2010-04-10: Celtic 0-2 Ross County, Scottish Cup

Match Pictures | Matches: 2009 – 2010 | 2009-2010 Pictures

Trivia

  • Semi-final stage played at Hampden Park.
  • Our worst defeat since Inv Caley in 2000 or St Mirren a few weeks back, take your pick.
  • Season over, we can't win any major silverware now.
  • Boruc out due to compassionate leave (father died).
  • On same day Polish President killed along with other various dignatories in a plane crash.

Review

Probably our most embarrassing defeat since Inv Caley. Most important, credit must be given to Ross County who have against the odds won this game and most deserved of it they are. They were the better side and have the stats for this game on their side.

The players really let themselves down in this game. Acting manager Lennon can't be held responsible for this travesty, it's a continuation of the decline that has taken pace since December. Robbie Keane was given poor service and our midfield posted missing.

We are out of everything this season and it's been a disaster.

Teams

Celtic

  • 24Zaluska
  • 02Hinkel (Rasmussen 84)
  • 03Naylor
  • 38Thompson
  • 48O'Deayellow card
  • 06N'Guemo (Crosas 42)
  • 08Brown
  • 46McGeady
  • 07Keane
  • 09Samaras
  • 10Fortune (McCourt 67)

Substitutes

  • 47Cervi,
  • 12Wilson,
  • 17Crosas,
  • 20McCourt,
  • 19Rasmussen

Ross County

  • 01McGovern
  • 02Milleryellow card
  • 03Morrison
  • 05Boyd
  • 06Keddie
  • 04Scott
  • 10Brittain
  • 11Vigurs
  • 07Gardyne (Lawson 90+1)
  • 08Barrowman
  • 09Craig

Substitutes

  • 18Malin,
  • 14Kettlewell,
  • 15Lawson,
  • 12Di Giacomo,
  • 16Wood

Goals

  • Craig 55
  • Scott 88
Ref: Collum
Stadium: Hampden Park
Att: 24,535

Articles

Pictures

MOTM

Stats

Possession

  • Celtic 52%
  • Ross County 48%

Attempts on target

  • Celtic 5
  • Ross County 12

Attempts off target

  • Celtic 3
  • Ross County 5

Corners

  • Celtic 4
  • Ross County 8

Fouls

  • Celtic 9
  • Ross County 12

Articles

Celtic 0 – 2 Ross County

BBC

By Fraser Gibson

Celtic slumped to one of the worst results in their history as Ross County stunned the Glasgow giants at Hampden to reach the Scottish Cup final.

Derek Adams' side kept Neil Lennon's men at bay and forged ahead early in the second half after Steven Craig cut through the Celtic defence.

Celtic had their second-half chances and Georgios Samaras hit the post.

However, Martin Scott volleyed home a second to send the First Division side into their first-ever major final.

The victory signalled celebrations among the Dingwall side's 7,000 fans – more than the population of the town that houses the club who moved up from the Highland League to the Scottish Football League in 1994.
Martin Scott celebrates scoring County's second goal
Scott silenced the Celtic support with County's second

And it left caretaker manager Lennon and his Celtic side nursing the bruises of a defeat that will be compared to the one suffered against County's neighbours, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, a result that led to the sacking of John Barnes in 2000.

County had pressed from the start and didn't allow Celtic time to settle, but Robbie Keane always looked dangerous whenever he took possession.

Aiden McGeady almost slipped in Keane, but the ball hit the striker's heel, summing up their early struggles.

The First Division side's best effort of the opening half arrived on 17 minutes when Lukasz Zaluska was forced to tip over Scott Morrison's dangerous cross from the left.

Celtic had few flourishes forward, but Scott Boyd had to clear Marc-Antoine Fortune's pass across goal from the right just before the half-hour mark as Keane lurked with intent.

County remained full of running and put together some tidy moves around the edge of Celtic's area without ever seriously threatening.

The match continued a familiar pattern with the Dingwall side enjoying the majority of possession and Lennon's men hoping to find Keane with a killer pass.

