2008-11-29: Celtic 1-0 Inverness Caley, SPL

Match Pictures | Matches: 2008 – 2009 | 2008-2009 Pictures

Trivia

  • Rangers lost in earlier kick-off 2-1 to Hearts, so with this win we went 7pts clear in the league.

Review

After the disappointment of the Aalborg game this was a return to the SPL, where our priority is now only to win the league. Good news with the huns dropping points (losing to Hearts). So up to us now win this game and put us 7pts clear. Easier said than done, and a simple 1-0 one was all we could manage against an admittedly good Inv Caley side who battled hard.

7pts clear in the league

Teams

Celtic:-
Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Robson (Naylor 62), Nakamura, Hartley, Scott Brown, Maloney, Samaras (Sheridan 62, Mizuno 90), McDonald.
Subs Not Used:- Mark Brown, Loovens, Caddis, Millar.
Booked:- Boruc.
Goals:- Maloney 29.

Inverness CT:-
Esson, Tokely, Munro, Proctor, Duncan, Imrie, Cowie, Vigurs (Rooney 73), Hastings, Black Wilson 86), Wood (Barrowman 62).
Subs Not Used:- Fraser, McBain, Sutherland, Duff.

Att:- 55,117
Ref:- D Somers.

Articles

Pictures

KStreet

MOTM v ICT Andreas Hinkel

Stats

CELTIC – INVERNESS CT

Possession

61% 39%

Shots on target

4 2

Shots off target

5 3

Corners

4 4

Fouls

12 8

Articles

Celtic 1-0 Inverness CT

BBC

Shaun Maloney fired the only goal of a tense game as Celtic overcame a stubborn Inverness side to move seven points clear at the top of the SPL.

Celtic struggled to break down a well-organised Inverness defence – much to the dismay of the home supporters.

Maloney broke the deadlock after 29 minutes when he collected a superb pass from Shunsuke Nakamura to fire home past Inverness goalkeeper Ryan Esson.

Doug Imrie went close with an audacious chip, but Celtic held on for victory.

The hosts seemed to struggle following their midweek exit and the fluency of their early season form was absent.

Inverness were content to sit deep and attempt to hit Celtic on the break.

Andreas Hinkel and Nakamura appeared the most likely players to carve out an opportunity.

And it was Nakamura who set up what proved to be the only goal of the game.

The Japanese international's clever diagonal found Maloney. and his low effort evaded the despairing grasp of Esson and found the corner of the net.

Five minutes after the break, Inverness were denied a great chance to equalise when midfielder Ian Black sent Garry Wood racing clear.

But Wood was ruled offside in what appeared to be a borderline decision.

Black then tested Boruc with a long drive, as the hosts' inability to score a second goal caused anxiety among the home support.

Scott McDonald blazed high over the bar late on as Celtic failed to double their lead, but recorded their 12th consecutive SPL victory.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan:

"Inverness will be proud of their performance in terms of making sure they did their job right and not wanting to get beat heavily.

"Technically, we were down a level today. Our shooting and final pass looked tired today. The fans can do what they want; they pay their money.

"They can moan, groan, get excited or cheer – it's entirely up to themselves.

"A seven-point lead isn't comfortable. Twenty seven is. If there are two games to go and we have that lead then I'll feel comfortable."

Inverness CT manager Craig Brewster:

"I'm very pleased with the way we played in the first half. We got into some really good positions – and either the final pass let us down or we didn't want to pull the trigger.

"From Celtic's point of view, Maloney scored a good goal. He got into positions that are difficult to pick up. Apart from his goal, Celtic didn't really trouble us too much.

"We didn't really hurt them in the second half. But Celtic Park is a difficult place to come. We have only lost by the one goal.

"Unfortunately, we didn't use the ball well enough in the final third. Their fans got a wee bit nervous and that is felt by the players.

"We pushed two men up front, but, to be fair, Caldwell and McManus defended well."

Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Robson (Naylor 62), Nakamura, Hartley, Scott Brown, Maloney, Samaras (Sheridan 62), McDonald, Sheridan (Mizuno 90). Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Loovens, Caddis, Millar.

Booked: Boruc.

Goals: Maloney 29.

Inverness CT: Esson, Tokely, Munro, Proctor, Duncan, Imrie, Cowie, Vigurs (Rooney 73), Hastings, Black Wilson 86), Wood (Barrowman 62). Subs Not Used: Fraser, McBain, Sutherland, Duff.

Att: 55,117

Ref: D Somers

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan: "Inverness will be proud of their performance in terms of making sure they did their job right and not wanting to get beat heavily.

  • "Technically, we were down a level today. Our shooting and final pass looked tired today. The fans can do what they want; they pay their money.
    "They can moan, groan, get excited or cheer – it's entirely up to themselves.
    "A seven-point lead isn't comfortable. Twenty seven is. If there are two games to go and we have that lead then I'll feel comfortable."

