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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479 Comments- Pages:
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AAFG says:
8 February, 2012 at 23:02
Good on you,hail hail.
AAFT
any time buddy…
BT
Well done bhoys! Great performance throughout the team backed by the fans. Great to hear the funereal tones of that shower on B.B.C. Scotland who thought the game was decided in the first minute and wanted to talk about anything rather than Celtic. Keep going Bhoys – Sock it to them!
nafos
I agree.
Scott Brown is in a rich vein of form these past 4 games but fans had every justification for having concerns over his first 3 years with us. The transfer fee hung like a millstone around him.
He was never as bad as his critics painted but he did have shortcomings in passing and assisting the attack which we expected not to see in a £4m player.
He was not as good as his defenders claimed either because, though he undoubtedly ran a lot and helped out our defenders, his leadership skills and his popularity with his team-mates were not as evident because we were losing leagues and we expected a good leader to be turning us into a good winning team.
I think Scott has always had the respect of players and management. Who could not love his commitment and energy? But the fans wanted someone to play to their gallery a bit more.
Scott discovered the key to a better relationship with our fans in February 2011 when he invented The Broonie.
His passing is still too erratic to be considered top drawer but he’s certainly maturing as an attacker.
Fans?? we can be pretty shallow at times
AAFT
has moved from G…
defo night
Lubo
Rumours on the internet that raingers have bid for a Chad Hogan…
Don’t think they’ll be able to push that one through in time…
voguepunter says:
8 February, 2012 at 23:05
Celtic Champs Elect says:
8 February, 2012 at 22:58
I am afraid I agree with Pf ayr,
not the Celtic way to hold grudges,
remember when you were giving James Forrest
big licks,so what ,you’re not always right
neither is anyone else on the blog.
Let it go and enjoy the moment.
Hail hail
at least james had tha balls to come on and apologise as for the other two until they come on here and apologise and admit they got it terribly wrong then i will take them to task and ridicule them in the way they did to my manager my team and my board sorry if that annoys you bud.
Happy Happy Joy Joy. Job done and than some!
McLeish leaves Villa. Is the curse of the Hun reeking it’s revenge on all who are tainted by it?
Night to all ye in CQNland and beyond!
BT
Daft as I am, even I worked that out.
Celtic First and Vogue Punter – thank you. I was just so happy to state the obvious.
Cheers
Alex
You know what, I’m going into games now with an attitude, belief and confidence as a fan that I’ve not felt since Martin O’Neill was sweeping all before him.
We just look so resolute, hungry, skilful and dominant.
We are living in special times in so many, many ways.
Cce
Why the hostility to Celtic fans on a great night for our club?
Celtic Champs Elect says:
8 February, 2012 at 23:12
Doesn’t annoy me per se ,but
I do not remember you posting
support for the team only rants
against other posters,if I am wrong
I apologise in advance.
AAFG says:
8 February, 2012 at 23:15
Your welcome,still thinking of
you and yours,God bless.
VP
never be afraid to agree with me …i`m always right
ask BT
TTTT/BT
how dare you consider a lowlife night out without me
next you`ll be leaving out GL2
Got a great txt tonight – fae somebody that knows a bit
“At the start of the season who would have thought a team minus Kayal Ki Commons and Izaguiree would have went to Tynecastle and handed Hertz their arses”
Makes ya think
Play
up_over_goal,
Sorry, rubbish attempt at a joke, I admit :-)
Lubo.
McLeish hasn’t gone, it was a spoof twitter account that posted it. The cat in the hat remains, for now…..
Nuclear Bovril and a Half Munched Pie says:
8 February, 2012 at 23:13
And im just watching Law Obiding Citizen too!!!!
Huns
Wee huns
Thatcher
Paisley
England managers
Mcleish
Whatever next!?!?
I urge every Celtic fan to go out and buy a lottery ticket!
001Bhoy, yes, very apt.
