Celtic blitzed into the lead after an incredible opening two minutes of tonight’s SPL encounter at Tynecastle and went on to record one of their most impressive performances in years.
Hearts were miles behind the visitors in every department but could have taken the lead after a minute when Andy Webster was left unattended at a corner kick and his downward header was met inside the six yard box by Stephen Elliot who knocked the ball goal-ward. Joe Ledley intercepted on the line but the ball bounced net-side. As Elliot prepared to celebrate the left hand of Fraser Forster appeared from nowhere to remove any possibility of the officials having sight of the ball. Comments on Celtic Quick News suggest it looked a goal at the time and replays did little to contradict that view.
If the never-give-up spirit is alive inside Fraser Forster his captain was no less focussed tonight. Georgios Samaras cleared the ball out of the box and Scott Brown turned defence into attack with a deft flick on the middle of the field. Brown fed James Forrest who whipped in a cross that rebounded off Samaras, now inside the Hearts box to Scott Brown, who had jetted into the area. The captain steadied before shooting low past MacDonald in the Hearts goal.
The game was only two minutes old but we already knew we were in for a night to remember.
Full of confidence Scott Brown tried a decent effort from 30 yards that went narrowly over but Celtic were not to be denied a second for long. On 20 minutes Charlie Mulgrew’s deep corner was knocked back in by Forrest to Victor Wanyama, who turned and scooped the ball high into the net.
Celtic were motoring and looked streets ahead of their hosts as the reverential home support looked on.
By now Hearts looked more likely to score into their own goal. On three occasions in the opening 30 minutes MacDonald had to scramble across his goal under pressure from his own team. Zaliukas came closest to knocking the ball into his own net but his ‘clearance’ went narrowly wide.
Just after the 30 minute mark Scott Brown robbed Zaliukas as he took the ball out of defence and fed Samaras. Georgios hit the bye-line and send in a deep cross which hung at the back post just long enough for Joe Ledley to stretch and nod home. Celtic were 0-3 up and already guaranteed to move four points clear at the top of the table.
The fourth goal came on 60 minutes after one of the finest moves of the game saw Matthews feed Hooper and the striker tee-up Joe Ledley whose shot hit the post and was turned behind. Mulgrew’s resultant corner was met by Victor Wanyama and could have bounced over the line but Gary Hooper was on hand to clear up any doubt to hit the roof of the net from a distance no farther than 6 inches.
Late on Kelvin Wilson cleared out of the Celtic box to Samaras who was 40 yards from his own goal. The Greek international ran 50 yards before testing MacDonald from distance.
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Isnt football a funny funny funny game!!
We have had nearly 4 years of despair at watching that huns win 3iar.
We have watched injustices
Had rows with the mrs because she just seemed to perfect the nack of saying something foolish at the wrong time, like ‘sure its only a game’
Had rows with eachother
Celtic has brought on more frustration and heartache for most of us, than anyone else in that time period.
Then all of a sudden the last week is sprung on us.
For the guys lucky enough to have been part of and helped create the carnival atmospheres that those of us lucky enough to have been watching on TV or listening to the radio have experienced – those 3+ years of pain have been worthwhile.
Not only with the unique atmosphere and songs the notorious Celtic fans have created – but also in the knowledge of just how much salt is being rubbed into the wounds of the worst people in our societies.
Karma can be a wonderful thing.
‘no huns in scotland’ topped off what I thought had already had 3 or 4 ‘toppings’ off!!!!!
Il always harbour back to Martin O’Neills teams because they gave me my first ever sustained period of success as a Celtic supporter and your 1st love always keeps a special place in your heart.
However its time to accept there is a new team in town, a new team who starting to smash the domestic records that MONs teams broke.
I for one – as one who has been very weather beaten in the last nearly 4 years (and plus) has started to see the light.
Il only go as far back as ICT because we were poor vs Falkirk (I know I know it will take me time!!) however this new swagger the bhoys have – the mental strength and confidence which saw half our team physically beat men far stronger than them in countless challenges all over the park today is all I have ever wanted from a Celtic team.
11 men who play as I would out on that pitch.
Im a happy man tonight.
Tonight we emptied Tynecastle after 30 minutes.
THAT is history in the making.
Kalinihta big Sammi,another Greek God
perfomance.
Well done to Neil Lennon and his heroic Bhoys for tonight’s demolition of hapless Hearts. The stats speak for themselves…
Celtic’s full domestic record since NL took charge now reads:
Played 88
Won 70
Drawn 9
Lost 9
Scored 199
Conceded 57
Clean sheets 49
Failed to score 7
NL’s team has won 79.5% of it’s games and lost just 1 in every 9.8.