  • Inverness CT manager Craig Brewster:
    "I'm very pleased with the way we played in the first half. We got into some really good positions – and either the final pass let us down or we didn't want to pull the trigger.
    "From Celtic's point of view, Maloney scored a good goal. He got into positions that are difficult to pick up. Apart from his goal, Celtic didn't really trouble us too much.
    "We didn't really hurt them in the second half. But Celtic Park is a difficult place to come. We have only lost by the one goal.
    "Unfortunately, we didn't use the ball well enough in the final third. Their fans got a wee bit nervous and that is felt by the players.
    "We pushed two men up front, but, to be fair, Caldwell and McManus defended well."

Strach buoyant as clinical Celtic march on
01 December 2008

Provided by: The Irish Examiner

CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan praised midfield duo Shunsuke Nakamura and Shaun Maloney after they combined against Inverness to take the Scottish Premier League leaders seven points clear of second-placed Rangers. After their shock exit from Europe at the hands of Aalborg in midweek, the visit of Caley Thistle did little to inspire the Hoops players and fans on a freezing cold day at Parkhead. The one shaft of inspiration though, came in the 29th minute when Maloney timed his run to perfection to capitalise on a fine reverse pass from Nakamura and fire past Caley keeper Ryan Esson. Afterwards, Strachan recognised the moment of magic that made all the difference. "For Nakamura to get the ball up and down with not too much pace in it, was the best part," he said. "It was a clever run by Shaun, he knew that probably the only person on the pitch who could play that pass was Nakamura. That was two good players combining." The victory gave Strachan’s side their 12th straight SPL win to pile the pressure on Rangers, who lost earlier in the day at Hearts. But the Celtic boss played down the significance of his side’s lead in the championship race, while praising his players for their current form. "The SPL never surprises me," he said. "But this run shows we can deal with disappointment and injuries and win when not at our best." Yesterday Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell insisted he would be surprised if midfielder Nakamura quit in the next transfer window, despite reports linking him with a return to Japan. He said: "We hope he will stay. If he does go, it will be a surprise. "He will leave at some point. If it is the summer, then clearly we must plan for that replacement." The Bhoys are also being linked to Derry City’s Niall McGinn. The Parkhead club are considering making a bid for the 21-year-old Derry City midfielder, who is being coveted by several clubs, including Swansea City. Rangers went down 2-1 at Tynecastle thanks to goals from Marius Zaliukas and Laryea Kingston, with an own-goal from Christos Karipidis failing to alter the final outcome. Hearts admitted ahead of the game their players had not been paid for the second time this season but, with a fifth consecutive win bonus to collect, the Edinburgh side will be hoping funds are in their accounts as promised today. Gers boss Walter Smith admits Rangers are now under major pressure to salvage their title hopes in their three remaining games against Celtic, with their rivals set to visit Ibrox on December 27. "Any points that we drop are a blow to us," said the Rangers boss. "It certainly means that in the three Old Firm games that are left this season, the pressure is heaped firmly onto ourselves. "We have to win all our games anyway — it doesn’t matter whether it is ‘must-win’ or whatever." © Irish Examiner, 2008. Thomas Crosbie Media, TCH The Irish Examiner

Celtic latest to join list of McGinn admirers

01 December 2008

Provided by: Irish Independent

CELTIC have joined the list of suitors chasing Niall McGinn.
However, the Derry City hotshot has made it clear that he won't move to Parkhead unless he has a realistic chance of first-team football.
"Celtic are obviously a big club and it is a great honour to discover that they are looking at me," said the 21-year-old.
"There are a few clubs in for me, so I will have a look at my options. But I don't want to play in the reserves — I want to play first-team football. I need to be playing regularly to keep my place inthe Northern Ireland squad.
"There is no point leaving Derry City, where I am getting first-team football, to play in the reserves in Scotland, or for that matter, in England.'
The former Dungannon Swifts player has become the most talked about player in Ireland following his move to the Brandywell back in January.
McGinn was named Young Player of the Year by the PFAI last month and then madehis debut for Northern Ireland, coming off the bench against Hungary at Windsor Park.
Celtic, meanwhile, moved seven points clear at the top of the SPL by beating Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1-0 at Parkhead as Rangers were beaten 2-1 at Hearts.
After the disappointment of their Champions League defeat against Aalborg in Denmark, which ended their involvement in Europe for the season, it was hardly surprising that theywere a bit flat against the Highlanders.
The one shaft of inspiration, which gave Celtic their 12th straight win in the SPL, came in the 29th minute when Shaun Maloney timed his run to perfection to capitalise on a fine reverse pass from Shunsuke Nakamura and fire his shot past Caley 'keeper Ryan Esson.
Afterwards, manager Gordon Strachan recognised the moment of magic that made all the difference.
"For Nakamura to get the ball up and down, with not too much pace in it, was the best part,'' he said.
"It was a clever run by Shaun, he knew that probably the only person on the pitch who could play that pass was Nakamura.
"If the ball had gone to a lot of other people, I don't think Shaun would have made that run. It was a case of two good players combining.''
(c) 2008 Independent Newspapers Ireland Ltd
Irish Independent