2011-10-29: Celtic 0-0 Hibernian, SPL

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Trivia

• Rangers go 12pts in front! We mess up again. We've a game in hand
• First 0-0 draw in the league in two years.
• Calls grow for Lennon to go.
• Demo held in George square by the Green Brigade and others on the difficult "Offensive" bill, which is ham-fisted.

Review

(MJ Hoop of KDS forum)
As I said at half-time: we're pish.

Before the transfer window closed we all knew we needed another centre-half and a striker. I also felt we still needed another proper winger. We didn't get any of those (excluding Bangura, who by all means looks not good enough and is injured now anyway) – and from then I it was always going to be a struggle.

Our one centre-half that we brought in, Kelvin Wilson, is injured as are Izzy, Brown and Commons (and the latter two haven't added much when they have been involved this year). This leaves us worse off than we were last year – and boy it shows. Defensively we are a shambles (although the return of Rogne alongside Mulgrew have looked more comfortable), but in games like today it's from midfield forward that's letting us down.

Effectively we're playing three centre-mids and a winger in a four man midfield. Ledley, Ki and Kayal (who is yet to regain his form of last year) just don't all fit together, and none are particularly attack-minded, leaving us relying on Forrest to create most of our chances – despite the fact as a youngster, he should have the least amount of pressure on him.

Perhaps that's why Hooper and Stokes haven't looked as good this season, but I also feel that while their partnership can at times be lethal, at other times they just look anonymous and that's why we really needed another striking option to come in during the summer.

In short we're just lacking in quality in all departments – and I feel until we make some signings that will actually improve the team we're always going to be likely to play badly or drop points – whether we can ride our luck enoughuntil January so Lennon actually has the chance to do so is another matter.

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Articles

Celtic lethargy a concern for Neil Lennon after Hibernian stalemate

Scottish Premier League 2011-12
Celtic 0
Hibernian 0

Ewan Murray at Celtic Park
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 29 October 2011 17.55 BST

Celtic's Beram Kayal challenges Hibernian's Daniel Galbraith during the goalless draw at Celtic Park. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

Celtic's quest to reclaim the Scottish Premier League looked shaky enough before this result. Only next May will it be appropriate to point out the most significant days of the season but this one felt meaningful.

After Rangers clocked up their latest away win, at Aberdeen, Celtic failed to see off a Hibernian team whose struggles have been well documented.

More ominously for Neil Lennon and his players, a flat Celtic never imposed themselves to the level expected. Onlookers would toil to remember a Celtic team creating so few chances at home. Hibs, badly in need of whatever confidence boosts they can get, were the benefactors of that.

It is rare for Lennon's team to fail to score; a blank outcome here leaves Celtic 12 points adrift of Rangers, with a game in hand. After full-time, a group of Celtic supporters clashed with police in a stand; such anger would have been better reserved for players who are in ever increasing danger of letting the league title slip away.

Before kick-off, Lennon had moved to quash speculation that he could be tempted by a return to Leicester City. A report had claimed the manager, who played for the Midlands club, is on their shortlist to replace Sven-Goran Eriksson as manager.

The notion of Lennon swapping Celtic Park for Leicester seems one of utter fantasy. Still, a gap between the Old Firm sides in the championship race which lies to such a margin in Rangers' favour is not good for his long-term job security.

"I am not aware of it," Lennon said of the Leicester City job suggestion. "I am very flattered, but I have a hell of a job here.

"There is an obvious connection because I played there. It is a great club with a bit of a clout behind it, but I want to stay here."

Not that the opening 45 minutes against Hibs explained Lennon's sentiment. Celtic were desperately short of guile and movement in attack, thereby allowing the visitors a more comfortable half than they could have anticipated.

It was only on Wednesday, after all, that Celtic produced arguably their best football of the season in swaggering to a 4-1 League Cup away victory at Easter Road.

Celtic's sole chance of that laboured early spell fell to Gary Hooper. After a brisk one-two with his strike partner, Anthony Stokes, the Englishman watched a shot clip the outside of a Hibs post. That rather summed up what was to prove a dismal afternoon for Hooper, a player who has failed to reach the heights of last season during the formative weeks of this campaign.

To be fair to Celtic, it was not as if Hibs were brimming with any attacking threat of their own. That changed within five minutes of the restart as Leigh Griffiths shot only narrowly wide from a well-worked free-kick routine. Moments later, as Griffiths eluded Charlie Mulgrew before finding Danny Galbraith with a cutback – a wayward shot followed – the first groans of discontent emanated from the home support.

James Forrest, the architect of Celtic's midweek win, attempted to lighten the mood with a long-range attempt which caught the Hibs crossbar. That rather summed up the Celtic position, though, with their lack of creativity both glaringly obvious and worrying for Lennon. With that in mind, two of his anonymous midfield players, Beram Kayal and Ki Sung-yueng, were withdrawn to be replaced by Paddy McCourt and Kenya international Victor Wanyama.

Hibs took obvious heart from Celtic's bluntness. Galbraith watched his latest effort saved by goalkeeper Fraser Forster, before Ivan Sproule flashed a shot across the Celtic goal.

An expected, and what would be typical, late surge from the hosts never materialised. Stokes miscued a shot from 18 yards before defender Mark Wilson failed to connect with a knockdown from Georgios Samaras. Given the lethargy of their play in this game, a Celtic winner would barely have been merited in any case.