It has kept a clean sheet in 55.7% of it’s games whilst scoring in 92.0% of them, averaging 2.26 goals scored and 0.65 conceded per game.
It is now 831 minutes of game time since a Scottish team playing at home to Celtic has managed to put the ball past a Celtic ‘keeper.
Surely it is only a matter of time before they discover what actually goes on during Fraser Forster’s unusual pre-match limbering-up routine, where he skips from one goalpost across to the other one and back, several times. I have now discovered Forster’s little secret!
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
For comparison, here is Rangers’ domestic record (up to and including the 0-2 home Scottish Cup defeat against Dundee United) since NL took charge at Celtic Park:
Played 83
Won 60
Drawn 10
Lost 13
Scored 177
Conceded 67
Clean sheets 39
Failed to score 11
Rangers have won 72.3% of their games and lost 1 in every 6.4.
They have kept a clean sheet in 47.0% of their games whilst scoring in 86.7% of them, averaging 2.13 goals scored and 0.81 conceded per game.
…….watched the game in a rural boozer surrounded by scousers cheering on the hoops with huge fervour. Heart-warming.
enjoyable and relaxing.
Thanks Bhoys.
Every day, every moment……..CELTIC.
HH.
ict can’t come quick enough
Absolutely fantastic team performance tonight, reminiscent of Henrik in the snow in MON’s treble season. That was the night a team was born then and i firmly believe the same about tonight.
I thought Scott Brown was immense, his wee flick and finish for the first goal confirmed the boy can play but his harrying and driving runs were what tonight wss all about. The midfield in particular tonight were fantastic, big Vic, Super Joe and James were terrific. Didn’t give them a minute on the ball and strangled the lifr out of Taouil who was their playmaker. We counter attacked at pace similar to how we did under Martin but we also showed strength and dig which was a massive part of that team’s make up.
I am really excited about this team and hopefully big things to come from them, unless of course ss Tanner and Levein both hoped tonight that they all get bought by English or Russian teams ,o)
ASonOfDan says:
8 February, 2012 at 22:37
Where did you hear about Eck at Villa?
think wilson’s inclusion into the back line helps the whole team to push further up the park because his pace can counter the threat of long high balls for strikers to run on to, add a commanding centre half and your in business, add victor covering them and it becomes very difficult to bully or outrun celtic’s last line of defence.
T4
Lenny admited it was a goal, and said we got a break, he also said it was more of a goal than the one agin the hun, which was not a goal as the whole ball did NOT cross the line.
The hun media have not yet produced anything to confirm it did, and they never will cos it wasn’t a goal.
Paul67
If the huns go into administration can the CQN charity maybe do its wee bit and help out by buying/bidding for
the Loving cup (as good neighbours) and maybe rename it the
“the loving IT cup”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dJpf3zOXd4
Ps maybe change the toast from” the Queen” at new year to ” Absent fiends”
Where was all the outrage from wee Chico and the other pundits when Celtic were denied clear goals v St Mirren & Falkirk.
It was 0-0 v Bairns at the time, just like tonight when the incident happened, hardly a mention.
Not that I’m paranoid.
O’neill must be looking at Lenny at the moment with a sense of pride close to that you have looking at your first born !
Clough moulded his influence onto O’neill
O’neill moulded his influence onto his favourite son Lennon
Lennon ….
I’m speechless!
Our very own Kevin Bridges on Beeb1 right now.
HH
TTTT
Most of my posts tonight seem to have been lost in cyberspace. Enough said. As Steve Lomas said, we are awesome.
WE SHALL NOT NOT BE MOVED.
Huns new home kit revealed tomorrow…. White shirt, black tie! HH
I advised Neil via twitter to remember last year when we beat Hearts, that we started with a high tempo, defended from the front, forced the Hearts’ defenders into mistakes and that the same again would be fine.
One thing you can say about our Neil is that he is a good listener-:).
I predicted 4-0 with Pawel getting a debut goal.
You can’t get them all right.
Celtic were imperious.
Árd Macha
Eyes wide open
great post and goodnight
If I had been able to put wurdz into Neil’s mooth…..
“Aye, 4 – wan, wid a been an acceptable result. happy noo Roddy, Doddy, Duggy,,,,,,,,,,?”
Up Yeeez.
:)))))
Celtic have only once beaten Hearts by more than a 4 goal margin 5-0. The club was only 2 years old – August 1890, with goals from Madden (2), Groves (2) and Dowds. It was a pyrrhic victory, however, as one of our players, James Bell, was later ruled ineligible and the club were deducted 4 points.
