Celtic eventually overcame Hibernian at Easter Road in the Scottish Communities League Cup quarter final tonight but not until they endured a fraught first half. The game was 3 minutes old when Ivan Sproule gave the home team the lead off an unfortunate Daniel Majstorovic. A Hibs corner was not defended at the edge of the six yard box and had to be cleared off the line by Adam Matthews at the near post but Sproule fired the clearance into the six hard box where is ricocheted off Majstorovic and into the net.
Celtic struggled to get into the game but after 19 minutes Beram Kayal broke free on the right and crossed for Gary Hooper, who missed the ball with his leading foot and saw it bounce off his left knee and behind.
The best two chances of the first half for Celtic came within four minutes. Ki and Hooper combined before Kayal released Stokes on 23 minutes but the Irishman’s shot skimmed the outside of the post.
In a move that would have a more productive second half facsimile, Stokes was unmarked at a Ki corner but missed the ball with his head and saw his shoulder contact go wide.
On 33 minutes Sproule ran half the field and cut inside Ki of the edge of the area before shooting over. Minutes later Sproule released Agogo, who dispossessed Celtic midfielders throughout the first half, but Forrest saved at the big striker’s feet.
Five minutes from half time Leigh Griffiths should have doubled Hibs lead when Celtic’s scourge in recent times, the long forward ball, returned to haunt them. Griffiths ran unattended from his own half but Fraser Forster did his best gable end impersonation to narrow the angle inside his box and block the shot.
Things soon picked up.
James Forrest underlined his Most Valuable Player status to Celtic a minute after the break. Ki played a forward pass to Hooper on the edge of the area, which was nipped onto Forrest by the Celtic striker. Forrest cut inside, dropped the shoulder and shot home from 17 yards.
It was a remarkably simple goal but the strength of shot by Forrest was particularly noteworthy. Being able to shoot from the edge of the area is a crucial part of a wingers play.
Beram Kayal was booked on 48 minutes for being kicked in the face by Ivan Sproule, who also saw a yellow card.
Forrest got his second, and best, goal on 57 minutes. He collected a throw-in on the wing, beat two Hibs players, played a one-two with Stokes and finished with a well-placed left foot shot.
Celtic then went into overdrive as Hibernian faltered. Forrest skinned his marker and crossed but Ki slipped inside the box when the ball broke to him. A minute later Anthony Stokes make a good connection with a Ki corner to head Celtic’s third goal from the six yard line.
Gary Hooper was having an off evening but he timed his run onto an Adam Matthews long ball, controlled and scored to finish off the scoring. Ivan Sproule received his second yellow card 20 minutes from time for kicking Mark Wilson as he ran through on goal. On this occasion his victim escaped punishment.
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donegalbhoy67 says:
26 October, 2011 at 22:27
Where in Donegal are you?
HH
i thought matthews was class
Bundoran Bhoy says:
26 October, 2011 at 22:28
rathmullan
donegalbhoy67
Agree thought mathews was great (better on right tho for me)
HH
Good night and sleep well all celtic minded folk.
The others will know who i’m excluding.
:0)
Well done Celtic. Bad 1st half but they showed why it’s best to come out and play the 2nd half too.
James Forrest is Celtic’s MVP if he can score 2 and save at the striker’s feet at the other end, eh Paul?! ;-)
Ard Marcha 22.17
Yes, Sproule is a wee Hun, but I tell you he added a certain extra happiness to my wedding day back in 2005 when he scored a hat-trick against TFOD at Ibrokes. I even re-wrote part of my wedding speech to mention it!
craggy
Fluke…
It’s a good word.
We’ve had a lot of bad luck and not so many of the aforementioned ‘flukes’…..
Our luck could get much better, Saturday can keep the ball rollin’.
God Bless the Bhoys.
Seeing Frozen Planet getting some kudos tonight on FB.
Didn’t know David Attenborough filmed the events at dubious football clubs…althought it’s about time….must make for interesting filming. Night cams and things crawling out from under stones etc etc……34.5 hours until Frozen Assets time….
BUT, we should concentrate on Celtic, otherwise we might not have won tonight.
for all the crap things I’ve thought about celtic this season – AT HALF TIME LENNY SOMEHOW GOT INSIDE FORREST’S HEAD and it worked a treat!
Are we on the recovery?
Please make it be true!
Even at one down I thought Hibs were too open – Paddy in the hole at the expense of Ki + Victor with Ledley at leftback and Mathews in his preferred position would have IMHO given us greater control in the first half.
Without doubt the LB position has caused us various problems in key matches since the start of the season – each time we play someone different at LB we end up rejigging 3 or 4 positions to accommodate the incumbent.
