy67
If we sell Sammi, which I think we will, just got a niggling feeling, we will make a few bob in the window, and as he is on decent wages, the net spend won’t be too much.
I think we will sell him if the asking price comes in, am told we will deal at 2.5m.
there is a huge list me could move off the wage bill, unfortunately the reason we want rid is the same reason no one is interested, at least in this window.
I think, sammy, paddy and loovens are potential leavers b4 tuesday.
HH
Mike
Gordon_J
What she lacks in upper support the Salmond cross saltire is more than catered for in a willingness the Laborious back benchers their efforts to uphold the heavy burden of a faintly stellar bra peddler her Canadian tether to fish fillets and millionaired bailed outs.
HH
Uly
Only if you wear the mask
HH
twists n turns:
That’s a fact too. And I’ll go you one better – the scheme they had, similar to ours, where the fans could pay up the ticket money in installments has been changed so all the payments are to be in before the season kicks off.
An obvious move to maximise cash in hand. And a disastrous one which points to some major problems behind the scenes.
I am just speculating (oh yeah?) but maybe they need the money to pay a non-commercial debtor, like, say, for example, the finance company Whyte went to for funding to see them through October, November and December …
Paddy G
Great pic of you n Attila lol
HH
Can anyone fill me in on what’s happening with Jelavic? I’m hoping he stays.
Zbyszek, this is Slask’s big season, they need to retain their top players. Would be crazy to sell.
Kojo, nae numerals? That’s me tel’t.
Snake Plissken, thank you for your kind support.
My Dear,dear,dear,frien .. Seven Fishes and Four Steaks
Pal
If..”if’s and ands”. wur Pots and Pans..’
Celtic, wid hiv won Every Single Game that they hiv Evah played
in thur Whole History..
But,
“if’s and ands”..are REALLY… jist ..
Excuses.. and
Ah Hate .. Excuses.!
Tell the Truth..
Did we or dinnae we..
No Play well , the Day… or.. No?
Ah’ ll answer that,fur Ye..
“Na, Kojo.. Ah gotta tell the Truth..’
Celtic, Squeezed oot a win, agin a Bunch of Kids..so they did”
Sure , oor team is a Young Team, but..
Nane of our Kids are as
RAW and Inexperienced. as the Falkirk Laddies..
And
That is the TRUTH.. so help me…Godot.
Kojo
yer pal.. who likes ye aloater
This might be a good time for an official letter across the SFA bows regarding the standard of officiating of their Assistant Referees at our last 2 games.
2 disallowed goals in 2 weeks one of which was 3 yards onside and the other 2 yards onside. Surely the time for action is when we are winning games and not waiting until one of these “mistakes” costs us points.
Over to you Mr Lawell
Catman
Those for the Union and the Crown
need to give a better argument rather
than scaremongering.
Paul67 says:
29 January, 2012 at 21:06
Reports of £6m bid from Everton being accepted. Spiers denying it on twitter. Why do you hope he stays, Paul?
Who fancies doing some maths on a Sunday night?
Take 10% of £6m, then add 20% of £6m, then add £750k. Take that number and subtract it from £3.5m. With all of these things there are of course variables. The big variable here will be how much a contract at circa £20k per week, that has 24 months on it, is worth regarding an early termination fee. So anywhere between £1m and £1.2m probably.
You will not be left with a big number….and your odious customers are demanding you buy 3 players with that number.
Oh you also have a £2m per month wagebill….
Chortle Chortle
PaddyG
Fair play to yer man for wearing the top.
Not for anything would I put a hun top on :>)
Sir Paul
Ah hiv fur years.. wanted tae gie ye that Message,pal..
But,noo .. at last
Ah hiv managed it!
Yep..
Whit’s wi the Numerals,kiddo..?
Ah Hate tae Type Numerals.. see?
Ah hiv enuff trouble finding the right Alphabetical Keys..
but..
‘
Numerals?
Fugggettttaboootit!!
Kojo
Well done to Falkirk today, I thought it was a really good cup game. My wife’s friend called around so most of the commentary was muted so it was even more enjoyable than normal. It was well needed relief from the tension of the mess rangers have got themselves into. As if we needed a reminder, I checked on the bbc website to see jellycrap now linked to everton.
‘GG says:
29 January, 2012 at 20:40
Mone is a narcissist.
She’ll do or say anything that will get media attention.
THCU, If Jelavis stays Rangers might be out of money soon and wages have to be paid………
SffS
Gordon64 says:
29 January, 2012 at 21:08
‘Those for the Union and the Crown’
The Great Chieftan and the SNP are for the Crown.
zbyszek.
you have more mail.
Paul67
Hundred percent agreement. Śląsk will lose the league for Legia Warsaw, this you know, but if they sell Fojut now for any money and lose it, their supporters are not going to forgive that.
