Celtic will have to keep the Champagne on ice for a while longer after failing to collect the three points required to win the league at Ibrox this afternoon. The champions-elect looked nervous early on with few looking comfortable in possession, allowing Rangers significant periods of possession. After only 10 minutes Rangers were ahead when Sone Aluko beat Thomas Rogne before cutting inside Charlie Mulgrew and firing a shot past Forster in the Celtic goal.
Celtic scarcely featured as an attacking threat in the first half but moments after going behind Georgios Samaras produced one of the most scintillating pieces of skill on the day. The Greek international collected the ball 70 yards from goal, beat four opponents before his shot from 12 yards was saved by Alan McGregor. Anthony Stokes mishit the rebound allowing McGregor to tip over.
Stokes forced a further save from McGregor with a fine volley after controlling on his chest but the game was soon to look ominous for Celtic. Cha Du-Ri was caught wrong side of Lee Wallace and made the slighted touch on the Rangers player who went to ground two yards outside the penalty area. Referee Calum Murray sent Cha off despite the covering attendance of Charlie Mulgrew.
Despite their numerical advantage Rangers seemed content to prevent Celtic scoring, Fraster Forster didn’t make a single save while Celtic were numerically on level terms or only a single man down. Ten minutes after the break Victor Wanyama was red carded for a two footed tackle on Steven Whittaker.
Lee McCulloch was fortunate to remain on the field after elbowing Scott Brown on the head. In a carbon copy of the incident which ended Beram Kayal’s season in December, McCulloch went to ground after the incident until attended by a physio, which perhaps tempered the referee’s response. Clever, if predictable.
With things clearly not going their way Celtic then lost an offside goal. Celtic had an opportunity to make an attempt on goal when they won a free kick 28 yards out. With Charlie Mulgrew still running into position Scott Brown played a quick pass to Kris Commons but Celtic players were crowded out by a number of opponents and lost possession. Rangers broke forward and applied pressure which brought the best out of Fraser Forster but Andrew Little put Rangers two ahead from what was clearly an offside position.
A further breakaway on the 77th minute resulted in Lee Wallace putting Rangers three goals ahead.
Despite being two goals down substitute Kris Commons started to dictate play and brought Celtic their best period of possession. In the 89th minute Georgios Samaras broke through the Rangers defence but was scythed to the ground by Bocanegra. The referee awarded a penalty and ordered the Rangers player off. Scott Brown scored the penalty
Moments later Commons got the better of Whittaker on Celtic’s left before being brought down by the Rangers player. Commons found Thomas Rogne with the resultant free kick which the defender powered home.
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….PFayr on 25 March, 2012 at 19:39 said:
so it`s not just me who has spotted the rise of this young threat? I thought I was in a small paranoid club of one.
setting free the bears on 25 March, 2012 at 17:00 said:
Well said that Mhan.
wonkyradar on 25 March, 2012 at 19:41 said:
Some of the players went some way to repairing theirs and our pride in the last 10 minutes, Broonie and Commons in particular. I like big Rogne and he will continue to make great progress under us but I thought defensively he was poor today.
I think you’re correct in your assessment of Commons, he will be off which is a pity as he has plenty to offer as was evident today.
G64
A tad dissapointed today, but, and it’s a big but, it’s no easy playing against 14 men.
Also dissapointed to see so many green huns on the blog, they have been saving up their pathetic posts for a time like this, pathetic so they are, worse than huns, the hun doesn’t know any better.
Twat’s saying the team selection was wrong, twats saying that this player didn’t do the business, they don’t have a feckin clue, yet they come on here and tear the team and coaches to bits, twats every last one of them.
I might just get drunk now :>)
Whether we play well or play badly we should still expect fairness from the officials – both last week and this we didn’t get that. Too many expect that we should win in spite of the the clear bias – I am not one of them
Quonno……. That squad has won us the league, against the usual odds
Árd Macha
Noticed that as well. My first thoughts were mibbes a reference to Man Utd’s rebels, and that the huns see themselves in the same plight…the victims of an off the radar multi billionaire.
Algreen, who did he bully?
Rogne was exceptional today and won every legitimate header against Elbows.
I am assuming you mean that Elbows bullied the ref, which he did.
TJ
Bring Me The Heid of Thunder Crap Reid on 25 March, 2012 at 19:42 said:
Disagree with you that there is no quality in the squad one thing we don’t lack is quality,we do lack a leader,young squad need experience to help out as Neil has said before until then we will all watch the same movie.My solution sell as much fringe players as you can maybe a Ki or Hooper and bring in 2 experienced players in and watch the team flourish.Hail Hail mate.
shimmies33 on 25 March, 2012 at 19:43 said:
Don’t hold your breath for dominant centre half and a big powerful striker. We have been needing these for seasons now.
Even with champions League money in the bag, PL and DD will simply rubber ear spending the necessary to acquire the type of player you mention.
