Celtic were always in control against St Johnstone in Perth this afternoon and deservedly picked up the three points although it took them almost an hour to open the scoring. Gary Hooper knocked in a loose ball on 59 minutes before Ki Sung-Yeung finished off a sweeping Celtic brea five minutes later.
St Johnstone kept things tight early on and kept Celtic from creating a chance before Georgios Samaras created space for a shot which was saved well by Enckelman. Celtic’s best move of the first half came after 31 minutes when Ki, Forrest and Brown combined to release Hooper. The striker shot low and on target but Enckelman pulled off a remarkable save.
Both teams picked up the pace after half time but it was Mackay who created the first chance of the second period, forcing a save from Fraser Forster. Cha DuRi twice crossed dangerously. Firstly for Hooper, whose hooked effort from 4 yards was turned over by the impressive Enckelman. James Forrest then turned a snatched chance over from Cha’s next effort.
Just before the hour Charlie Mulgrew dropped a corner into the six yard box which Victor Wanyama contested. The ball dropped between a sea of St Johnstone legs but Hooper was onto it in a flash and prodded over.
The game was put beyond the home team five minutes later. St Johnstone were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Celtic penalty area after Mulgrew was penalised for climbing. The Celtic was stood strong and from the subsequence block James Forrest drove forward at pace. Samaras returned a 1-2 to Forrest to drew Enckelman before squaring for the unmarked Ki. The Saints’ keeper did well but could not prevent Ki’s shot from crossing the line.
Samaras mishit a shot after the impressive Cha again crossed to effect before the Greek striker ran 40 yards and had his shot blocked.
St Johnstone’s only real chance fo the game came when Wanyama slipped to let Haber close in on Forster but the keeper was equal to the shot.
609 Comments- Pages:
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Ernie
With respect, you are not taking the punishment unless you regularly attend away European matches nor will you lose pocket if a stand or stadium is closed, nor will you pay any potential fine
You won’t beat them. Don’t try. It is a dictatorship but one we cannot defeat at this moment. We also do not have the ability to fight them – we need the revenue that comes from European football so we cannot annoy them.
I don’t like it any more than you but you cannot fight this particular city hall. Logic and experience tells you that.
ernie lynch says:
19 December, 2011 at 11:02
Taking your argument to it’s conclusion (and I’m not arguing against you, just interested). Do you think that ultimately we should withdraw from UEFA competition, despite it being a major source of revenue, over such an issue? Despite it being widely recognised that the F word is still widely considered to be offensive.
Sneddoni says:
19 December, 2011 at 10:36
……………………………………….
You forgot to mention that Totten (who though ex-Rangers, I found to be a decent man) accused McCoist of cheating.
Plus ca change and all that indeed.
The Honest Mistake: 19 December, 2011 at 10:51
‘UEFA don’t have to go anywhere near a court to punish a club. That’s just one reason why the banner was an act of stupidity.’
“And it’s a reason why I and every fair minded person should agree with the sentiment of the banner.
“These despot dictatorships that are a law unto themselves always fail.”
They are an inept organisation in charge of a sport – nothing more than that. No one involved with the banner has been placed under house arrest or will be jailed for years without trial.
It is no secret that UEFA don’t have to go to a civil court to punish football fans – that is why the gesture was stupid.
greenjedi 19 December, 2011 at 11:00
“Would you prefer we didn’t enter any UEFA competition? Because if you enter a competition you agree to abide by ALL its rules and regulations. Many also seem to have a problem with the SFA as well, should we just withdraw from their competitions as well? ”
I’d rather that the rules of the UEFA competitions abided by ALL the laws of the land.
It’s a good job there was no internet when the SFA insisted we remove the Tricolour.
Let’s be honest if some Huns supporters did the same things the wing outs in our colours did lat Thursday nobody would be on here complaining about right to free expression or UEFA dictatorship.
We would be laughing our asses off and counting the days to their hearing like it was the countdown to Christmas.
Last Thursday’s events was a bigger own goal than the Cha/Forster fiasco in the away match at Rennes.
What are our ‘Rebels without a clue’ gonna do after our next punishment. Make a new banner saying – eff, effity, effity eff UEFA.
The Honest Mistake
No I didn’t vote for the SNP. I didn’t vote as I don’t live in Scotland as it would be unfair.
UEFA’s reasons for changing their policy between 2006 and now should be fleshed out and I am angrier with the police than with UEFA for their role in this debacle.
I don’t want Celtic fans doing things which shame the club and which cause the club to lose revenue/respect/prestige.