Marc Crosas replaced Cameroon midfielder Landry N'Guemo for Celtic on the brink of half-time in a tactical switch as the lethargic Premier League team looked for a change in fortunes.

County again forged forward at the start of the second half and Craig blazed over at the back post from Vigurs' cross.

Samaras performed some good work on the left wing for Celtic and centred the ball, but there were no takers.

Iain Vigurs then looked to have spurned a magnificent opportunity for the Highland side when Richard Brittain's corner arrived at his feet and he shot wide with the goal at his mercy, but a foul had been given.

However, the Victoria Park side did not have long to wait to take a stunning lead as Craig cut in from the right and produced a scything run through the Celtic defence and finished emphatically.

Celtic had suffered a miserable season and would have to act decisively if things were not to get a whole lot worse.

MY SPORT: DEBATE
Give your thoughts on the semi-final

Fortune looked certain to level with just over quarter of the game remaining after a Lee Naylor free-kick broke to him in the box, but his left-foot finish was deflected behind from four yards.

The striker was then replaced with Paddy McCourt as Lennon searched for a spark.

County were having to survive an onslaught as Celtic fought desperately to save their season, but they held firm.

Zaluska had to pull of a smart save from Brittain's long-range effort as Adams' side looked to kill off Celtic's challenge.

Samaras should have levelled for Celtic when he smacked the ball off the post after McGeady's cross.

But County finished off the game as Andy Barrowman crossed for Scott to volley home from close range and all but end Celtic's season.

Celtic stunned by great Scott

11 April 2010

Provided by: The Sunday Times

CELTIC 0
ROSS COUNTY 2
Craig 55, Scott 88
ROSS COUNTY and Inverness Caledonian Thistle have followed each other closely since joining the ranks of senior football in 1994, but until yesterday, County did not have a moment to match Caley's incredible Scottish Cup win at Celtic Park a decade ago. However, they have perhaps surpassed it.
There is a final to come against the winners of today's second semi-final between Dundee United and Raith Rovers, and a real prospect of taking the trophy back to the Highlands. "People had written us off beforehand," said County manager Derek Adams, 34. "That's a sharp pointer to everybody, pundits and ex-players, who said Celtic were going to Hampden. We deserve respect. It's a massive result and it's a magnificent day for our club."
While one young manager's star rose spectacularly, another's plummeted. Although Neil Lennon had stressed his prospects of keeping the Celtic job did not hinge on one match, he was fooling nobody. Celtic started lazily in the midday sun, then panicked when they realised the enormity of their task. Compared to County they were cowards and Lennon, with cold fury, said as much afterwards.
It was Steven Craig, the son of former Parkhead striker Joe Craig, who put the First Division side ahead 10 minutes after the restart. He accelerated past Josh Thompson before driving the ball home.
The goal that ended Celtic's season, surely ushering in a summer of change, came two minutes from the end. Martin Scott had one last burst from midfield, played the ball to the eager Andy Barrowman down the right and then carried on into the box to put the return into the net.
As County's corner of the stadium erupted, the section of a half-full Hampden that had been populated by Celtic fans streamed away. The apologies of Lennon and his players were as empty as the stands they left behind.
Star man: Martin Scott (Ross County) Yellow cards: Celtic: O'Dea Ross County: Miller
Referee: W Collum
Attendance: 24,535
Celtic: Zaluska 5, Hinkel 5 (Rasmussen 84min), Thompson 3, O'Dea 5, Naylor 5, Brown 5, N'Guemo 3 (Crosas 42min, 5), Fortune 4 (McCourt 67min), Samaras 5, McGeady 5, Keane 5
Ross County: McGovern 8, Morrison, Miller 8, Boyd 8, Keddie 8, Morrison 8, Brittain 8, Craig 8, Scott 8, Vigurs 8, Gardyne 8 (Lawson 89min)
(c) 2010 Times Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved
The Sunday Times