© 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.

MacBhoy of the GB forum

The demo went as well as we could have hoped for and definately exceeded expectation. To pull those numbers (estimated between 1500-2000) for FAC's first public action is very positive. Its important that these numbers and level of support are now maintained though and we carry on – even in the face of further intimidation which was forthcoming in the Green Brigade's direction throughout yesterday's game, particularly towards then end of the game.

All speakers spoke well and delivered good points which seemed to get the backing from all present. After the speeches the protest descended into an unplanned march to the ground which was in good spirits with a positive atmosphere. The march quickly had an army operation-like police presence with cops on foot, on bike, on horseback, several riot vans, and even a helicopter.

One copper commented to a GB member after the march "you lot think you are above the law" – pretty much a statement of intent for the game ahead. Given the success of the demonstration, the subsequent march to the ground and the effective banner protest from hundreds of CSC's against the legislation it was pretty clear that the cops were intent on trying to prove their authority and fling their weight around – which they did.

The first incident with the cops was one they man-handled on GB member over something as trivial as a ticket check – something they never involve themselves in, its a stewards duty. From then on in their presence grew with the cameras coming out. They filmed and observed the full game. They arrested one GB lad downstairs at HT for sectarian breach of the peace – after he protested his innocence and told the cops to check CCTV – they then released him and let him back into the ground…competence eh?

For the whole time that we've had our section at Celtic Park the cops have never once attempted to enter – mainly because there is no need to and partly because they know they wouldn't receive the same welcome they would in any other section. Yesterday's game was their first attempt pushing, shoving, pulling and hitting those in their way. Thankfully they were met with resistance and forced to retreat without taking anyone. At this point I think there was about 14 cops lined up infront of us. At the end of the game the majority of the section stuck together so as not to let them pick anyone out, as we made our way across the North Stand to exit they followed and again attempted to force their way through regardless of who was in their path. Again, they failed to get anyone and again were made to retreat unsuccessful. Sadly the stadium was pretty empty at this point so not many witnesses to their behaviour – although there was a gathering of suits watching on from the Directors Box, Lawwell being one apparently. I wonder what his thoughts are on the continued harrassment of the clubs's fans?

Thursday night will be interesting – not looking forward to it.

Celtic0-0Hibernian Page last updated at 16:11 GMT, Saturday, 29 October 2011 17:11 UK By Clive Lindsay

BBC Scotland Hooper sent a good first-half chance against the outside of the post Hibernian gained some kind of revenge for their midweek cup defeat by Celtic with a draw that leaves the Glasgow side 12 points adrift of Rangers.
The Scottish Premier League leaders had put pressure on their city rivals with a 2-1 win away to Aberdeen a couple of hours earlier.
Celtic's Gary Hooper squandered the best chance of the first half.
James Forrest sent a drive against the crossbar, but Hibs continued to be a threat after the break.
There was to be no second-half improvement this time and Celtic fall three points behind Motherwell although Neil Lennon's side do have a game in hand. Celtic manager Neil Lennon was left frustrated against Hibs Charlie Mulgrew had been restored to the heart of the Celtic defence, with Daniel Majstorovic being the man to drop out as Thomas Rogne held on to his place after the midweek Scottish Communities League Cup demolition of Hibs.
Goalkeeper Graham Stack, Sean O'Hanlon, Danny Galbraith and Lewis Stevenson came in for Mark Brown, Ian Murray, Victor Palsson and Ivan Sproule as Hibs boss Colin Calderwood rang the changes after that 4-1 defeat in Edinburgh.
As in the first half at Easter Road, Hibs were a match for the Glasgow side and home goalkeeper Fraser Forster had to race outside his box to head clear and thwart striker Leigh Griffiths.
Moments later, Celtic striker Anthony Stokes had a drive from the edge of the box saved by Stack at the second attempt.
The home support was becoming restless as Gary Hooper made a mess of an attempt to turn a Stokes cross towards goal.
Stokes was the biggest threat and, after driving into the box, sent a low drive towards the near post that Stack did well to scoop clear with his trailing foot.
Hooper squandered another chance set up by Stokes when, after a neat one-two at the edge of the box, the Englishman fired against the outside of the post after being one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Forrest, who scored twice at Easter Road, sent a low drive towards the inside of the far post only for Stack to beat it away, with no Celtic player available to pounce on the loose ball.
Celtic had swept to victory in midweek after Lennon's half-time team talk inspired his side to come from a goal behind, but it was Hibs who started the second half by creating the first chances.
Griffiths tried an impetuous chip shot following a free kick and Galbraith had a 20-yard drive deflected into the air and over, leaving disorientated goalkeeper Forster flying into his own net.
Celtic were being restricted to long-range efforts, but Forrest went close with a drive off the top of the crossbar from 20 yards.
Play was sweeping from end to end without much end product, or clear-cut chances being created.
Hibs striker Garry O'Connor had to do it all by himself following a swift break and, after twisting and turning into the Celtic box, fired over the crossbar despite the attentions of three defenders.
Substitute Sproule stepped inside before sweeping a shot wide of the far post from 20 yards, while Stokes had an effort from a similar range as neither side seriously threatened to break the deadlock in the closing moments.