….PFayr says:
8 February, 2012 at 23:18
Impossible ,I am always right and
I never apologise,unless the wife
forces me to.
Just seen Brown’s goal again. The flick round Taouil was class and the finish emphatic!
Buenos noches Celtic fans everywhere!
Doing broonie in my sleep /
TET,
Sorry you didn’t have a punt. I don’t bet online or at the cream cookies much either (rather drink it), but it was the score I predicted to my two young bhoys before the game.
If I’m being honest it was a bit of bravado, trying to be confident for them, though probably not convincing them.
As you quite rightly say, the above is all chat, all that matters is the result.
19 point swing and counting.
Árd Macha
Where is this story of McLeish gone from Villa come from, can’t find it anywhere ?
voguepunter says:
8 February, 2012 at 23:16
Celtic Champs Elect says:
8 February, 2012 at 23:12
Doesn’t annoy me per se ,but
I do not remember you posting
support for the team only rants
against other posters,if I am wrong
I apologise in advance.
thanks for your apology accepted i took the said posters to task on many occasions regarding the manager the team and the board in my era you support the team the manager thru thick and thin unlike said posters. Its now my turn to call them out and i TOLD THEM AT THE TIME THEY WERE RIDICULING MY MANGER MY TEAM MY BOARD . PS I am so happy tonight i feel its my duty to call them out
TET
it`s bull
….PFayr says:
8 February, 2012 at 23:18
Taking a slagging from the Scottish less intelligent version of Brian Moore is low
Celtic Champs Elect says:
8 February, 2012 at 23:24
Did not happen.
FIN
low life night out…
im yer man….
Re Alex Mcliesh
Strangely enough the official AV website leads with…
“Angry McLeish insists: we need to get ugly to cure defensive issues”
You know where I’m going with this don’t you?
LOL
QUOTE “setting free the bears says:
8 February, 2012 at 23:10
nafos
I agree.
Scott Brown is in a rich vein of form these past 4 games but fans had every justification for having concerns over his first 3 years with us. The transfer fee hung like a millstone around him.
He was never as bad as his critics painted but he did have shortcomings in passing and assisting the attack which we expected not to see in a £4m player.
He was not as good as his defenders claimed either because, though he undoubtedly ran a lot and helped out our defenders, his leadership skills and his popularity with his team-mates were not as evident because we were losing leagues and we expected a good leader to be turning us into a good winning team.
I think Scott has always had the respect of players and management. Who could not love his commitment and energy? But the fans wanted someone to play to their gallery a bit more.
Scott discovered the key to a better relationship with our fans in February 2011 when he invented The Broonie.
His passing is still too erratic to be considered top drawer but he’s certainly maturing as an attacker.
Fans?? we can be pretty shallow at times”
+1
\o/
Lubo
Oops. Sorry – didn’t get the reference (blush)
VP
you can come too….o))
Here is a 1st – NO ARGUMENTS please bhoys for goodness sake
Lets just basque in what has happened tonight
Lets feel Lennons inner most feeling of pride at this very moment in time at what we have just done
Concern yourself with nothing else
No man in Scotland deserves THAT feeling more
Im going to bed thinking of that feeling
Hail hail
off to bed.
great night. great result. a night where 3points = 4 points.
smashin’.
Eyes Wide Open says:
8 February, 2012 at 23:28
Here is a 1st – NO ARGUMENTS please bhoys for goodness sake
Lets just basque in what has happened tonight
BASQUE?? That might be taking the celebrations too far :-)
….PFayr
It’s quite spectacular how a tweet or a post can go viral so quickly.
How many times now have we been waithing for the admin day ?
One massive comfort is we know it will happen soon enough :>)
blantyretim says:
8 February, 2012 at 23:28
VP
you can come too….o))
You calling me low life?
not having it ,I’m a Celtic fan ,therefore
I’m with all the Angels in HEAVEN
Night night all,another great night
to be a Tim.