Celtic count cost as fans lose faith after humiliation

12 April 2010

Provided by: Irish Independent

MEMO to the Celtic supporter who loudly advised the departing patrons of the Main Stand at Hampden Park that matters could not get any worse for those connected with his club. Oh, yes they can.
Just ask Johan Mjallby, who was on his way home from Saturday's humiliating 2-0 defeat by Ross County when he was brought to a halt by a tyre flatter than the Celtic side he had witnessed being outplayed, outfought and outgunned in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
Ask Neil Lennon, who invited Mjallby to return to Glasgow to assist him in his role of caretaker manager at Parkhead and who saw his own ambition to assume the job on a more permanent basis badly damaged by the events that unfolded at the national stadium.
Ask the players, a couple of whom later encountered disgusted fans whose anger was expressed so forcibly that the square-up threatened to turn ugly.
Ask Robbie Keane, who said last Friday that Scotland's pitches were short on quality and who then had to watch Ross County glide over the svelte Hampden surface while Celtic looked mired in a swamp.
Accountants
Nor should it take long to confirm why Celtic's accountants have their heads in their hands as they assess the likely returns from the team's four remaining home games in a season as poor as any since the club came close to bankruptcy in 1994.
Even the diehard fans' desire to maintain a defiant posture will be sorely tested by the visit of a Rangers side and support exultant in their acquisition of a second successive championship — and in the less than alluring slot of a Tuesday evening in May.
The Celtic directors? They have to find some way to persuade 50,000 season-ticket holders — close to half of whom have deserted Parkhead in dismay at the substandard fare on offer — to renew their investment.
They will not be helped by the morgue-like atmosphere anticipated at the home games outside of the Old Firm derby, which consist of two visits by Motherwell plus Saturday's lunchtime date with Hibernian, 24 hours before the title party which will probably be staged at Ibrox when Rangers meet Hearts.
The issue has to be addressed immediately. Motherwell's first trip to the east end of Glasgow is tomorrow night and another defeat for Celtic would mean that Rangers could even win the title with a victory at Tannadice the following night — with the added sting of accomplishing the feat before the Scottish Premier League split, which begins next weekend.
Celtic's board members are on the horns of a dilemma sharper even than the stag's antlers on the Ross County crest. The fans' disillusionment with the fare on offer encompasses two seasons, with only last year's League Cup to show in return for their maintained faith.
Most of them could not wait to see Gordon Strachan make his way through the Parkhead exit doors, despite his delivery of three successive titles.
His detractors among the Celtic support like to cite the poor quality of Rangers during his tenure but this overlooks two crucial factors, the first being that he also steered the team to successive qualifications for the last 16 of the Champions league and the other being the remit to reduce salary costs by 40 per cent.
Tony Mowbray arrived on the wings of the fantasy that football Barcelona-style could be delivered on a Poundstretcher budget.
Preaching that attack was the best form of defence, Mowbray was ultimately undone on a traumatic evening in Paisley by the fact that attack had become his only form of defence.
The destruction of that philosophy was completed by Ross County at Hampden Park where Celtic's loss of soul was exposed utterly. If the fans now vote with their credit cards and decline to respond to the season-ticket offer, how should the Celtic board respond?
As Lennon said in the aftermath of the weekend debacle, there needs to be a clear-out of the inadequatepersonalities who have either lost their understanding — or never had any in the first place — of what is required of a Celtic player.
Lennon himself will be castigated in some quarters for Saturday's team selection, but he understandably chose the players who had won at Hibs six days previously, having apparently grasped that they would have to graft and claw their way through what was left of the season to make amends to their supporters.
The same players evidently supposed Ross County to be too insignificant to be tracked on that particular radar, even when Lennon made tactical changes at Hampden, albeit seemingly on the instructions of Celtic's chief scout, John Park.
The conundrum now facing Celtic is that, even if they acquire a manager with the charisma necessary to animate the fans into putting money up front for next season, there will have to be another rebuilding process — to be financed by what means?
Blemish
The cheap option is to stick with Lennon, whose disgust with the current state of affairs was eloquently expressed in his statements after the Hampden fiasco.
Yet with such a blemish now on his CV — even though he has been thrust into a provisional situation — the former Celtic captain also represents a substantial gamble, with consequent risk.
Such is the aftermath of Mowbray's decision to institute a wholesale transformation of the dressing-room.
Many of the players he discarded had failed to win the league last season and ended up at Middlesbrough, who are struggling in the Championship.
But who would argue that the likes of Barry Robson or Gary Caldwell would not have animated Celtic into at least the semblance of resistance to first division opponents on Saturday?
In the last analysis, however, there is simply no excuse for the gutless, spineless display by well-paid international players such as was witnessed in Celtic's colours in the semi-final.
(c) 2010 Independent Newspapers Ireland Ltd
Irish Independent

