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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Who got Manager of the month?
Shirley it couldn’t be anyone but Lennon?
But hey it’s the Laptop Loyal and I suppose Ally is in with a shout.
.
GG..
Yea I was Wondering that..
Mayo..
That’s why I Linked it rather than Copy and Paste.. I case the Delusion was Contagous..
Re; Sammi POTY.. Lenny Told us He would get Him.. The Sack.. of Trophies..;0)
Summa ft SLPPOTYCSC
I’d just like to say, the ba’ didn’t cross the line and i can’t beleive Harry aint in the old pokey waitin for craigy to join him.
From the official website penned by the delighted and delightful Laura Brannan.
8 February 2012
Scottish Premier League
Tynecastle Stadium
HEARTS 0
CELTIC 4
(Brown 3, Wanyama 20, Ledley 31, Hooper 60)
CELTIC produced one of the most impressive performances of the season to beat Hearts 4-0 at Tynecastle, and restore their four-point lead at the top of the table.
Scott Brown opened the scoring on just three minutes with his fourth strike in as many games, before Victor Wanyama doubled the Hoops’ advantage. Joe Ledley then headed home to send his side into the break with a three-goal lead, and Gary Hooper completed the comprehensive victory on the hour mark, extending Celtic’s domestic winning run to 16 games, including 13 in the SPL.
Matches at Tynecastle are usually heated straight from kick-off but it was an especially dramatic opener in the capital with action at both ends within seconds. Joe Ledley cleared the ball off the line from an early Hearts corner and from there Celtic went on the break to open the scoring.
The ball broke to the Hoops captain, and Brown, January’s SPL Player of the Month, rifled his side into the lead on just three minutes, slotting his strike into the bottom of the net.
It was a blistering start for Neil Lennon’s team, who haven’t lost a league game since their last visit to Tynecastle in October. And Brown had a chance to then double Celtic’s lead on nine minutes, sending the ball just over Jamie MacDonald’s bar.
The Hoops didn’t have to wait long for their second of the evening, however, and it was Wanyama, who provided the winner against Hearts at Celtic Park in November, who slammed home on the 20th minute.
James Forrest, who was the only change to the side which defeated Inverness Caledonian Thistle at the weekend, took the first shot but it deflected into the path of the Kenyan who clinically lifted it over MacDonald.
Andy Webster came close to turning the ball into his own net seven minutes later but Celtic didn’t need the helping hand as they had full control of proceedings and extended their lead just after the half-hour mark.
Georgios Samaras made a blistering run down the left flank and crossed the ball to the far post. With acres of space around him, Ledley headed it into the open net to make it three for Celtic, with only a third of the match gone.
And the visitors continued to dominate play right up to half-time when they went into the break with the comfortable three-goal lead.
Celtic remained dominant throughout the match and Ledley almost scored his second of the night, but his shot spun off the post. From the resulting set-piece, Wanyama then played the ball on to Hooper, who bundled it over the line to make it 4-0 for Celtic and secure his 17th goal of the season.
Daniel Majstorovic was then introduced to play for his first run-out since fracturing his cheekbone the week before Christmas, replacing Thomas Rogne in central defence.
And with the points secured, new Bhoy, Pawel Brozek, was then handed his debut with 17 minutes left on the clock. The striker replaced the magnificent Brown and supported fellow substitute, Anthony Stokes, up front as Celtic searched for a fifth.
And the Irishman came close to scoring with the last move of the game. A final goal wasn’t needed as the match was already wrapped up and Celtic extended their winning run in the SPL to 13 games, 16 in all domestic competitions.
HEARTS (4-4-2): MacDonald, Hamill, McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, Taouil, Robinson (Santana 71), Mrowiec, Grainger (Skacel 63); Driver (Glen 46), Elliot
Subs not used: Ridgers, Barr, Obua, Holt
CELTIC (4-4-2): Forster; Matthews, Rogne (Majstorovic 63), K. Wilson, Mulgrew; Forrest, Brown (Brozek 73), Wanyama, Ledley; Hooper (Stokes 66), Samaras
Subs not used: Zaluska, Cha, Ki, Commons
Website man of the match: Georgios Samaras
dannysbeard says:
8 February, 2012 at 23:38
gaun the Hoops!
Has anybody got a link for the game ?
Try this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4t5YNiWuWY&feature=uploademail
Cheers, Tobago
Does anyone know how to cancel a bid on E-bay?!!? I put a bid in for a cowboy outfit and am six minutes away from owning Rangers FC!! ;)
Ok. I’m not usually one to blow my own trumpet, but here goes . . .
Tom McLaughlin says:
8 February, 2012 at 12:06
I just do not see Hearts living with Celtic tonight. They are a poor team, in poor form and a club in complete disarray.