The singing in my opinion should not be lumped in with illicit chanting in a free society but the more I look at the world the less I see genuine freedom. We are not going to win this one sadly. There are too many people forcing this view point on the populace and UEFA have given them the means to do what they want.
This is a dangerous precedent and one which should be debated endlessly but flares have nothing to do with making a statement – political or otherwise. A banner like that is not clever enough to be a protest and both things have now landed the club in bother. Sometimes you’ve got to be smarter than that.
If it wasn’t for honest mistakes in last 2 weeks in their favour we could’ve been sitting pretty at the top but i guess it all evens itself out as they say.
We will get a fine for both offences
Talk of stands being closed, banned from Europe are just scaremongering
Barcelona got fined £90,000 a few months ago for dozens of flares being lit at the Super Cup Final
Does anyone think less of Barcelona because of this fine?
Yes it was ill advised but it won’t happen again
How about we instead think how good our team are doing with nearly half a dozen key players missing, with the Huns i’ve spoken to this morning dreading coming to CP on the 28th?
ernie lynch: 19 December, 2011 at 11:04
“So will clubs be fined if their fans use swear words?”
No.
“Or is it only if the swear words are aimed at UEFA?”
Aye. It’s pretty obvious that is why we are getting fined.
Why would you expect any other outcome?
ernie lynch says:
19 December, 2011 at 11:09
There’s a world of difference between a state flag and a banner with a word on it that is still widely considered to be offensive.
Ernie Lynch 9.01 Thanks for that wee spot of research, much appreciated
weeminger says:
19 December, 2011 at 11:07
‘Taking your argument to it’s conclusion (and I’m not arguing against you, just interested). Do you think that ultimately we should withdraw from UEFA competition, despite it being a major source of revenue, over such an issue? Despite it being widely recognised that the F word is still widely considered to be offensive.’
We all know exactly how the Celtic board will deal with this.
I would though like them to ask UEFA to spell out exactly what they object to in the banner.
Was it the sentiment or the language?
If the former they should ask for confirmation that no criticism of UEFA is allowed.
If the latter they should ask for confirmation that obscene language by fans should be punished every time it occurs.
It won’t happen though. We all know that.
Our board are craven.
TMWTL
That is what we should be talking about but the news today casts a cloud over us until the end of January which will be milked for all it is worth by those who wish to see us harmed.
Very upset about this.
The Honest Mistake says:
19 December, 2011 at 11:08
greenjedi 19 December, 2011 at 11:00
“Would you prefer we didn’t enter any UEFA competition? Because if you enter a competition you agree to abide by ALL its rules and regulations. Many also seem to have a problem with the SFA as well, should we just withdraw from their competitions as well? ”
I’d rather that the rules of the UEFA competitions abided by ALL the laws of the land.
…………..
What land though? Every country has its own laws, some are part of the EU, most are not.
Does every member associate have its own rules?
Thats madness
I should add my agreement to the view that UEFA are stupid. Charging us over the banner makes them look totally humourless and dictatorial and will probably get Celtic a little sympathy in some quarters.
Very few people will disagree that letting off smoke bombs/ flares in a football stadium is totally wrong.
So suddenly on a Monday morning UEFA have ‘opened an investigation into Celtic’ over one banner and a couple of flares.
Did the Daily Record phone them and say – well what are you up to at the ole Headquarters this morning, we’ve got a good
goal, and two penalties to deflect.
How does this become news?
Snake Plissken says:
19 December, 2011 at 11:17
‘TMWTL
That is what we should be talking about but the news today casts a cloud over us until the end of January which will be milked for all it is worth by those who wish to see us harmed.’
Why are you concerned about what ‘those who wish to see us harmed’ think of us?
Let me remind you all again that this is the same UEFA who did NOTHING when a supporter was STABBED inside a stadium where one of their showpiece finals was being played.
This is the same UEFA who claim to be able to do nothing when the same final is overshadowed by rioting football fans. NOTHING. They did NOTHING.
So, I agree with the sentiment of the Banner just as I did the chant last year which went ‘F… the SFA’ – which was sung repeatedly and wholeheartedly. There may even have been a banner. What, pray tell, all you shrinking violets, is the difference between chanting F the SFA and a banner saying the same about UEFA?
Stupid possibly, worth a fine? Well if UEFA fine us or worse for that then we really have got to the point where the game has become so sanitised it will soon resemble the moon – quite nice to look at but no atmosphere…….
I admit to being torn – I think we need to be clever about how we act as a support – but come on – being charged over a sweary word at the fitba?
