2010-01-30: Hamilton 0-1 Celtic, SPL

Match Pictures | Matches: 20092010 | 2009-2010 Pictures

Trivia

  • Celtic stay 10pts behind Rangers (huns won 3-0 today). We've a game in hand.
  • Danny Fox sold day before.
  • Rasmussen scored his first goal for the club today. Fortune missed a penalty.
  • Hooijveld debut.

Review

A poorer performance than even the defeat on Wednesday, but we scrapped a win despite missing a penalty. It's not good at the moment.

Teams

Hamilton

  • 01Cerny
  • 02McClenahan (van Zanten 51)
  • 04Canning
  • 06McLaughlin
  • 15Easton (Crawford 81)
  • 25Elebert
  • 08McArthur
  • 27Mensing
  • 33Wilkie
  • 26Thomas
  • 28Kirkpatrick (Marco Paixao 70)

Substitutes

  • 19Murdoch,
  • 03Hastings,
  • 05van Zanten,
  • 36Crawford,
  • 14Elliott,
  • 18Flavio Paixao,
  • 21Marco Paixao

Celtic

  • 01Boruc
  • 02Hinkel
  • 16Hooiveld
  • 38Thompson
  • 48O'Dea
  • 06N'Guemo
  • 18Ki
  • 27Zhi (McGinn 64)
  • 46McGeady (Caddis 85)
  • 09Samaras (Rasmussen 64 yellow card)
  • 10Fortune

Substitutes

  • 24Zaluska,
  • 52Caddis,
  • 14McGinn,
  • 17Crosas,
  • 20McCourt,
  • 19Rasmussen,
  • 55McGowan
Ref: Murray
Att: 4,922

Articles

Pictures

KStreet

MOTM

Stats

Possession

  • Hamilton 47%
  • Celtic 53%

Attempts on target

  • Hamilton 1
  • Celtic 6

Attempts off target

  • Hamilton 3
  • Celtic 7

Corners

  • Hamilton 5
  • Celtic 6

Fouls

  • Hamilton 7
  • Celtic 9

Articles

Hamilton 0 – 1 Celtic

BBC
Morten Rasmussen bagged his first Celtic goal to set up an unconvincing win at Hamilton Accies.

The Danish striker immediately marked his arrival as a substitute with a sharp turn and shot on 67 minutes.

Prior to Rasmussen's strike, Celtic had toiled to break down stubborn, if unadventurous, opponents, with little goalmouth action to excite the fans.

Celtic were awarded a late penalty but Tomas Cerny made a good save to deny Marc-Antoine Fortune.

It was a hard slog for the visitors, who rarely found any passing fluency on a badly rutted pitch.

Visiting manager Tony Mowbray will be pleased that Rasmussen opened his account but the lack of cutting edge and midfield creativity must be a concern for the team chasing league leaders Rangers.

The home side made a lively start, with Celtic scrambling to clear a dangerous fourth-minute corner from Brian Easton, while Jordan Kirkpatrick was inches away from connecting with a Trent McClenahan cross.

However, the Accies completed the 90 minutes without a serious effort on target.

Celtic slowly worked their way into the game and Hamilton defender Mark McLaughlin awkwardly turned the ball over his own crossbar before Aiden McGeady went close with a drive from 18 yards.

Celtic full-back Andreas Hinkel was getting forward frequently but his team-mates could not capitalise on the German's good deliveries into the penalty area.

Nine minutes from the break, McLaughlin stepped in to intercept a slack pass to Georgios Samaras then strode forward purposefully only to see his 30-yard drive fly wide.

Fortune broke free of the home defence but his shot was well blocked by Cerny before the striker ballooned the rebound over the bar.

Celtic skipper Darren O'Dea headed over from a corner before Jos Hooiveld hit the side-netting following another set-piece from Ki Sung-Yueng.

Early in the second half Landry N'Guemo made a powerful run from the heart of midfield but his shot took a deflection and looped into the arms of Cerny.

On 65 minutes, South Korean midfielder Ki did well to manufacture room for shot on the edge of the penalty area but his powerful effort was beaten away by Cerny.

The breakthrough came two minutes later when Rasmussen, on as a replacement for the ineffectual Samaras, managed to turn sharply and shoot low into the net after a strong run from Ki.

The visitors were knocking the ball around with more purpose after the goal but still found it difficult to prise open the Accies defence.

A fierce angled drive from Fortune was blocked at his near post by Cerny and the keeper again denied the Celtic striker from a penalty in time added on.

Fortune was bundled over by McLaughlin but his spot-kick lacked accuracy and Cerny was able to parry the ball to safety.