Memo to Lenny: I know Izzy is due back but sign another bog-standard/ no nonsense LB in the January window or promote one from the youths.
We can’t keep fielding a Heinz back 4!
hooper had an off night but then a little burst off pace as matthews lobs the ball to him and then a great touch and a great finish i was desperate for him to get a goal
NL should have brought paddy on earlier
but an all round great performance (in the second half)
HH + KTF
DB67
Fortunes Favour Mibbes from last thread,
Taken from celticunderground.net:
Mark Smith is the Deputy News Editor of the Daily Record. He had a twitter account and is a Heart of Midlothian fan.
On May 11th 2011 Celtic’s manager Neil Lennon was attacked at Tynecastle by Hearts fan, John Wilson.
The next day, fellow Hearts fan and Deputy News Editor Smith tweeted:
Embrasmitty
“@brianjaffa I’ve invited a ringer to play for us. Good Jambo. Goes by the name of John Wilson…”
This was criticised by Celtic officials but the tweet was not removed and remained, unaltered.
Go to the http://www.celticunderground.net website for the full story (and others) on that scumbag.
Havent read back. Only read the article. I Only saw the second half and it was a joy to watch players who wanted to win and showed single mindedness. I think the criticism is taking hold. I enjoyed garry Hooper picking up the ball as we celebrated the equaliser and shouting at his team mates to get back in their own half to go for the next one. That is exactly the attitude that is needed from every single player. If you want to win games at Glasgow Celtic you need to be on it from the word go till the final whistle. I would advocate taking this approach in every game untol the end of the season. There is no better message than scoring, picking the ball out of the net and sticking it on the halfway line and asking the opposition to come again.
Paul67 commented on Forrests shooting ability. This is something McGeady and Maloney lacked. I was even thinking James could convert to striker.
Well done to Anthony Stokes who I never thought would make it and thought lazy. Anthony has made a huge contribution in the last few games. He has taken the pressure of Hooper.
I also enjoyed your comment Paul67 that Kayal was booked for getting booted in the face. You could clearly see Sproul stand on Kayal as he went over him at that incident. Not one commentator picked up on this and said they would like to see it from another angle. Instead we get a commentary on how Kayal is a bit of a moaner. Contrast that with yappy Naisy at their doomed favourites.
I sensed a hunger tonight. Well done again James forrest and Anothony Stokes for proving the doubters, including me wrong – earned their salaries tonight which is more than can be said for their captain who was in absentia
4-1. Absolutely gutted.
Got in to watch game just after KO. Realised after James’ 2nd goal I had forgotten to put my bet on. I fancied 4-1. Anyone know the odds?
I really hope the Bhoys kick on from this. Maybe the platform we needed. On to the Treble!! Hail Hail
Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning! says:
26 October, 2011 at 22:14
Stupid childish post, you know nothing about me.
Reiperman
I acknowledge your post and take your point.However as a frequent lurker, you will be well aware I am constantly labelled as a “happy clapper” or a “board apologist” (wrongly may i say).I am therefore someone what amused I am now labeled a mineshafter. All we need is “your a hun” to complete the set,
However in the heat of the battle you call it as you see it.I watched the second half on TV as my internet connection was intermittent hence the lack of posts i.But please be assured I screamed as loudly as you did when the celtic goals went in and i savored the fine second half performance as much as the next man.
If you and the schoolboy above think that sticking up the odd positive post about a celtic performance gives you the right to judge others Celtic supporting credentials, then i am afraid you are wide of the mark.
Paul67 et al
I have to repeat what I said earlier – NL and his team have to go.
We have no tactics – FF kicking the ball straight out on the left time after time.
No coaching – Every corner for Hibs was a heart in the mouth occasion.
No conditioning – Our players get fitter when away on International duty.
No confidenece – Comedy capers at the back all night.
No heart – Out muscled by Hibs at every turn.
In the first half, string three forward passes together …
… Hibs sliced open only to fall at the final ball or the finish.
In the second half, string three pases together …
… we get a result.
Something is wrong with the club.
PL has turned the dressing room into every man for himself.
We survived tonight because we had a good 45 minutes.
This came from players on the park stepping up to the mark.
Nothing came from the bench.
We are a good squad playing badly.
We have been this way all season.
NL needs a break, he is damaging his health plodding on.
CFC have a duty of care, they need to do something.
To all those offering their hindsight criticism of those of us who complained at half time …
Take a look at YOURSELVES. Who appointed YOU spokespeople for the support?
When did YOUR opinion become more important than MINE? Or anyone elses?
Calling us towel chuckers … have a listen to yourselves. Had Griffiths rounded the keeper or had a little more composure we would have been in all kinds of trouble tonight. That first half display was AWFUL. We were torn apart time and time again, with the players showing a staggering lack of cohesion and responsibility.