Lennon call for a Celtic clear-out

12 April 2010

Provided by: The Times

Neil Lennon will tell the Celtic board that wholesale changes are needed at Parkhead if the club is to recover its standing in Scottish football, regardless of whether the 38-year-old keeps the manager's job in the summer.
After Saturday's humiliating 2-0 defeat to Ross County in the Active Nation Scottish Cup semi-final, Lennon's chances of being made a permanent successor to Tony Mowbray, who was sacked last month, have greatly diminished. But the former Celtic midfield player and captain still intends to tell Peter Lawwell, the club's chief executive, where he believes the team has gone wrong over the past ten months.
Lennon believes that Celtic require to buy and sell at least ten players. Celtic plan to keep Lennon in place until the end of the season, when a decision will be reached about Mowbray's long-term successor. Lennon confirmed again yesterday that he wants the job more than ever.
Scott Brown, the Celtic captain, apologised yesterday for his team's abject collapse at Hampden. "It was nothing to do with the manager or the coaches — they had done their job well," Brown said. " 'Lenny' showed us enough before the game about Ross County and told us what they would do. And he was spot on.
It's about the 11 men on the park. I hope it doesn't effect Neil's chances of getting the job."
Lennon, however, was furious in his post-match frankness, to the extent that some believe he may have gone too far in condemning his players' display. Lennon still needs to work with the players for six more matches in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, starting tomorrow night against Motherwell.
"We need a clear-out — that's what I'll be telling the board," Lennon said. "The bottom line is: they weren't good enough. These players are sorely lacking in hunger and desire. They have gone out of every competition this season with a whimper."
County's reward for beating Celtic is a final against Dundee United, who beat Raith Rovers 2-0 yesterday.
(c) 2010 Times Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved
The Times