Hamilton Accies manager Billy Reid:

"Over the 90 minutes we matched Celtic in most departments. Our goalkeeper has had one or two saves.

"But they've got the break of the ball and the big lad's (Morten Rasmussen) put the ball in the net.

"It's a wee bit unfair on our players; their commitment and effort was there for all to see. We just don't seem to get that wee break in front of goal.

"We had five first-team regulars missing today, but we have to start picking up points. It's been a tough schedule for us. We've got a break next week and we'll come back."

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray:

"We expected a tough game and I said that before the match.

"Hamilton are a very committed side and they've had three games recently against Rangers and done exceptionally well.

"They made life very difficult for us and we had to be patient, we knew we'd create chances.

"Thankfully, Morten Rasmussen came off the bench and scored a goal – that's why he's here.

"We've got some key players out injured at the moment: Brown, Maloney and McDonald. Your best players make the difference in the tight games.

"Hopefully, when the players I've mentioned return, and with another one or two additions, then we won't be far away."
Hamilton Accies manager Billy Reid:

"Over the 90 minutes we matched Celtic in most departments. Our goalkeeper has had one or two saves.
"But they've got the break of the ball and the big lad's (Morten Rasmussen) put the ball in the net.
"It's a wee bit unfair on our players; their commitment and effort was there for all to see. We just don't seem to get that wee break in front of goal.
"We had five first-team regulars missing today, but we have to start picking up points. It's been a tough schedule for us. We've got a break next week and we'll come back."
Celtic manager Tony Mowbray:

"We expected a tough game and I said that before the match.
"Hamilton are a very committed side and they've had three games recently against Rangers and done exceptionally well.
"They made life very difficult for us and we had to be patient, we knew we'd create chances.
"Thankfully, Morten Rasmussen came off the bench and scored a goal – that's why he's here.
"We've got some key players out injured at the moment: Brown, Maloney and McDonald. Your best players make the difference in the tight games.
"Hopefully, when the players I've mentioned return, and with another one or two additions, then we won't be far away."