Fortunes Favour Mibbes on 25 March, 2012 at 19:33 said:
antrimkev @ 19:12
Have to wonder why WGS can’t get too many of these gigs. Well no not really.
it proves what kind of set up is there at sky at the minute that they dont want Big John or WGS on there (White is the main man football wise on sky and Tanner is the main presenter on Sky for scottish football)
could you imagine big John or WGS sitting mealy mouthed or actually agreeing with tanner and mccann?
im 110% sure they would have brought up Wallaces dive for the red card, Whittaker going over the ball and wallace being offside for the second
that chunt charlie just nods says nothing and takes the cash
VP
I’m now officially in a mess.
HH
The Exiled Tim I thought you were already drunk everyone is entitled to there opinion Fella.H.H. ;-)
Exiled Tim, enjoy your drink.
I like the cut o yer exiled jib.
Cheers pal
TJ
Was watching my youngest running the line for a prestigious game at a very high Junior level this morning.
While enjoying the sunshine I was also reading CQN on the blackberry catching up on some great posts overnight(Kitalba and MWD were particularly good)and getting in the mood for the game.
I was very encouraged to hear some very positive reports about today’s MIB from 2 posters-one was from Tom McLaughlin(formerly Gold Coast Tom) who I respect greatly from his posts on here and the other from someone who knew him personally.
On the way back from the his game my Son mentioned to the other officials that he said he was looking forward to the Glasgow Derby.To a man they all said-“Why are Scottish referees so bad?”
So what to make of the Officials performance today?
Here’s a list of some of the contentious decisions and my sons take on them
1.Stokes given offside when straight through-Replay showed him to be well onside.
Junior CSB analysis(JCSBA): The cutting on the grass make decisions so much easier and as Stokes was online with one of the cuttings the mistake by the Assistant was unforgiveable at this level(at any level in my opinion!)
2.Various tackles on Sammi throughout the first half.
JCSBA: There were at least 3 very obvious fouls against Samaras where the REF was in a good position to call-again very poor decision making and at least one was a yellow card.
3.Cha free kick and Red Card.
JCSBA: Very soft free kick- 50/50 –therefore could have gone either way .
Red Card-the ball was well in front of Wallace with Forster set to collect and in addition Mulgrew covering-to give a red card for goal scoring opportunity you must be 100% sure –on this occasion 10% at best.As the free kick was given should have been yellow.
4.Wanyama Red Card.
JCSBA:Stupid challenge by Vic,got the ball but tackled with studs showing could have been either yellow or red but can’t really complain about the red.
However Whitaker clearly went over the ball and caught Wanyama-Definitely a Red.
One of the first things we are taught as a Ref is if one player is going in dangerously be aware of what the other is doing!Murray clearly wasn’t.
5.Rangers second goal.
JCSBA:Marginal offside against Wallace before Little scored.
Assistant ref should have been on line with last defender(he wasn’t).Poor decision but no where near as bad as the Stokes one.I called it straight away without replay.
6.McCullough’s challenge on Brown.
Referee less than 5 metres away in a perfect position and gives nothing.
Clear red card as McCullough led with his elbow to Brown’s head.
7.Celtic penalty and Red Card.
JCSBA:Easy decision well made by Ref again from a good position.
Overrall performance from Officials:
Main stand official had 2 decisions to make and got both wrong.
Other Linesman –no major decisions to make.
Referee-positionally very good but made several major wrong calls unfortunately all against one team.I have not mentioned the Ledley penalty claim-in fairness technically a pen but most Refs wouldn’t have given it and not a chance of it today with the game still in the balance.
TET
I think you need to keep an open mind here. Love NL to bits but he has got big decisions wrong re team selection/subs. But he is learining the game and we need to back him to the hilt.
Evening all.
As ET says there appears to be a hun-ish element on tonight.
“we are Celtic supporters, faithful through and through”
People conveniently forgetting that and attacking manager, players etc…
Don’t think we showed up today, referee didn’t play by the rules, huns believed they could get away with murder and they did.
Last couple of minutes were fun, thought wee Commons did ok. Sammi was immense IMO. Must have been hard to be continually booted up and down the park and realise that it’d be you that would get booked if you reacted.
Shameful performance Murray. Shameful.
We can play better. They can’t. Their days are numbered. Ours shall be long and glorious.
HH
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!..Truth and Justice will always prevail on 25 March, 2012 at 19:46 said:
Doesn’t alter the fact that it requires strengthening. I assume the usual odds are bent MIB’s. So what was different about today.
Re above -sorry meant to say haven’t read any comments yet so apologies if all been mentioned before!
TET
Are you a wee bit upset by certain posters ?
Fair play to you my Spainish pal.
Get into them.
HT
For well over a year, probably nigh on two years I have defended the team against posters who take great delight in slaging them, they are as good as they can be.
We got many for free, free players don’t play for the top clubs, they play for the likes of us who are playing in a corrupt league, where footballers are not allowed to play,and some of them are just not up to the mark as to combat the blatent cheating.