  • Final Result
  • Full Time
  • 90:00+3:08 The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.
  • 90:00+2:45 The ball is delivered by Georgios Samaras, Richard Brittain gets a block in.
  • 90:00+2:29 Iain Vigurs gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Aiden McGeady. Scott Brown takes the free kick.
  • 90:00+1:37 Short corner worked by Lee Naylor.
  • 90:00+0:49 Substitution Paul Lawson on for Michael Gardyne.
  • 89:28 Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Scott Morrison manages to make a clearance. Aiden McGeady takes a shot. Scott Boyd gets a block in.
  • 88:56 The ball is sent over by Lee Naylor.
  • 87:30 Assist on the goal came from Andrew Barrowman.
  • 87:30 GOAL – Martin Scott:Celtic 0 – 2 Ross County Martin Scott gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Celtic 0-2 Ross County.
  • 87:19 The ball is delivered by Andrew Barrowman,
  • 86:17 Aiden McGeady produces a cross, Close range header by Robbie Keane goes wide of the left-hand post.
  • 85:34 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Richard Brittain, Lee Naylor makes a clearance.
  • 85:08 Steven Craig takes a shot. Blocked by Darren O'Dea.
  • 83:15 Substitution Morten Rasmussen on for Andreas Hinkel.
  • 82:38 The ball is delivered by Aiden McGeady, Effort from inside the six-yard area by Georgios Samaras strikes the post.
  • 81:38 Lee Naylor delivers the ball, blocked by Steven Craig.
  • 80:32 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marc Crosas by Martin Scott. Free kick taken by Marc Crosas.
  • 78:41 Scott Morrison takes a shot. Josh Thompson gets a block in. The ball is delivered by Michael Gardyne. Richard Brittain takes a shot. Save by Lukasz Zaluska.
  • 77:05 Scott Boyd takes the free kick. Steven Craig fouled by Georgios Samaras, the ref awards a free kick. Scott Morrison fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
  • 77:05 Booking The referee shows Darren O'Dea a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
  • 76:58 Foul by Darren O'Dea on Richard Brittain, free kick awarded.
  • 75:18 The offside flag is raised against Robbie Keane. Michael McGovern takes the indirect free kick.
  • 74:56 Robbie Keane sends in a cross, Alexander Keddie makes a clearance.
  • 74:03 Michael Gardyne delivers the ball, clearance by Josh Thompson.
  • 72:21 Inswinging corner taken by Iain Vigurs.
  • 71:34 Andrew Barrowman takes a shot. Blocked by Josh Thompson. Inswinging corner taken by Richard Brittain from the left by-line, Scott Boyd takes a shot. Blocked by Darren O'Dea.
  • 71:10 Patrick McCourt takes a shot. Blocked by Richard Brittain.
  • 70:42 The ball is crossed by Steven Craig, save by Lukasz Zaluska.
  • 69:04 Free kick crossed by Lee Naylor, Alexander Keddie manages to make a clearance.
  • 69:04 Booking Gary Miller shown a yellow card.
  • 68:57 Gary Miller challenges Patrick McCourt unfairly and gives away a free kick.
  • 68:42 Centre by Scott Brown.
  • 68:17 The ball is crossed by Scott Brown.
  • 66:08 Lee Naylor restarts play with the free kick.
  • 66:08 Substitution Marc-Antoine Fortune leaves the field to be replaced by Patrick McCourt.
  • 66:08 Andreas Hinkel fouled by Steven Craig, the ref awards a free kick.
  • 65:38 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Lee Naylor, clearance by Martin Scott.
  • 64:45 Scott Boyd gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Robbie Keane. Centre by Lee Naylor, Marc-Antoine Fortune takes a shot. Blocked by Scott Morrison.
  • 64:10 Iain Vigurs gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scott Brown. Free kick taken by Andreas Hinkel.
  • 61:48 Martin Scott takes a shot. Lukasz Zaluska makes a save.
  • 59:41 Centre by Georgios Samaras, Michael McGovern makes a save.
  • 58:29 Michael Gardyne has a shot and went wide left of the target.
  • 57:38 A cross is delivered by Marc-Antoine Fortune, clearance by Alexander Keddie.
  • 56:34 Michael Gardyne takes a shot. Blocked by Andreas Hinkel.
  • 55:26 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Lee Naylor.
  • 55:22 Georgios Samaras crosses the ball, Alexander Keddie makes a clearance.
  • 54:20 GOAL – Steven Craig:Celtic 0 – 1 Ross County A goal is scored by Steven Craig from inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Celtic 0-1 Ross County.
  • 53:31 Corner taken by Richard Brittain, Foul by Andrew Barrowman on Lukasz Zaluska, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Lukasz Zaluska.
  • 52:55 Iain Vigurs takes the inswinging corner, Alexander Keddie takes a shot. Josh Thompson makes a clearance.
