2009-10-28: Celtic 0-1 Hearts, League Cup Quarter-finals

Trivia

• In the days immediately prior to the game, Gordon Strachan, the previous Celtic manager was appointed manager of Middlesbrough.
• On the same day as the game, Chief Executive Peter Lawell and Chairman John Reid had entertained the media to a 'sumptuous' lunch and predicted a tough five years ahead for the club.
• The upper decks of the Jock Stein, North and Lisbon Lions Stands were closed. Those season book holders normally in those areas with tickets for the game were relocated into the lower sections. For the second home game running, the only section of the ground that was packed was the away supporters section.
• In the face of Tony Mowbray's statements that the team lacked quality throughout, there had been 'clear-the-air' meetings called between the players and the coaching staff. Gordon Strachan also chipped in from afar, saying that the bulk of the team that he had left at Celtic were still in place and that there were good players there.
• Celtic, the holders of the League Cup, were knocked out at Quarter-finals stage by a poor Hearts side. With the news from the weekend just past that Rangers were in serious financial straights with a representative of Lloyds Banking Group appointed to the Rangers Board and looking to sell that club, this yet again was letting Celtic's oldest and bitterest enemies off the hook. St Mirren, St Johnstone, Rangers and Hearts went through to the draw for the semi finals.
• The loss would lay down a serious air of despondency and require clear answers from the Board at the Annual General Meeting planned for Friday 30th October.

Review

Celtic Park was known as "Fortress Parkhead". The reputation has become an albatross round the neck of the current manager as he strives to regenerate the side who are stumbling to find any consistency. This season has so far seen just two wins from the nine games played at home.

Concerning this game, live television coverage and the League Cup being the lesser of the two cups, the attendance on the night was very poor, but the attendance should also be seen as a continuing decrease in the Celtic Park home game attendance levels. Those who did turn up were sorely done by as Celtic were unable to get into any kind of shape in the first half or take the opportunities in front of them. Instead Hearts were gifted a penalty in the second half when Fox brought down Nade in the box. This did bring a response from the team as well as substitutions, but despite pressing hard and producing numerous attempts on goal, not one shot was put away to bring the tie level. Things got worse when Steven McManus was sent off at the death for a rash lunge at Andrew Driver, making no attempt to play the ball, which initially drew a yellow card but which referee Thomson changed to a straight red on consultation with the south stand assistant.

As holders of the League Cup, Celtic should have been taking the competition much more seriously and should have been putting up more of a fight. However, it is something the team seem incapable of doing in any competition so far this season. Despite more possession and a good number of clear cut chances, the team were again unable to convert chances into goals, pressure into a win and possession into a victory. The support were again left frustrated by a team which appears to have lost the ability to score.

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Celtic 0-1 Hearts

BBC

By Colin Moffat

A penalty from Michael Stewart was enough to send Hearts through to the semi-finals of the Co-operative Insurance Cup at the expense of Celtic.

Danny Fox upended Christian Nade early in the second half and Stewart's less than convincing effort crept in.

Pat McCourt and Georgios Samaras hit the woodwork for Celtic before the Greek headed wide from close range.

A wretched night for the home side ended with skipper Stephen McManus sent off for chopping down Andrew Driver.

Celtic have won just two of their nine home games this season and trudged off to a chorus of boos from disgruntled supporters.

The noise was in sharp contrast to the eerie hush at kick off, with Celtic Park only a third full and the top tier of the stadium closed altogether.

But the small band of visiting supporters had something to shout about inside the first minute when Ian Black picked out Nade and the striker's shot beat keeper Lukasz Zaluska, only for defender Andreas Hinkel to clear a couple of yards from goal.

The home side went on to dominate possesion but, with Hearts packing men behind the ball, found it difficult to make an impact in the final third of the pitch.

Shaun Maloney did get a glimpse of goal after neat interchange with Zheng Zhi but the Celtic's midfielder's weak shot was easily gathered by Janos Balogh.

A largely drab first half closed with a flurry of activity, with chances at either end.

Hearts defender Ismael Bouzid sent a diving header spinning wide from an excellent David Obua delivery and Zheng narrowly missed the target with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Chris Killen, playing as the lone striker for Celtic, was foiled by a point-blank save from Balogh once an enterprising run from Aiden McGeady had resulted in a Maloney effort being blocked by a defender.

Hinkel again came to his side's rescue in the first action of the second half when he was on hand to deny Driver, who had knocked the ball past the advancing Zaluska after gathering a headed flick-on from substitute Eggert Jonsson.

McCourt, on as a half time replacement for Maloney, gave the home support a lift when he spun cleverly from his marker on the halfway line and advanced all the way to the edge of the penalty box before fizzing a shot against the crossbar.

On 57 minutes the visitors won a penalty when Fox felled Nade as the striker raced after a neat pass from Jonsson.

Stewart scuffed a terrible spot-kick straight at Zaluska but the Polish keeper leapt over the ball much to the Hearts skipper's delight.

With 20 minutes remaining, McGeady surged through the Hearts ranks and slipped a pass through to Samaras but Balogh was out quickly to block and the prone Celtic substitute could not connect properly as the ball squeezed loose.

Soon after, Samaras stole in behind the Hearts defence and looped a shot over Balogh only to see it rebound off the base of the post.

The Hearts keeper held a fierce free kick from Fox before Zaluska had to stretch to gather a deft Nade chip after some neat footwork from the burly forward.

Samaras then contrived to send a free header wide from six yards after McGeady had picked him out with a perfect cross.

McGeady bent a free kick over the top after substitute Scott McDonald had been hauled down by Jose Goncalves on the edge of the penalty area and Balogh did well again to block an angled strike from McCourt.

A frustrating night for the home side ended on a sour note with McManus ordered off for a violent hack at Driver.

Referee Craig Thompson initially flashed a yellow card but changed his mind after consultation with one of his assistants.

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray:

"We're out of the cup, so I'm disappointed, of course.

"But I think there was lots of good stuff about tonight; the way we played and the chances we created, particularly in the second half.

"I thought Hearts were hanging on for grim life in the last 20 minutes, although they counter-attacked well.

"We knocked on the door but couldn't knock it down.

"If we weren't creating chances, we'd be concerned but we're dominating teams and it will come if you keeping doing the right thing."

Hearts captain Michael Stewart:

"To come to the Old Firm teams away from home and pick up a victory, it's a massive result.

"We've got ourselves into the semi-final and have a great opportunity to reach a final and hopefully pick up some silverware.

"We caught Celtic on the counter-attack on a number of occasions and created some very good chances.

"I'd say we had the better of the chances, although Celtic had us penned back in the last 20 minutes and looked a bit dangerous then."

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/8325973.stm

Published: 2009/10/28 21:33:32 GMT

© BBC 2011

Hearts punish Bhoys

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray:

"We're out of the cup, so I'm disappointed, of course.
"But I think there was lots of good stuff about tonight; the way we played and the chances we created, particularly in the second half.
"I thought Hearts were hanging on for grim life in the last 20 minutes, although they counter-attacked well.
"We knocked on the door but couldn't knock it down.
"If we weren't creating chances, we'd be concerned but we're dominating teams and it will come if you keeping doing the right thing."

Hearts captain Michael Stewart:

"To come to the Old Firm teams away from home and pick up a victory, it's a massive result.
"We've got ourselves into the semi-final and have a great opportunity to reach a final and hopefully pick up some silverware.
"We caught Celtic on the counter-attack on a number of occasions and created some very good chances.
"I'd say we had the better of the chances, although Celtic had us penned back in the last 20 minutes and looked a bit dangerous then."