Paddy McCourt was the difference between the teams today as Celtic came from behind for the second time in three days to beat Motherwell at Celtic Park, securing second spot in the league. Craig Higdon opened the scoring for Motherwell after 11 minutes with a header from a corner kick but Anthony Stokes levelled, also from a corner, two minutes later. Substitute Gary Hooper scored the winner late on.
Despite a sprightly first minute Celtic were on the back foot for most of the opening period and it was no surprise Motherwell opened the scoring. Nor was the manner in which they lost the goal a surprise. Tom Hately crossed from a short corner which Celtic slept at, failing to mark-up. The defence also pushed out in instalments, leaving Craig Higdon free six yards from goal to head home.
Celtic immediately pushed forward and Georgios Samaras flicked a Kris Commons header onto Stokes at the back post, who volleyed into the net.
A Commons free kick was blocked by Samaras, whose shot was saved. Thomas Rogne headed a Commons’ corner on target but the ball was blocked on the line. On the half hour mark Higdon drew a good save from Fraser Forster.
Four minutes into the second half Stokes should have given Celtic the lead when he latched onto a long ball from Daniel Majstorovic which evaded the defence but Darren Randolph closed the space. On 54 minutes the lively Stokes cut-back for Commons who took one touch too many and was robbed. Fraser Forster was called into action again soon thereafter when he blocked a Nicky Law effort.
Paddy McCourt replaced Samaras with 15 minutes to go and transformed the game. On 79 minutes he collected the ball inside his own half, drifted through a nervous looking Motherwell midfield until he reached the edge of the D before feeding Stokes on the left. Stokes made space before rifling the ball into the six yard box for Gary Hooper to score the winner.
Tim Clancy was shown a straight red card late on for kicking Gary Hooper. If referee Charlie Richmond had taken an earlier opportunity to control Lasley or Jennings, Gary Hooper, James Forrest and Beram Kayal would perhaps have finished the game with fewer injuries.
1,066 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 29
- »
Paul67 et al
There is simply no point in looking to the likes of Charlie Richmond to protect our players, we need to do that ourselves. When Jennings lunged in on Commons early doors, we should be round him and Richmond like a rash. Tell both in no uncertain terms that we’re not gonna take it. Spare me the constant whining, do it where it matters, on the pitch. We lost the league at Fir Park and Inverness last season, but we won today, because we had the right attitude running through the team, and the bench. Lets see if we can repeat that at Inverness in two weeks, if we do we will come back with three points!
PL must demand to see the refs supervisors report,I am sure in this new age of SFA transparency it will be made available to us…naw didnae think so either..solemn music on shortbread yet?
great win today keep it going and we may yet overhaul der hun
Hail Hail
Great result today.
What our lads had to endure especially
in the first half was absolutely appalling.
overseasbhoy
you don`t like McCalls homage to the 70`s hairdo
20 fouls by Motherwell players? And that’s only the ones Richmond gave
Terry o Neil
I think charlies more of a sausage man!! lol
Their should be They’re
HomerSimpsonCSC
Awe Naw
Craig Levein saved Celtic the trouble last week.
Brilliant Celtic, just brilliant to get the three points there today. My boy got his first every bet up and with his dad floundering as usual.
Back with some comment on the refereeing display and the Motherwell battle plan.
*Cue baited breath*
Árd Macha
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo says:
6 November, 2011 at 14:21
Agreed and a protest about the referee. We should refuse to accept him being appointed to another of our games.
‘GG
Celtic Mac
our need to protect ourselves more …does not absolve the blatant cheating
personally i think we should tackle both issues
Manny Pacquiao Speaking in Scottish Accent
Oh deary me…….
Hearts has received assurances from the major shareholder that he will continue to support the club with all outstanding player salaries having been paid into players’ accounts last week.
Mr Romanov has confirmed to club officials that he will stand by the club and continue to support it to the extent it remains reasonable as he continues to fight against what he and an increasing number of club supporters and associates are seeing as an orchestrated campaign against him personally and, by association, the club.
The position of the shareholder in relation to the football in Scotland, in which he has invested more than any other individual in the last six years, is unsatisfactory. Hearts must therefore prepare to reduce investment in the playing squad to match the income in the coming season and turn to the Academy for its new additions while also improving revenue streams, including working on a new stadium in order to achieve this as soon as possible.
It is important to stress that Hearts at the moment is strongly dependant on the funding from the major shareholder and the attempts of the media to undermine the position of the club and Mr Romanov pose a direct threat to the immediate future of the club.
Hearts also strongly denies any suggestion in the media about a ‘fire sale’ of players.
A club spokesperson said: “The club has some of the best players in the country and no player will be transferred for a penny less than their true value. Hearts will address squad efficiency over the coming months as a normal course of business. We will continue to pursue our policy of focusing on youth development and it is likely that Hearts supporters will have an opportunity in the forthcoming season to also see some of the best young players in the country competing for a place in Hearts first team.”
Mr Romanov remains adamant however that, despite its weight, he will not be defeated by such a system and continues to share the supporters’ desire to make Hearts a successful club despite such a degenerative environment.