  • 52:45 Scott Morrison delivers the ball, Lee Naylor makes a clearance.
  • 52:11 Foul by Georgios Samaras on Steven Craig, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Gary Miller.
  • 50:42 Centre by Georgios Samaras, clearance by Scott Morrison. Corner from left by-line taken by Lee Naylor. The referee blows for offside against Marc-Antoine Fortune. Indirect free kick taken by Michael McGovern.
  • 50:01 Robbie Keane is adjudged to have handled the ball. Direct free kick taken by Scott Boyd.
  • 49:13 A cross is delivered by Iain Vigurs, clearance made by Darren O'Dea. Effort on goal by Steven Craig from inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.
  • 48:30 Foul by Aiden McGeady on Scott Morrison, free kick awarded. Alexander Keddie restarts play with the free kick. Centre by Richard Brittain. The ball is crossed by Steven Craig.
  • 47:51 Foul by Georgios Samaras on Richard Brittain, free kick awarded. Michael McGovern takes the direct free kick.
  • 47:03 Richard Brittain sends in a cross.
  • 46:25 Marc-Antoine Fortune concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Gardyne. Iain Vigurs takes the direct free kick. The ball is crossed by Richard Brittain, blocked by Andreas Hinkel.
  • 45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
  • Half Time
  • 45:00+0:05 The referee blows for half time.
  • 44:48 Alexander Keddie challenges Marc-Antoine Fortune unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Marc Crosas.
  • 43:41 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Georgios Samaras by Scott Morrison. Direct free kick taken by Andreas Hinkel.
  • 41:18 Indirect free kick taken by Michael McGovern.
  • 41:18 Substitution (Celtic) makes a substitution, with Marc Crosas coming on for Landry N'Guemo.
  • 41:18 Robbie Keane is ruled offside.
  • 40:41 Aiden McGeady produces a cross, Scott Boyd manages to make a clearance.
  • 39:35 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Iain Vigurs, Alexander Keddie has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide left of the goal.
  • 38:45 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michael Gardyne by Landry N'Guemo. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Richard Brittain, Josh Thompson manages to make a clearance.
  • 38:08 Centre by Aiden McGeady, Scott Boyd manages to make a clearance.
  • 34:46 Landry N'Guemo gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Iain Vigurs. Richard Brittain takes the direct free kick. A cross is delivered by Scott Morrison, clearance made by Darren O'Dea.
  • 33:55 The referee penalises Gary Miller for handball. Direct free kick taken by Lee Naylor.
  • 32:46 The offside flag is raised against Georgios Samaras. Gary Miller takes the free kick.
  • 30:07 Richard Brittain gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Aiden McGeady. Lee Naylor takes the direct free kick.
  • 29:20 Gary Miller produces a cross.
  • 28:07 Andrew Barrowman challenges Landry N'Guemo unfairly and gives away a free kick. Scott Brown takes the direct free kick.
  • 27:11 Marc-Antoine Fortune delivers the ball, Scott Boyd makes a clearance.
  • 26:43 Centre by Georgios Samaras, Scott Morrison manages to make a clearance.
  • 20:56 Iain Vigurs produces a cross.
  • 19:42 Marc-Antoine Fortune takes a shot. Blocked by Scott Boyd.
  • 17:18 Martin Scott has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide right of the target.
  • 16:49 Scott Morrison crosses the ball, Lukasz Zaluska makes a save. Short corner taken by Iain Vigurs.
  • 14:50 Martin Scott fouled by Landry N'Guemo, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Iain Vigurs from right wing, save made by Lukasz Zaluska.
  • 12:47 Richard Brittain takes a shot. Darren O'Dea gets a block in.
  • 11:22 Steven Craig crosses the ball, clearance by Darren O'Dea.
  • 10:39 Free kick awarded for a foul by Steven Craig on Lee Naylor. Direct free kick taken by Lukasz Zaluska.
  • 9:37 Richard Brittain delivers the ball, save made by Lukasz Zaluska.
  • 8:22 Marc-Antoine Fortune takes a shot. Gary Miller gets a block in.
  • 7:07 The assistant referee flags for offside against Andrew Barrowman. Lukasz Zaluska restarts play with the free kick.
  • 6:39 Andreas Hinkel crosses the ball, Scott Boyd manages to make a clearance.
  • 5:34 Inswinging corner taken by Iain Vigurs from the right by-line, Georgios Samaras manages to make a clearance.
  • 2:51 Long range effort from Andrew Barrowman misses to the left of the target.
  • 0:00 The game kicks-off.