If I were them I would not sell Fojut for 500 000 euros or more.
For all.
Their coach Lenczyk loved Jock Stein. Lenczyk learned how Stein’s team played. Both were occasional friends. Lenczy said that in his interview given before the game against Dubdee last year.
tweet of the day so far
Seriously? Iain Dowie commentating on an AC Milan match? It’s the equivalent of Worzel Gummidge reporting on Paris fashion week.
harharhar!!
Is it just me or do folk think that Michelle Mone has made a huge boob today?
Gordon
Last time I looked wee Eck still wants Lizzie as head of state – so lose the idea that those in favour of the union are the only ones in favour of the crown
How any celtic supporter who has witnessed the events of the last 2 years could still believe that they would be better off in an independent boigotted wee country amazes me!
HH
Am I right in thinking that the new Offensive Bill has been rubber stamped by Lizzie and will now enter statute from March?
Seven fishes,
Ah. Now that would be fun to watch!
Surely they’ll use the money from the sale to pay this £5m “deal with the taxman” though ;-)
Bhoy67
Would be sad to see Paddy go, but he wants to play and it doesn’t look like he is in Lenny’s plans.
Glenda will go if there is interest in him and he wants to leave, is his contract up in the summer ?
oldtim67
I got it, thanks. Will reply tomorrow. I must sort things out in my head.
I wonder if Traynor, Keevins et al are having trouble sleeping at night these days? I think they must, because as vocal as they like to be re the need to see the cheating filth suffer as little as possible, deep down, they must have a conscience. ANYONE who has a conscience, cannot sleep easily if they know they are betraying honesty decency and integrity. I hope it is weighing heavily upon them.
My dear,dear,dear,friend.. Mr.Z
Pal
Ah kin tell ye right noo..
FOJO…
.. this is his Noo.. Moniker.. Ma Pal, Nutsy… has jist coined it..
Isn’t it… a Brlamme???
It ends wi’ an “O”.. and it’s so…”NEATO”!!
Anyway..as Ah wiz saying..
FOJO. wull stey wi his Present Employers ,until the Season
Finishes
Obvious.. so it is…
And
Maks sense ,tae Me.
Kojo
yer pal.. who likes ye aloater.
Bundoran Bhoy – KANO 1000 says:
29 January, 2012 at 21:06
Paddy G
Great pic of you n Attila lol
********************
He kept it on all day, on his fortieth :-))
He still blames smashingmilkbottles :-)
Thanks Vnmhan, your a gent..
**********
E.T a great guy is my brother-in law, the kind of guy your proud to call’ ‘mate’.
He has met a few of the CQN lads and enjoys the craic.
Twitter post from Jaroslaw Fojut:
Thank you to all Celtic’s Fans for your welcome. I am so happy to sign for The Bhoys. I am looking forward to see you all in July.
Not really too pleased about Lenny coming out and saying what he has about Izzy’s performance today.
Yes he was posted missing for the goal, but he was caught up the field when Victor lost the ball.
He is just back from injury, and if he isn’t up to the pace of the game then why throw him in? Will do nothing for Izzy’s confidence coming out saying something like that.
Also think Krissy Commons should have been used for longer today.
Saying that, not having a moan about the performance or Neil. I was glad he went about it seriously and put out a strong team.
Onwards and upwards for this young Celtic team!
HH
Paul67
thanks
HH
M
JimmyQuinsBits
A fairly comfortable win over Falkirk should allow us the luxury of analysing the set-up and the actual overall performance. We reverted to the much derided two in the middle, with Brown playing well and Wanyama, who is more comfortable facing the play, struggling. Forrest played wide, and Cha played wider, and Emilio was expected to be both left back and left winger. Cost us too. A couple of weeks back someone on here, Eyes Wide Open I think it might have been ventured a similar critique to your own, in suggesting that while Neil Lennon puts players in the correct positions, he does not instill a tactical way of playing. Although I wasn’t convinced at the time, (it reminded of Eric Morcambe’s response to Andre Previn criticism that he was ‘playing all the wrong notes’ by arguing that no ‘he is playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order’!) I now think there is something in that. Playing two up front for example can sometimes be the equivalent of playing with ten men. We are no Barcalona but we were and are more effective when we are more fluid, less regimented in our movement, as in the movement of and space created by Gary Hooper in Anthony Stokes’ goal. Hoops did that a few times. Falkirk, like Ross County earlier in the season relied more on tactics, whereas we relied on having better players. Better teams than Falkirk would have exploited our first half format. Fair play to Lenny for changing it up, but a lesson surely learned that we cannot rely on the players playing to the same level each and every week. A bit of nous does not go amiss.