Celtic will molocate them, no problem.
Hearts 0-4 Celtic
Hail Hail
Just watched the game – fabulous performance and result. Not an underperformer out there. Broonie was again instrumental in leading the team and getting on the scoresheet. Charlie was magnificent and it was good to see big Vic get back on his game. The Hearts ‘goal’ looked over the line on first view but fair play to Ledley and big Fraser for keeping it at 0-0. When we broke up field, Broonie’s midfield play was world class, beating the man in the middle and getting the ball wide to James. All in all a great night.
Morning Celts, thanks to Lenny’s Lions, yet again it’s off to work this morning with a huge grin, it’ll all end in tears……. For der hun!
:>)
-2c but dry and calm in the NW of engerlund.
V
Not that it matters now, but I cannot believe the coverage of the non-goal in the 2nd minute. The TV view from the left side was inconclusive, so they showed it from near the half-way line. They froze the frame with the ball appearing to be over the line. However, they did not play the next couple of frames which, if what they said was correct, would show the ball rising again, having bounced off the surface. They showed this shot many times, but never once showed the next couple of frames.
My conclusion? How do we know that frozen frame was not while the ball was still dropping? Would the next frame have shown the ball actually on the line, and the next one the ball rising again?
I dont know, because they chose, for whatever reason, not to show the next couple of frames. I can only surmise as to why that is.
I guess we all can.
.
Tom..
The Ball was Still dropping I applied the Olde Indian..SOH CAH TOA of Triangulation fame to Work it Out.. Ha..
I already Applauded Your Prediction..
Hope Yir Guid..
Summa ft GreenIndiansCSC
All that aside, what a marvellous performance from this magnificent Celtic squad. Again Scott Brown was immense, but he was in very good company. This was 4 going on 7 and I am so proud of every one of our players, manager, coaching staff and the Board of Directors.
Last, but not least, the support last night was out of this world. The robust rendition of “Celtic, Celtic, that’s the team for me” was the icing on my cake. I used to sing that to my baby sons 25 years ago.
It’s all taking shape for us now. Let us savour it with all our hearts. It has been a long time coming. I personally am only too delighted that at this particular point is our history, Neil Lennon is the manager.
If and when we win the treble, to the backdrop of Rangers going bust, there will be murderous thoughts afoot. That shower will be out for blood, more so because Neil is the man to put them to the sword. We all saw how they reacted to Neil last season, and that was without the threat of liquidation.
I fear for the Celtic support in Scotland come May and beyond. Those cretins will not blame themselves or their own club. Not for one second. They will look to the Irish/Catholic/Celtic upstarts who have put the knife into them. It will all be our doing.
I have already spoken to my season-ticket holding sons back in Scotland and have pleaded with them not wear their colours away from Celtic Park and only in their own environment and in their own company.
It should not be like this, but with that mob, when it all goes down the stank, it will be tantamount to civil war.
Be careful Bhoys and Ghirls.
Summa of Sammi….
Cheers mate. Wish I had placed a few bob on it :-)
Samaras was fantastic, as was Brown.
I bet kitalba was equally chuffed with wee Scotty’s performance.
Hail Hail
Tom I noticed you’re prediction and thought, I hope yir right, I thought a 2 goal victory but I’m hopeless at predictions, except the one where we’re Gonnae win the league!
I’m off to work, hasta luego!
V
The good lady is taking me and the ghirl out for a bite to eat and a couple of ice-cold SOFT drinks, and I mean SOFT :-)
Laters and Hail Hail.
Ghood Morning
Happy CQNer’s.
I’m just in from work and, as I don’t have SKY TV, I would be grateful if any happy fellow Tim could provide a link to the 90 mins of last nights magnificent performance by, Lennons Lions.
Btw, yesterday I predicted…Mini huns 0-3 Lennons Lions! Almost right eh ?
May God Bless ‘Every’ Celtic fan.
Hail! Hail!
Just about to go to work but still absolutely delighted with the way this Young teams performance last night.
A couple of things to really look forward to over the next few months.
A possible treble.
A return to swashbuckling “Celtic Way” football.
Europe, hopefully the Champions League.
And the most tantalising, an absolute mauling of the Hun in their own pit for their last ever derby home game. ;)
Have a good day. :))
The Sun is Shining
Tom McLaughlin says:
9 February, 2012 at 06:05
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
The TRUTH at it’s absolute best. I have been saying on here from time to time that, a ‘wearing of the green’ culture is just around the corner! Your words convey this message perfectly. I hope your sons take heed as, this is…Protestant/Ranjurs-Scotland on the ropes! The hun of today is a hurting beast and, we all know what the animals are like when they are shown up for what they are! It pains me to say this but, I think it has to be said and, it can’t be said OFTEN enough that, Celtic FC and its fans are and always be the, interlopers of this rank-Orange cesspit of a country. Take care should be the order of the day!