Final Result

  • Full Time
  • 90:00+3:48 The match has reached full-time.
  • 90:00+0:31 Penalty taken by Marc-Antoine Fortune is saved by Tomas Cerny. Hamilton 0-1 Celtic.
  • 90:00+0:31 Penalty awarded for a foul by Mark McLaughlin on Marc-Antoine Fortune.
  • 87:24 Kyle Wilkie takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Landry N'Guemo.
  • 86:22 Ali Crawford fouled by Landry N'Guemo, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Kyle Wilkie.
  • 84:46 Free kick taken by Artur Boruc.
  • 84:46 Substitution Paul Caddis is brought on as a substitute for Aiden McGeady.
  • 84:46 Handball by Joel Thomas.
  • 82:52 Marc-Antoine Fortune takes a shot. Save by Tomas Cerny.
  • 80:26 Substitution Ali Crawford is brought on as a substitute for Brian Easton.
  • 79:22 Marc-Antoine Fortune is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Brian Easton takes the free kick.
  • 76:05 Foul by Joel Thomas on Sung-Yong Ki, free kick awarded. Andreas Hinkel takes the free kick.
  • 73:57 Free kick awarded for a foul by Morten Duncan Rasmussen on Kyle Wilkie. David Elebert takes the direct free kick.
  • 73:15 The official flags Joel Thomas offside. Artur Boruc takes the free kick.
  • 72:21 Free kick awarded for a foul by Morten Duncan Rasmussen on Brian Easton. Direct free kick taken by David Elebert.
  • 71:26 Morten Duncan Rasmussen is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Tomas Cerny.
  • 70:46 Niall McGinn takes a shot. Save by Tomas Cerny.
  • 69:53 Mark McLaughlin gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marc-Antoine Fortune. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Sung-Yong Ki from right wing, clearance by David Elebert.
  • 69:13 Substitution Marco Paixao joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jordan Kirkpatrick.
  • 67:45 Booking The referee shows Morten Duncan Rasmussen a yellow card.
  • 66:44 GOAL – Morten Duncan Rasmussen:Hamilton 0 – 1 Celtic Goal scored by Morten Duncan Rasmussen from close in to the bottom left corner of the goal. Hamilton 0-1 Celtic.
  • 64:47 Drilled left-footed shot by Sung-Yong Ki. Tomas Cerny makes a save.
  • 63:05 Substitution Morten Duncan Rasmussen on for Georgios Samaras.
  • 63:05 Substitution Niall McGinn joins the action as a substitute, replacing Zheng Zhi.
  • 60:28 Free kick awarded for a foul by Landry N'Guemo on Joel Thomas. Direct free kick taken by Brian Easton.
  • 59:06 Sung-Yong Ki produces a headed effort from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
  • 58:00 Corner taken left-footed by Brian Easton, Josh Thompson makes a clearance.
  • 55:55 Corner taken by Sung-Yong Ki, save by Tomas Cerny.
  • 55:23 Corner taken right-footed by Sung-Yong Ki.
  • 50:50 Substitution David van Zanten on for Trent McClenahan.
  • 50:11 Landry N'Guemo takes a shot. Save made by Tomas Cerny.
  • 48:02 James McArthur fouled by Landry N'Guemo, the ref awards a free kick. David Elebert takes the direct free kick.
  • 46:49 Joel Thomas has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide left of the goal.
  • 45:01 The referee starts the second half.
  • Half Time
  • 45:00+2:19 The whistle is blown to end the first half.
  • 44:24 Jordan Kirkpatrick takes a shot from just outside the penalty area which clears the crossbar.
  • 42:47 Corner taken by Sung-Yong Ki from the left by-line to the near post, Jos Hooiveld has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.
  • 41:27 Sung-Yong Ki takes the inswinging corner, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Darren O'Dea goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
  • 40:27 Unfair challenge on Kyle Wilkie by Zheng Zhi results in a free kick. Jordan Kirkpatrick produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
  • 39:50 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Brian Easton from the right by-line, save by Artur Boruc.
  • 38:51 Marc-Antoine Fortune takes a shot. Save by Tomas Cerny. Marc-Antoine Fortune takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the bar.
  • 37:40 Corner taken right-footed by Sung-Yong Ki, clearance made by Simon Mensing.
  • 36:58 Mark McLaughlin challenges Aiden McGeady unfairly and gives away a free kick. Andreas Hinkel takes the direct free kick.
  • 35:58 Mark McLaughlin has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the target.
  • 32:56 Aiden McGeady produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.
  • 29:04 Brian Easton fouled by Aiden McGeady, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Brian Easton.
  • 21:34 The referee blows for offside. Tomas Cerny takes the direct free kick.
  • 18:42 Unfair challenge on Mark McLaughlin by Georgios Samaras results in a free kick. David Elebert takes the direct free kick.
  • 18:08 Landry N'Guemo produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target.
  • 14:41 Jordan Kirkpatrick gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andreas Hinkel. Landry N'Guemo takes the free kick.
  • 14:05 Aiden McGeady sends in a cross, save by Tomas Cerny.
  • 11:37 Aiden McGeady produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.
  • 11:13 Sung-Yong Ki decides to take a short corner.
  • 7:43 The offside flag is raised against Marc-Antoine Fortune. Indirect free kick taken by Tomas Cerny.
  • 6:06 Simon Mensing concedes a free kick for a foul on Marc-Antoine Fortune. Free kick taken by Sung-Yong Ki.
  • 5:23 Foul by Joel Thomas on Josh Thompson, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Artur Boruc.
  • 4:58 Brian Easton fouled by Sung-Yong Ki, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by James McArthur.
  • 3:47 Corner taken left-footed by Brian Easton.
  • 2:43 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Brian Easton, clearance by Andreas Hinkel.
  • 0:43 Direct free kick taken by Tomas Cerny.
  • 0:00 The referee gets the match started.

Celtic silence the sceptics; Graham Spiers watches Rasmussen open his account as a new era dawns for Mowbray