It was Celtic’s first ever Scottish League game. Plus ça change…
Tonight was the fifth time we have achieved victory by a 4 goal margin at Tynecastle.
The first in Feb 1926 (4-0), then Sep 1938 (5-1), Nov 1984 (5-1) and then under Tommy Burns in 1995 (4-0).
Willie Maley, Davie Hay, Tommy Burns. Neil Lennon is adding his own brush-strokes to our history.
Seven Fishes
If on the evidence of Hearts is being one of the better teams in the SPL il admit I might have set the bar higher than is necessary..
Tonight they were faultless
My concerns remain as they were for when the level of quality steps up a level or two
Tonight I dont even want to delve in any further because 11 men have given me such an enormous sense of pleasure it would be a total disservice to say anything even remotely negative.
Who we beat, where we beat them and how we beat them – almost as good as beating the snr huns
Great result tonight and we`ll be looking for a repeat on Saturday! :-)
T4
we need to get a drink soon, seems ole canamlar has been caught up in some kind of baby sitting rota…
not a good thing in my opinion…thoughts? o)
Broon had his best game ever for Celtic tonight.
There.
I said it.
What a fantastic performance from the team and the fans.
stephbhoy says:
8 February, 2012 at 22:45
Thats a fair comment and good observation
Not seen a bit of it yet. Even gave up the chance of a late ticket.
Anyway exactly the storming performance required. Wiping them off the face off the earth.
13 SPL wins in a row – rangers just can’t beat consistency. Even the game at dunfermline early on Saturday afternoon now looks tough for them but we need not worry about them anymore.
Gold star
Wee chick still rages about an award of a free kick at St mirren 4years ago nevermind goals or pens
Hurting Hun
UC
blantyretim says:
8 February, 2012 at 22:41
Mea Culpe… well Lioness Culpe but I would not grass her up… It will be sent honestly this week.. Had a hectic few weeks but thats not an excuse. Apologies
Nafos
Just looked oota the windae and , though Hell has not yet frozen over, there is definitely a covering of ice gathering over near Govan :-)
This is the one.
I listened to the last 5mins of shortbread tonight & the chat from some of the panel was Celtic should have been a goal behind
and down to ten men !
Wishful thinking. I can take the goal down bit although not conclusive,however if they say Joe handled & a penalty was the
?correct decision” are they taking for granted that they score the penalty or do they want the goal & Joe off ?
Did the wee huns score the last penalty against us ?
B*****ks. Who gives a Bombay ? Final score 4-0. Well done Neil and the bhoys.
When I first saw the Hearts effort at the beginning of the game I thought it was a goal. However I wasn’t really concerned, I was still very confident in the team. A bit relieved when it wasn’t given. Loved the way we went up the pitch and scored.
I thought Brown’s finish was emphatic! It had attitude that one.
Feels great to finally hammer that mob.
The strength in depth of our squad is scary – Izzaguirre, Commons, still to come in, Pavel likewise. Our top-scorer can’t get a game and our best midfielder is out injured. And Ki.
Nice to see Dan back too.
And of course there’s Paddy.
Re the baw over the line shenanigans……
1. “These things even themselves out over the course of a season”
2. I don’t actually care – seen enough given against us
3. See (1) above
J&I CSC
success all round next up ict at home, lets refocus we have a league to win and if we keep on winning our games we win the league
we have won a lot of football matches recently but the team might be hitting form just at the right time
Fabulous.
Should have scored more.
their goal wouldn’t have mattered a jot.
View from the top, magnificent
#jellyandicecream
Thats twice the day i have been left a the tailend and have to type again :((.
Anyone notice the lack of orc tops on view since Dec 28th Imagine being ashamed of the shame.
Its a good time to be a tim thank you Neil and the Bhoys,Iwas one of the scott Brown doubters but as Kojo says a change in circumstances can lead to a change in opinion and now i love the player he has grown into.
A leaderand the player i always prayed we had bought,LETS ALL DO THE BROONIE\o/ \o/ \o/.The skys the limit for this team. Tonight was the cherry on Martin 42s birthday cake. HAIL HAIL
EWO
i was going to agree with stephbhoy
but that would now mean agreeing with you
is that allowed :¬))
Two small points:
1) I believe Sammi deliberately laid the ball off to Broonie for the first
2) Can’t believe the short recovery time and then the speed of Big Vic’s turn for the second
Blantyretim, you’ve been shared.
saltires en sevilla, thanks. I sure did.
neveralone, aye, maybe.
EXILED TIM, you were indeed.
BigChips, you’ve been shared too.
jc2, what an excellent idea.
notafanofstan, you’ve also been shared. Can’t argue on tonight’s performance.