If we play for entire halfs like that we WILL drop more points. We WILL lose this league.
Those of us who complained at half time did so because it was SHOCKING. And it was. It was every bit as shocking as the second half performance was stunning.
But we still have glaring issues which need to be resolved, and fast. And anyone who doesn’t believe that is kidding themselves on and hiding behind your “Celtic credentials” whilst questioning those of other people won’t make those problems go away.
Fortunes
My blog name is a long story mate, was dubbed professor by some mischevious friends. The green bit is my favourite colour obviously:-)
Im not a real Professor, although you probably already guessed that!
Good to see Fraser Forster get a bit of praise on here.
I thought he did very well tonight and used his physical presence very well.
He doesn’t have the agility of the holy goalie, but we can see huge improvements in his kicking and coming off his line.
If we could get him to be more vocal and bully his defence, and , better at penalties, then we would have a very good keeper.
Also pleased to see Stokes attack the ball for his goal – an attacker who attacked the ball in the box would be worth 5 or 6 critical goals a season to us.
Rogne’s return also pleased me – personally I would give him an extended run till Xmas , and , based upon injury and extended performances, I would keep or punt.
Finally , SFTB, your comment about Skippy had me doubled over LOL. Stuart Lovell is also a nice guy, I have played 5’s with him a few times, and he is a decent bloke.
praecepta
Don’t think the issue was really the LB position. The defence has been unstable, esp with high balls, but mainly due to lack of confidence.
Wilson and Matthews are excellent FBs, we also have Charlie who can slot into LB, and even Ledley. I’d be more inclined to say that its a CH we need, but Kelvin Wilson impressed me before his last few games, where he and El K looked very nervy. Again, confidence. But the defence was actually decent tonight, despite the absence of Chico. The vulnerability we showed down the right in the first half was surely down to tactics and was quickly sorted out for the 2nd half. Point i’m making is, it’s the midfield that we need to sort out just now. Wanyama seems to guard the defence very well, but who do we lose to allow him the 1st 11.
Ard Macha
Scored a crackin hat trick agin thems a few years back. But I agree once one always one!! Who was the last Celtic player to score a H Trick agin thems? Bobby Lennox?
ps At £oundland too!!
Kilbowi Kelt
You have got me thinking….Hmmmmm….Is there a 2nd half betting scam going on somewhere….! ;)
JD
The Legend Johnny Doyle @ 22:43
Familiar with that. Not sure what your point is though, amigo? Does Smith work for the BBC?
We created some excellent chances in the first half ……and missed them.
We created some excellent chances in the second half…. and scored them.
Expert analysis on CQN? We were awful in the first half and excellent in the second!
So bhoys, with a fully fit squad, what would our best team be?
Forster
Matthews, Rogne ,Mulgrew, Izzi
Wanyama
Forrest,Brown or Kayal,Ki,Ledley
Stokes
Bench: Wilson,Wilson,Hooper,Commons,Zaluska.
Team 2
Zalkuska
Cha, Wilson, Loovens, Wilson
Brown or Kayal, McCourt,Commons,Samaras
Bangura Hooper
Who have I forgotten?
Who have I forgotten?
Take me up up up and away
Stokesy Stokesy Stokesy
Brilliant CELTIC – something clicked tonight. maybe it was conceding in the first few minutes, (was dan to blame?) maybe it was the hibees missing the one on one at the end of the first half (superb save from big fraser, really good keeping) – but something clicked tonight.
The will to not let past performances affect the outcome was plaudable.
Stokes after missing the timing on the first header caught the 2nd so sweet it was easy
Young James – wow – easy when you see his first scored?….. try implementing it!
You got that to perfection tonight young JF absolute perfection.
You see….., when you jink past the defender to that side, the way you did, the keeper will always go too,…… AND that’s when you rocket the shot.
With the same precision, pace and accuracy you did tonight.
That was perfection, no ifs no buts no maybes – WELL DONE SON
Gary Hooper – the 1st touch
the second touch to shape,
the finish – AMAZING just amazing – the best part though was the run you made.
And don’t underestimate the pass – that was thommoesque!!
Thomas Rogne had a great game and I was glad to see Mark Wilson back
The names I have not mentioned are thought of no less.
Big big shout to the bhoys in green tonight – each and every one of us
The tributes to the fans were in the songs mentioned at the start
I LOVE THE CELTIC
HAIL HAIL
JJ
DDM?