Speaking exclusively to Hearts supporters through Hearts News this afternoon, Mr Romanov stated: “For seven years I keep hoping that in the country that is the cradle of football they will start respecting the game and stop taking the mickey out of the game itself and the people who are trying to fight for it, but it’s like asking the mafia for remorse.
“There is only one solution left – to turn our attention to the products of our football academy in the hope that this situation will at some point and somehow improve by itself. Finally, the powers that be have begun discussing a new stadium – it seems like the politicians have developed some sort of responsibility to their own citizens, or maybe their human side has been awoken.
“And still Shakespeare’s question lingers on – to be or not to be – for football to change, or will it keep on developing as a show under the media blanket and we are finally overtaken by Lithuania and Gabon.
“I haven’t lost my interest in the club but I have for football. By the law of the ‘free world’ it is not enough to do good deeds – you have to also pay to advertise them in the press and then it’s possible to carry out crimes without any consequences.
“The problem is that I refuse to pay the monkeys for the advertisement as someone has to resist their domination in sport and in culture, the ecomony and history. That’s why I now have to consider finding a partner or selling the club.
“Perhaps I should make my first offer to Mr Murdoch for his merits.”
http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20111106/vr-academy-the-way-forward_2241384_2507829
No Celtic players in the Scotland Squad..good
I think that game shows clearly what Celtic are up against in this league.
Blatent thuggery condoned by blatently biased referee. Discraceful display by Motherwell who were even dirtier than usual and Richmond so obviosly turning and blind eye.
Well done Celtic for triumphing over the forces of darkness.
Classic from the commentator – ‘lasley needs to watch himself, he’s on a yellow’ no he doesn’t he can keep on fouling
Well done my Bhoys great result even althouth that cheat Richmond did everthing in is power to help Mutherwell
Im so chuffed at getting Eddy & Mark tops!!!
Awe Naw
Interesting that while James Forrest was not picked for the Scotland squad, he was picked for the under 21s, a pointless exercise given that he has already been in the full squad. Anyway Celtic can tell the SFA that he will need the next couple of week to recover from the knocks he picked up. Did not think Commons was picked for the Cyprus game.
Charlie Richmond returns to the fold…
Engineering/Fabricating
An Essential element of the SPL ‘product’ so it is.
But it labels The Product a ludicrous empty show.
It makes a mockery of supporters/fans/consumers alike.
Still…
Needs must when the Devil Drives…
Well Done Celtic!!
Clancy’s ‘red’ was well merited but he was by no means the worst offender. Even before the game it had the makings of a perfect storm given the referee, the venue and M’well. It gets to the stage when you accept there is no possibility of a foul being awarded if a Celtic man is kicked, gouged or halved in two. The North Lanarkshire thugballers were still in criminally insane mode right to the end.
And, hey, what’s all that about Hately bigging up ‘Tom’. Glad he looked stricken on ninety minutes.
Celtic Mac says:
6 November, 2011 at 14:32
‘we should be round him and Richmond like a rash. Tell both in no uncertain terms that we’re not gonna take it’.
Normally a very valid expectation
but as we have seen on many occasions,
remonstrating/questioning only earns us bookings.
Any excuse will do for the MIB.
Ciao——
Having watched 90 + minutes of Motherwell being allowed to play —- Kick The Man — I was reminded of this ——-
Andrea Carriacolo ‘s response to being linked with the Hun by the LapTop Loyal —
” Play in Scotland ? — Never —– I play football not rugby “.
stevieo62 says:
6 November, 2011 at 13:26
I wonder what John Clarke thinks about the fiasco that Celtic now is
======================================
He’ll be thinking about how ye’re choking on it ya worthless wee HUN. GIRFUY.
THAT was a performance – Estadio, think about it – in the face of everything the Hun establishment could muster.
Richmond – Auchinleck scumbag Hun, parachuted in to facilitate crisis. FAIL.
McCall – Unspeakable Hun ned pseudo-’Scotchman’, sets his team up to kick the bejesus out of us with referee’s endorsement. FAIL.
Neil Lennon, the Celtic players, and support – Took it, gave it back, victorious through character and skill. WIN.
WORST challeng eof the day – I lost the plot at Craigan’s elbow in Sammi’s ribs. I played that position, did that myself. Watch an close-up replay: cold, calculated assault, fit only for the Sunday league.
All we currently lack in that side is another Neil Lennon; someone to break the will of hammer-throwing illegitimate sons of backstreet Bangkok jackals like Lasley and Jennings; big Vic might grow into that man.
But I’d like to see an enforcer with a bit of ability shipped in January to shore up the rest of the season; A sane Joey Barton type. Another Roy Keane.
Meantime, well done the Hoops. Now for the liquidation of the Edminston Drive Diabolicals to round off the year.
PFayr
The ESPNSTAR cameraman obviously did. How many times did we see it?
Thought Stokes, Mathews, Rogne and Danny were excellent. Wanayama was awful- ponderous, woeful distribution. It’s all about opinions.
