| Match Pictures | Matches: 2004 – 2005 | 2004-2005 Pictures |
Trivia
- Celtic reduced Rangers' lead at the top of the SPL as John Hartson and Stilian Petrov each grabbed a double.
Review
Celtic went ahead in the ninth minute and Hartson claimed it even though he did not seem to know too much about it.
Alan Thompson whipped in one of his trademark free-kicks from the left flank and the ball seemed to fly off the back of Hartson's foot and under the body of Stillie from six yards.
Celtic will wonder how they failed to increase their lead in the 25th minute when Stillie unconvincingly punched out Hartson's drive from 12 yards, after his strength had took him beyond the Dunfermline defence, and Thompson failed to turn in the rebound. The expected goal rush was not forthcoming but Celtic looked like killing the game off at half-time even though their build-up continued to be slow. Petrov almost got in on the stroke of half-time but Andy Tod tracked back to take the ball off his foot.
Aiden McGeady extended the Glasgow outfit's advantage to all but kill off the unambitious visitors in the 62nd minute. Bellamy made a great run to give McGeady room to cut in from the left channel to fire a low right-foot shot past Stillie and into the corner from the edge of the area.
Hartson wrapped up the points with his second of the game in the 69th minute when he turned in Bellamy's cross from close range.
The goals continued to flow and three minutes later Petrov got his name on the scoresheet when he arrived in the area to sidefoot another cross from the on-loan striker.
The Bulgarian claimed a second for himself moments later when McGeady sent him away and a defender got back to stop his initial effort close to the line before he slotted home the loose ball.
Hartson came close to scoring his hat-trick in the 75th minute but he watched as his effort went just past the upright.
With two minutes remaining substitute Craig Beattie continued his remarkable scoring record by nodding home Ross Wallace's cross to send the Celtic supporters home happy and put Rangers under pressure.
Teams
Celtic:-
Douglas, Varga, Balde, Laursen (Henchoz 75), McNamara (Beattie 80), Petrov, Lennon, Thompson, McGeady (Wallace 84), Bellamy, Hartson.
Subs Not Used:- Marshall, Valgaeren, Fernandez, Lambert.
Goals:- Hartson 9, McGeady 62, Hartson 69, Petrov 72, 75, Beattie 89.
Dunfermline:-
Stillie, Darren Young, Scott Wilson, Skerla, Tod, Ross, Nicholson, Christiansen, Donnelly (McGlinchey 88), Campbell, Craig Wilson (McKeown 85).
Subs Not Used:- Langfield, Scullion, Dunn.
Att:- 58,908
Ref:- C Murray.
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
Celtic 6-0 Dunfermline
BBC
Celtic reduced Rangers' lead at the top of the SPL as John Hartson and Stilian Petrov each grabbed a double.
Hartson opened the scoring after nine minutes when he touched home a dangerous free-kick from Alan Thompson.
McGeady made it 2-0 after 62 minutes with a wonderful shot into the bottom corner, before Hartson stabbed in his second after good work from Bellamy.
Petrov turned in Bellamy's cross after 72 minutes, then slotted his second shortly after. Beattie added the sixth.
Celtic had a decent claim for a penalty as early as the fourth minute which would have opened the floodgates but referee Calum Murray was not interested.
He must have been as surprised as the home crowd to see Stanislav Varga skipping away from Iain Campbell in the area which forced the Dunfermline man into making a clumsy challenge.
Celtic went ahead in the ninth minute and Hartson claimed it even though he did not seem to know too much about it.
Alan Thompson whipped in one of his trademark free-kicks from the left flank and the ball seemed to fly off the back of Hartson's foot and under the body of Stillie from six yards.
Dunfermline managed to find a way into the opposition half moments later which almost brought an undeserved equaliser.
Barry Nicholson found himself in room in the box but he failed to find the power and direction to test Robert Douglas.
The champions will wonder how they failed to increase their lead in the 25th minute when Stillie unconvincingly punched out Hartson's drive from 12 yards, after his strength had took him beyond the Dunfermline defence, and Thompson failed to turn in the rebound.
The expected goal rush was not forthcoming but Celtic looked like killing the game off at half-time even though their build-up continued to be slow.
Petrov almost got in on the stroke of half-time but Andy Tod tracked back to take the ball off his foot.
Aiden McGeady extended the Glasgow outfit's advantage to all but kill off the unambitious visitors in the 62nd minute.
Bellamy made a great run to give McGeady room to cut in from the left channel to fire a low right-foot shot past Stillie and into the corner from the edge of the area.
Hartson wrapped up the points with his second of the game in the 69th minute when he turned in Bellamy's cross from close range.
The goals continued to flow and three minutes later Petrov got his name on the scoresheet when he arrived in the area to sidefoot another cross from the on-loan striker.
The Bulgarian claimed a second for himself moments later when McGeady sent him away and a defender got back to stop his initial effort close to the line before he slotted home the loose ball.
Hartson came close to scoring his hat-trick in the 75th minute but he watched as his effort went just past the upright.
With two minutes remaining substitute Craig Beattie continued his remarkable scoring record by nodding home Ross Wallace's cross to send the Celtic supporters home happy and put Rangers under pressure.
Celtic: Douglas, Varga, Balde, Laursen (Henchoz 75), McNamara (Beattie 80), Petrov, Lennon, Thompson, McGeady (Wallace 84), Bellamy, Hartson. Subs Not Used: Marshall, Valgaeren, Fernandez, Lambert.
Goals: Hartson 9, McGeady 62, Hartson 69, Petrov 72, 75, Beattie 89.
Dunfermline: Stillie, Darren Young, Scott Wilson, Skerla, Tod, Ross, Nicholson, Christiansen, Donnelly (McGlinchey 88), Campbell, Craig Wilson (McKeown 85). Subs Not Used: Langfield, Scullion, Dunn.
Att: 58,908
Ref: C Murray
O'Neill praise for Welsh 'Lubo'
BBC
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill
Celtic 6-0 Dunfermline
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill believes Craig Bellamy can take up the mantle of Parkhead legend Lubomir Moravcik for the rest of the season.
He said: "Craig came back and played in midfield and I thought he was Lubo Moravcik for a while, making little incisive passes in an around the box.
"He created a few of the goals and I was delighted with him.
"He might not have got on the score-sheet but I was really pleased with him." _
Celtic may not find Bellamy cash
BBC
Craig Bellamy celebrates his first Celtic goal
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill admits Craig Bellamy's loan stay at the club could be a short one.
"In the particular climate we are in it would probably be unlikely we would be able to afford the fee for him but things might change," said O'Neill.
"If he does fantastically well and wants to stay and become a massive hit with the supporters then it would make it easier for us.
"Lots of things are based on whether we qualify for the Champions League."
Bellamy, who joined on loan from Newcastle until the end of the season in February, has scored twice in four appearances for Celtic.
"Craig's contract with us is up in May and Newcastle have put a price on him and it is there for anyone to make a bid," added O'Neill.
"We could look at the situation to see if we would be in a position to do anything, and that might well depend on if we do make the Champions League, and a lot of it will have to do with Craig himself.
"If everything was fantastically rosy I would look at it but we know the price and I would have to say, judging on what has happened over the last couple of years in terms of money spent on players, it would be highly unlikely we would be able to afford the money for Craig Bellamy."
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said recently that the club would not be able to afford the £5m transfer fee for Bellamy unless they qualified for the the Champions League.