When we get a level playing field I will critisise with the rest, untill then, I will never slag off any of our players or coaching staff, I will leave that the the green huns.
antrimkev @ 19:49
I was screaming out for Charlie N to show some balls during the HT break.
Sometimes, he’s done just that, albeit on seldom occasions.
But no, you’re bang on, he toed the line.
WGS would have pulled no punches if he’d been there. And that’s why he wasn’t.
Consider that with the well-positioned camera at FT on Moisty and his gentlemanly handshakes with full running commentary from Tanner, then the studio love-in, all to keep Moisty secure in his job as manager (which I think we all support ourselves anyway !)
It’s astounding that despite the massive focus on all this just now, they still can’t hide the blatancy.
Stupid huns.
hamiltontim on 25 March, 2012 at 19:46 said:
I am a big fan of Commons and Rigne but I do not think NL is. Rogne was not included in the 25 man squad named for Europa League, Loovens, Wilson and Dan were all ahead of him in NL`s eyes. That is a worry, we also lack a creative player, Commons is all we have in the Lubo mould ( a poor version but times have changed).
Unless we see a massive change in Kelvin Wilson and McGeoch steps up, we will be short.
I see Rogne and Commons moving on as NL has made his preference obvious. Rogne will go on and be a quality CB and play at a higher level that either Wilson or Loovens.
Sorry if I’ve missed Murray’s apologists apologising for his blatant cheating today.
Sandman 1919
Superb post.
Thanks.
THE EXILED TIM on 25 March, 2012 at 19:54 said:
I believe my comments have been considered and not over the top.
And I’m certainly NOT a ‘green hun’
classic comeback…
the Ranger’s fans were singing ‘We’ll be Rangers until we die’
the immediate response from the Celtic fans was ‘You’ll be Rangers until July’
:)
When i wake up in the morn….. i’ll still b happy . Cos i look in the mirror, and i c . clearly not a hun…………………………
Still angry at losing to that shower of excrement.
Murray did what was normal for a scottish mib and will be lauded.
The linesman who conjured up an imaginary offside on Stokes but cant spot a guy at least a yard off on their 2nd needs questioning?
Now that ‘s off my chest the real reason for defeat was a coaching strategy that was flawed and way to cautious when facing an opponent who had lost their last 3 games.
We were not facing Barcelona so why the fear?
That’s to many times we’ve failed the big test with this coaching team.
Unless the cautious approach is replaced by self belief then this team will stagnate.
We had zero forward momentum which considering the personnel we have at our disposal is puzzling.
Stokes to hold the front line?Baffling as he is the most selfish player in the team.
Ki does more to disrupt our momentum than any opponent and has no concept of defense.
Cha??
This game has been on the calendar for weeks so not utilising Brozek,Lustig or Izzy for weeks was a tactical blunder as we would have had more options.
When your coach has to alter formations constantly from starting games does this make him a coaching genius or someone not prepared to begin with?
AoW
Sorry to hear about your mate, no been a happy weekend for you.
Take comfort that he has gone to a better place mi amigo.
HH
KTF
18pts clear
night night
:)
Fortunes Favour Mibbes on 25 March, 2012 at 19:54 said
@ Fortune
myself and a few others have said about that nonsense at the end with McCoist, it was cringeworthy
if i can bring myself to watch it again, i swear he positions himself looks at the camera and then re-positions himself and then Tanner starts reading from a pre-pepared script – it was bokeworthy mate
TopCorner @ 19:57
:)) Priceless :))
TET
Fair shout. Made exactly the same point last week. We have a number in our team no ambitious team looked at.
Two points
Callum Murray cheated today. He is still making up for the cup tie he sent off 3 off their players. He is the new Dallas and celtic have to target him relentlessly.
Lenny because of his background ( Irish Catholic from the North ) is a focal point for hatred from referees, opposition fans and members of the public. At the moment people are on trial for attempting to murder him and today Callum Murray with hatred in his heart banished lenny to the stand for questioning a number of questionable decisions.
Today is the day the Celtic Board need to eliminate the newco from the spl. Even if this means doing a deal with the gang of 10 to change the vote.
Today is also the day we need to investigate and understand what is driving this hatred from Callum murray.
Tommy Joad
Much as I dislike him McCulloch won every header that counted in the first hour.Mulgrew and Rogne didn’t seem to know if they should back off or go through him.
Also didn’t help that in the first half every one of our player’s treated Aluko like he was Messi, too much respect for an Aberdeen reject.
I like Rogne and think he’ll be a star but feel he was gash today.
We have another Centre back signed the Polish lad the two main positions I think we are crying out for are a creative midfielder and a big strong striker.I do have a concern that if there are no huns in the SPL next season we wont spend much money trying to bring them in. We should be able to win next seasons SPL with our current squad but Europe worries me as we are just not quite good enough.H.H.
HT and TET
Steady lads.