Like most of the bhoys on here cannot let the first half go without comment. Absolute thuggery from Motherwell. Richmond an disgrace. What was that MIB or sheer incompetence? Celtic should make a formal complaint.
Lets have no more rubbish about Anthony Stokes’ commitment. Immense today.
El Kaddouri didn`t even make the bench today
injured /ill…or is he really that bad ?
Ceaser67
6 November, 2011 at 14:35
eez sausages are gash as well.
Regarding the referees disgraceful display today. We knew what to expect, Motherwell trying to intimidate us and being allowed to foul at will.
My brief to the players before the game would have been to make sure every time you are fouled you stay down, hold your knee or injured part of the body and wait for the trainer to come on. I know it’s not the Celtic way, but a wee big of savvy then puts that bit more pressure on the referee.
Then next fould the Captain and perhaps two other players then approach the referee to complain. Again our player is lying on the pitch injured waiting for the trainer to come on. It all adds pressure on the referee.
As I said I know it’s not the Celtic way, but when you are being kicked off the park you must use every advantage you can muster.
Dan
excellent result considering the pressure we were under not to mention the lack of protection from an incompetent ref from a motherwell team full of nothing but hatchet men; how lasley remained on the park i’ll never know, a dirty wee player in the ian black mould
once again stokes was the main man with a goal and an assist not to mention kayal who was back to his best and even rogne and maj, apart from the goal, looked solid throughout; fair play to paddy playing his part in the winner but i thought samaras wasn’t too bad, indeed twas he who set up the first!
all in all reasons to be cheerful though i’m sure the doom mongers will be along pretty sharpish to remind us all we are still 12 points behind; lets just savour this gritty win before we start hounding the team again
great week for the team and the manager, long may it continue
Big Dan got a few headers in the day!!
Notthebus
no players in Scotland squad. Great.
Coudnt give a toss about Scotland. Woudnt watch them if they were playing in my back garden. not **** interested.
well done the bhoys today. Disgraceful ref performance today. Get it right up the lot lot of them . God bless the Hoops.
Ghods 11. Still think we pull this back .
PFayr
You’re right of course, Celtic should make it clear that, if that was Richmond’s first SPL game this season then it needs to be his last. A popular question in these parts is ‘what would Jesus do?’, I’m asking, what would Tommy, Bertie and Jim do?
As the Hearts owner says, Chic, you are monkeys……..small-minded blue-nosed monkeys, who only have interest in one team….a pathetic bunch of FUDS who are dragging Scottish Football through the gutter……everything that was bad about Scottish Football was displayed at Fir Park today….no wonder he is thinking about selling Hearts…….how he must be wondering what he got himself into….he thought he could come here and concentrate on Football…..what a shock he must have got ‘watching’ the dark side being favoured so shamefully and consistently…..
We need to get into another league……I can honestly say that I have never been so angry throughout any game…..how many injuries will we have after that battle……the hatred was palpable……..our Board need to take action here…..we have a great squad, who could lift the co-efficient, and bring some pride back to Scottish Football, if we didn’t have so may players injured by THUGS, and if referrees would apply the same laws they reserve for the dark side…..
Any Celtic Fan who goes onto any phone-in to criticise Celtic / Neil AFTER THAT GAME is not a Celtic Fan…
Oh, and by the way……WELL DONE NEIL on the substitutions….well done PADDY also…
Thought Sammy gave his all today, despite the brutal treatment meated out to him and his fellow players…….we new Motherful would give everything, and if they had concentrated on Football, as opposed to thuggery, they MIGHT have got something out of tyhe game….
We are back and, with this wee break now, we may get some of our squad back
Let there be no dooubt, some of our foreign players are now realising what this is all about
AND NEIL HAS SILENCED THE DOUBTERS…….I’M CERTAINLY NOT ONE OF THEM….!!!
Onwards and upwqards, Celtic and the Green Brigade………..we are standing beside you NEIL
…and, on today’s evidence, so are the players……!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well done Celts. you’ve made me very proud for the 2nd time in a few days.
What about that ref? I defy anyone to watch that 90 mins again and tell me:
1) How did Lasley avoid a yellow for so long?
2) How did jennings avoid a yellow for so long?
3) How did Higdon avoid a yellow for the 90 mins?
That wasnt one or two “honest” decisions going wrong. That was about allowing Motherwell to perform outwith the rules of the game. And then you see Stokes’ yellow……….
Unbelievable
Celts done brilliant at keeping our heads today
Forget winning 26 games in a row, let’s go for 3 games in a row
I love you Celtic
assetmanager
6 November, 2011 at 14:40
Think Vic suffered a reaction tae midweek along wae Kayal they put in a herculean effort against Rennes.Wayward passes sometimes is a sign of tiredness an ah think Vic wid have been rested had we had a full squad tae choose from.
Like Vic a lot.
Tony Stokes a great example of how hard work an the shedding of some pounds can transform you he is making the best of his talents by adopting the right attitude and application.
ToN
Richmonds Irish are lovely wae a couple of fried eggs, 2 tattie scones, 2 black poods, bit of fried bread,some fried tatties,(yesterdays left overs) some mushrooms,and a cup of tea.