And tell me this – is every club who ever has fans using flares been fined by UEFA? Or are we just breaking the rules after the event?
The whole affair is pathetic.
And don’t mention tax bills, cash flow or numerous legal wrangles in the run up to a big game. But that’s just an unrelated aside.
F the lot of them
The day goes from bad to worse-
CELTIC
V.
RANGERS
Sky
William Collum
Graham Chambers
George Drummond
Calum Murray
All this Uefa trouble stems from the vindictive actions of the strathcylde police.
The illict chanting and singing at the game v Rennes where none of the media heard anything and have not been able to find anything in spite of the whole match being televised live.
If every supporter who uses the ‘F’ word inside Celtic Park on The 28th,pays a pound everytime they use it,we would be able to buy Messi..
aldersyde avenue says:
19 December, 2011 at 11:18
‘Very few people will disagree that letting off smoke bombs/ flares in a football stadium is totally wrong.’
I doubt many football fans in mainland Europe would be bothered about letting off smoke bombs or flares. It happens all the time and no harm is done.
It could be a problem if the stadium is made of wood or straw but there’s not many of them left.
If Collum is the ref, we will lose.
RT
To be fair, the stabbing was an attempted murder, they quite rightly let the Police have jurisdiction and how can they be held responsible for events outside a Stadium and its surrounds?
Blantyrekev 0900
That was heck of a pilgrimage that day! Maloney flying volley, Lennon scoring as well! I remember us trying to keep reasonably quiet up in the main stand. We maintained decorum pretty well till Maloney’s rocket went in. The Pars fan in front of us got up, said something unrepeatable on a family site such as this and wished us a good afternoon :-) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXhV8PPkcM4
Sure I won at the golf as well :-) Couldn’t find any youtube footage though.
Ernie
You haven’t confirmed you are paying the clubs fines yet. Are you not putting your money where yourmouth is?
When ranglers were reported for sectarian singing the scottish media launched and hunt to finding the sneak who grassed thems.
They wont have to look too far to find who grassed us . The mirror maybe.
How convenient, the huns get their referee take of choice for the 28th, it’ll take another 3-0 esque performance to get a win as he will do his utmost to appear ‘even handed’. We’re a ‘non’ penalty down before a ball is kicked
greenjedi says:
19 December, 2011 at 11:26
Do you really support the SNP and UEFA or are you just an attention whore?
goldstar10 says:
19 December, 2011 at 11:22
The day goes from bad to worse-
CELTIC
V.
RANGERS
Sky
William Collum
Graham Chambers
George Drummond
Calum Murray
Dearie me …not brother Billy “three eyes” Collum as the ref?
My day just got worse also…
There is a reason for the Scottish coterie at Nyon, aided and abetted by allies back home, to have launched a ‘Get Celtic’ campaign at this particular juncture in the history of Scottish football. I just can’t put my finger on what it might be.
UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Celtic FC, who are charged with the displaying of a banner of an offensive nature and the setting off of fireworks by supporters at the Scottish club’s UEFA Europa League Group I match against Udinese Calcio in Italy last Thursday.
The case will be heard by the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body on 26 January 2012.
——————–
I can live with the mild embarrassment of an ill-considered banner. UEFA might find it uncomfortable being both victim and judge of the incident, but I’m sure they’ll get over it.
Setting off flares/fireworks in a football stadium recklessly disregards the safety of others.
The other incident, not mentioned here, the assault on a steward, will be dealt with by the Italian Courts. If the charge stands up, fellow deserves all he’s got coming.
Provoking UEFA was foolhardy. Risking the safety of others and assaulting folk at their work is unlawful and reflects badly on the Club and the support. Hunnish you might say.
Brother Collum i guess i got it wrong cos i went for murray.
This is a total joke.
UEFA regularly fine clubs and associations if flares or fireworks are set of in stadia. Only last week Zenit St Petersburg were done for this. Bulgaria, Croatia and Barcelona have also been fined in the past few months.
Hannover were fined by the German FA and passed the fine onto the supporter. Maybe that will stop this from happenning again.
Mort
Morning bhoys,
Great win for us yesterday. I only saw the 2nd half but it looked like Norris was up to his usual tricks. SOme very strange decisions indeed.
I still don’t think we will be allowed to win the league this season, the refereeing of the huns game was an absolute joke! In fairness ICT should still have won, even with the cheating.
Shame about Big Dan, looks like he’ll need some re-constructive surgery after that one! Nasty.
The hun in college said weeks ago if willie collum referees our game we win so that tells you everything we need to know about this arse.