Hail! Hail!
Tom
So pleased to see you are up and about and communing again with your Celtic family.
Tom McLaughlin says:
9 February, 2012 at 05:39
I’m just reading back the blog. Perfect prediction. Well done m8!
Whats the Euro no’s this week ? :¬)))))
Great to see you back btw!
Hail! Hail!
God Bless.
Did anyone hear shortbread last night .
I just caught the end of it but they seemed to be saying that it would have been a different game if Celtic were a goal down and down to 10 men .
Who exaclty were they wanting sent off ,the only thing I could think was that they were saying Ledley handled the ball at the hearts no goal ,or were they wanting big FF sent off for hand ball .
hail hail
TOMMcLAUGHLIN 0605
Sadly,I don’t doubt your reasoning for one minute;indeed,I’ve been pointing it out myself for some time.
So,in order to cheer us all up,I thought I’d re-post this wee belter from last night……
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saint Stivs says:
9 February, 2012 at 00:25
just a word of warning.
i used that WONGA . com thing to get myself a pound
i used the pound to buy a football club.
now i need to pay back £49 mill to the hectors, £24 mill to the ticket bus , £9 mill to the club deckers , and £6 mill to former employees.
am telling yees
payday loans.
only a mug would use them
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gorra laugh! Thanks,St Stivs.
MARTIN42
Happy Hangover Day!
A nice wee show from the troops was just the icing on the cake…..
Good morning friends from East Kilbride where it’s allegedly wet and miserable although it certainly doesn’t feel that way to me.
Winning and winning and winning…….
Jobo
Fergus,
On FF they are all talking about how we should have been down to ten men too. I think they believe that Ledley handled the ball on the line at their disputed “goal”, ergo penalty plus sending off.
So what.
We always get told these things even themselves out, and HMFC are a club with a hell of a lot of bad karma to work through IMHO.
Nice to see you back, Tom!
ItaliaBhoy says:
9 February, 2012 at 07:25
Cheers
I will of course be telling the ragers fans in work today that I also thought it was a hand ball and goal ,
Am I a bad bhoy for adding to and enjoying their pain .
THESETHINGSEVENTHEMSELVESOUTCSC
hail hail
Tom McLaughlin
Glad you are on road to recovery & posting so soon. Read your post yesterday re score, wish i had put a couple of bob on it (Paisley man)…
The winning streak rolls over to game 17.
v Well = 3-1
v ICT = 2-0
V Pars = 2-1
v St M = 5-0
v D Utd = 1-0
v Hertz = 1-0
v St J = 2-0
v Killie = 2-1
v H*ns = 1-0
v Pars = 3-0
v D Utd = 2-1
v St M = 2-0
v Hertz =4-0
Played 13 (Won 13) (drew 0) ( Lost 0) ( For 30) (Agst 4) Pts = 39.
+
Perterhead = 3-0
Falkirk = 3-1
ICT = 2-0
Total = (plyd 16) (Won 16) ( For 38) (agst 5)
Average goals in 16 game streak = 2.4 goals scored per game ( v ) 0.3 goals a game conceded……
We are banging em’ in – we are keepin’ em’ oot.
We are oan fire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Next 3 to get burnt before Feb is oot = ICT – Hibs – M’WELL.
Good Morning Tom, great to see you on here again
Italia Bhoy
Definitely.
If things are gonna even themselves oot, we have approx another 50 years worth of decisions yet to fall in our favour. (I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt too!)
Top of the morning to you all from a grey Fife.
Great game and result last night but I still cannot believe that Webster only got a Yellow card for his assault from behind on Hooper.
‘GG says:
9 February, 2012 at 01:59
Thanks for the link m8!
Neil is Stein-esque in the making! IMO!
Hail! Hail!
Morning, still on a high and can’t wait for Saturday.
“a desperate attempt to avoid paying” who could the GAIS sporting director be talking about?
HH
fergus slayed the blues says:
9 February, 2012 at 07:31
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
BFDJ wriggled out of explaining countless honest mistakes for years by using the old…”these things even themselves out,” line for years on radio Clyde! FUD!
Hail! Hail!
history books will record a 4-0 victory
let others debate the non goal.
what about Lenny in the studio after the game? what a guy!
UC
Good morning all from a cold and wet Lanark.
Nothing can dampen my spirit this morning after last night’s performance.
Power, pace, skill and no shortage determination made for a thoroughly enjoyable 90 minutes.
I feel the team are in a good place right now and I’m loving it!