James Forrest is Lennon says:
26 October, 2011 at 22:45
——–
For me. It’s not so much the criticism. It’s the lack of joy/happyness (call it what you will) from a number of moping groaners when the team click and start scoring for fun. There are a number on here like that. I even had a live one sit behind me at CP before I moved seats. You know the type happier moaning when things not going right than they are happy when things look good. I’d rather they go and support some other team worthy of their grump ing rotten moaning faces.
Be gone grumpy mining rotten face mumpers.
MWD
MadMitch @ 22:44
Three passes together in the 2nd half??
Have to disagree with you in the strongest possible terms ever possible ever totally.
The team has been down in confidence this season. It’s now finally turned around with some important comebacks which are crucial points in the education of a young time. After this recent dip, the trajectory is now very much upwards, and this Saturday will hopefully confirm that.
The passing in our team, which due to injuries etc has never been the same 11, has been improving nonetheless and was very much evident tonight, even in the first half.
Lenny is a fighter. And he knows his football.
James Forrest
“But we still have glaring issues which need to be resolved, and fast. And anyone who doesn’t believe that is kidding themselves on and hiding behind your “Celtic credentials” whilst questioning those of other people won’t make those problems go away.”
You getting stuck into the team and conceding defeat before the game over isn’t going to make any problems go away either.
Mad mitch
Your comment about players coming back fitter after international duty is incorrect.
This season we have lost
brown
Kayal
Samaras
Cha
Izzy right at start of season
All have come back with injuries and been out for extended periods
Google now!
Fantastic Paul. Terrific. Well done.
If only our Board could close a deal ;¬)
TSOAL
DDM?
Professor Green @ 22:45
:) If your pals think you should be called Professor Green, it’s good enough for me. If you are ever lucky enough to manage the Tic in later years though, be prepared for hun meeja headlines such as “Professor Who?”.
IF is a huge word, IF Griffiths had rounded the keeper,
IF hooper hadnt missed the ball completely, IF stokes hadnt hit the post, IF stokes had got his head instead of shoulder, IF it would have been 3-2 at time IF all those IFs had happened.
But the constant moaners and ready to jump on celtics back dont want to hear that, its easier to criticise.
I have never felt as confident when getting beat that we would eventually win.
I watch us win a hard away game to progress in the semis, come on here and people calling for management team to go.
one clown even claiming Pl has turned dressing room into every man for himself.
How the hell has he done that? the most bizarre thing I have read on here in a long time.
Thankfully these people are not those going to the games as with that support we would struggle.
god bless the green brigade, far better supporters than i will ever be.
you know we get it, PL is to blame for everything, every crap signing was his every good one a scout, every defeat is his fault every win is in spite of him.
change the feckin record, its boring, its tiresome, its not even original now.
We get your point, no need to keep making it ad nauseum.
and as for the forster bashers, another good performance, making crucial saves at important times. Bt again dont want to hear that, want to skag him (incidentally this was the one player the manager demanded and PL delivered – any credit for that?)
Just watched the summary of the game which I recorded beforehand and two things struck me (a) the goals are better than I thought and (b) Nevin is correct we did sing most of the game which, like at Killie , lifted the team. That away support is our 12th man.
PS programme at £1.50 and ticket at £20 more please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MadMitch,
tad harsh. As I said earlier I only watched the second half. If I have noticed anything this season it is that Celtic under perform due to some players taking their foot of the gas at various random points in the game. Play high tempo pressing, shouting at each other game and we win. Simple.
We did that in the second half and won convincingly. People put their bodies on the line in tackles, passes were no longer risk averse, people ran ahead of the ball. The fear was removed because we have been getting results and we have now proved that we can recover from mistakes.
I doubted it but Neil Lennon might turn this around. The negative comments after every dropped point have stopped. He even stopped short of criticising Cha and Forster after last weeks debacle. He may have learned. God I hope he has.
As for the conditioning of players. I agree. Fraser Forster has developed a Boruc midrif … not to mention Commons. Commons appears to be out of favour but lets weight and see if he gets back in.
Don’t agree with no heart and don’t agree that Neil Lennon is not influencing the team. Forrests comments suggest Neil played a big part in motivating them second half. If it means a 20 year old boy from Ayrshire is the catalyst so be it.
The last few weeks have been a test of character. For me, Stokes is a man, Mulgrew is a man, Forrest is a man. Hooper showed signs, Kayal showed signs. One of these boys could take the captaincy and drive us on come January.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr
and the curse – well maybe thats a bit harsh – NO in fact it is completely harsh because its not a cusre its an addiction….. I think
Does everyone read backk a little after their own post????
Anyway – I do
and the fisrt post is from JJ
giving me a team selection to scramble my brain before I go to bed!!!
JJ – great summation – score we’re great – dont we’re rotten!!! – I’m glad you see the picture
pyfinl
HAIL HAIL