01 February 2010

Provided by: The Times

Hamilton Academical 0
Celtic 1
Rasmussen 67
Referee C Murray. Attendance 4,922
This game was about survival for Celtic — nothing more.
New Douglas Park, as proud as Hamilton Academical are of their little stadium, is an unprepossessing place for visiting footballers, with just two stands, plus that unsightly scaffolding behind one goal. As Walter Smith and Rangers had discovered recently, you go there with the simple aim of coming away intact and undamaged.
Had Mowbray and Celtic stumbled in Lanarkshire on Saturday the knives would have been out. Before these edgy 90 minutes Celtic had claimed just eight of their previous 18 points available in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, and a loss or even a draw here would have further undermined Mowbray's credibility. As it is, with up to possibly six new players having arrived by the time the January transfer window shuts tonight, Mowbray is hoping his bright new Celtic dawn will finally start to be seen.
"The aim is simple — to come out of this January window much stronger than when we went into it," the Celtic manager said. Only time will accurately judge the success of that ambition, but with Jos Hooiveld, Morten Rasmussen, Thomas Rogne and Ki Sung Yueng, plus two more due to come to Celtic today, the Mowbray surgery has not been meagre. The next few months will tell us whether he has been shrewd or otherwise in his dealings.
Rasmussen, the Danish striker, could not have got his Celtic career off to a better start. On first glimpse this is a foraging, rough-edged attacker who mixes it for the cause, and Rasmussen, arriving as a substitute after 64 minutes, scored with his first touch three minutes later, pouncing on a loose ball in the Hamilton box to ram a low shot past Tomas Cerny from seven yards. It was no goal of the season contender but, without that crucial breakthrough, this game would have turned into an agonised final 20 minutes for Mowbray and his players.
"He is that type of player — he just loves getting into the box and getting goals," Mowbray said of Rasmussen. "I've seen him play in Denmark and that's what he's about. He might not be as silky or smooth as [Marc-Antoine] Fortuné or [Georgios] Samaras, but he loves to score goals, so that's why he is here."
Hooiveld made his Celtic debut on Saturday and it wasn't always a smooth ride for the Dutch defender. The surface was bumpy and once or twice the 26-year-old looked less than sure on his feet. Beside Hooiveld, once again at the heart of Celtic's defence, was 18-year-old Josh Thompson, a promising player who still has a look of vulnerability about him.
Little wonder then that Mowbray cannot wait to get his new recruits, together with already established but injured players, integrated into a new team. "I keep saying it, I'm trying to put down the building blocks for a new, successful Celtic future," he said. "We are making a start but we are also missing players like Scott Brown and Shaun Maloney, who are key performers for us."
This current Celtic team wouldn't be themselves without their customary incompetence from the penalty spot. In injury time Fortuné blasted his spot-kick to Cerny's right but the goalkeeper threw himself to beat the ball away. "How many is that we've now missed this season?" Mowbray asked reporters later while scratching his head. The answer was five.
It is as though, if there is a complicated way of doing something, this Celtic team will find it.
One player's presence, at least, was a major bonus for Mowbray. Landry N'Guemo was back in a harsh Scottish winter from the African Cup of Nations, and he hounded Hamilton incessantly in the middle of the park. N'Guemo has not been any shining star since Mowbray plucked him on loan from Nancy last summer but he is a performer who grows on you the more you see of him.
On the evidence of these 90 minutes Mowbray was correct when he stated last week that opposition teams have enjoyed the fact that the combative African was away on international duty. "Landry just nips away at opposition players," the Celtic manager said. "He doesn't give any opponent any peace."
Billy Reid's Hamilton have been a welcome and skilful addition to the SPL in recent times, though Reid himself has long tired of such empty plaudits. His side remain rooted in tenth position in the table, just three points above Falkirk at the bottom, with the dreaded threat remaining of relegation. On Saturday, among five Accies regulars who were missing were Alex Neil and James Weslowski, so Reid's midfield felt depleted. James McArthur was there, as ever, but his thoughtful, probing play cannot alone sustain the side.
Brian Easton played only his second game in five weeks after returning to Hamilton on loan from Burnley, while Reid also pitched the 17-year-old Jordan Kirkpatrick into his attack. Reid hopes to sign a new striker before today's business is concluded.
"I feel gutted for my players," the Hamilton manager said. "We've had a run of games where we've lost by the odd goal and we've not really had the breaks. We matched Celtic in most departments and we feel the result was maybe a bit unfair on us. Our commitment and effort is there for all to see — we should have got a point. We are making progress this season but we have to start picking up points. That is the challenge in front of us."
Mowbray looked relieved to be escaping the scene with a win. "It was a very tough game, a scrappy match," he said. "Hamilton have played Rangers three times recently and given them a difficult time, so we knew what we would be up against. They made it into a battle. We had to stand up to that physical confrontation but we got the result." Hamilton ratings 3-4-3 T Cerny 7 M Canning 6 D Elebert 6 M McLaughlin 5 T McClenahan 5 J McArthur 6 K Wilkie 5 B Easton 6 S Mensing 5 J Thomas 4 J Kirkpatrick 5 Substitutes D van Zanten 4 (for McClenahan, 50min), M Paixao 3 (for Kirkpatrick, 69), A Crawford (for Easton, 80). Not used S Murdoch, R Hastings, S Elliott, F Paixao. Celtic ratings 4-4-2 A Boruc 5 A Hinkel 7 J Thompson 6 J Hooiveld 5 D O'Dea 5 A McGeady 5 L N'Guemo 8 Ki S Y 6 Z Zhi 6 G Samaras 5 M-A Fortuné 6 Substitutes M Rasmussen 6 0 (for Samaras, 63min), N McGinn 4 (for Zhi, 63), P Caddis (for McGeady, 85). Not used L Zaluska, M Crosas, P McCourt, P McGowan.
(c) 2010 Times Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved
The Times