2012-09-01: Celtic 2-2 Hibernian, SPL

Match Pictures | Matches: 2012 – 2013 | 2012-13 Pictures

Trivia

• Top of the table clash, Celtic stay on top on goal difference.
• Lustig gets his debut goal (but really got two but second is marked as own goal by Hibs player).
• Transfer window closed night before, three new signings: Lubos Kamenar, Miku and Efe Ambrose
• Celtic still after free agent Lassad Nouioui.
• Debut for youngster Jackson Irvine.

Review

(nakasghirl of KDS forum)
Very poor performance in my opinion, and too many players – both experienced and new – appear to buy into the let's take it easy cos the huns don't exist mentality. People like Twardzik and Watt need to realise what it takes to succeed at Celtic, and need to realise quickly. Anthony Stokes has scored 40+ goals in the past two seasons and he is deemed by many not good enough for Celtic. Stokes would have scored today.

The defending in the very few moments it was put under pressure by a line led by a Kenny Miller wannabe fell to bits. Izaguirre and Matthews were both rotten, neither conjuring so much as a half decent cross between them. It is no coincidence that K Wilson was at the heart of this unit: quite why he was afforded the captaincy when Hooper, Forster and even Forrest – all infinitely better players, and all who have contributed more than one good game in two seasons – is anyone's guess.

Twadzik was piss poor and soft as shampooe in to the bargain. Irvine had a half and did little.

We will win the league. Nonetheless, I would like to see us win it in style.

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Stats

Celtic – Hibernian

Possession
41% v 59%
94mins

Shots
14 v 4

On target
6 v 2

Corners
11 v 1

Fouls
7 v 13

Articles

RTE Sport

Careless Celtic twice threw away the lead against Hibernian to drop two points in their 2-2 Clydesdale Bank Premier League draw at Parkhead.

Mikael Lustig notched his first goal for the Hoops in the 11th minute when he fired in from a Paddy McCourt corner, but a disastrous mix-up between the Swedish defender and keeper Fraser Forster in the 53rd minute allowed Tim Clancy to equalise.

Lustig was involved again when Hibs skipper James McPake appeared to knock the ball into his own net after Easter Road keeper Ben Williams had made a mess of a Filip Twardzik free-kick, but again poor defending by the champions allowed Paul Cairney to slip all too easily into their box and level with a drive.

The result may not have a significant impact on the SPL title race, but it was a stark warning for Neil Lennon's men who learned yesterday that their first entry into the group stages of the Champions League in four years would see them take on Barcelona, Benfica and Spartak Moscow.

To add further to the feelgood factor in the east end of Glasgow before the game, Celtic paraded two of their three new signings.

Nigeria central defender Efe Ambrose, who signed a three-year contract after an undisclosed fee was agreed with Israeli club Ashdod and 27-year-old Venezuelan striker Nicolas Fedor – nicknamed Miku – who arrived on a year-long loan from Spanish side Getafe, were given a warm welcome from the fans.

Absent was the third recruit, 25-year-old Slovakia goalkeeper Lubos Kamenar from French side Nantes.

Scott Brown, Georgios Samaras, Charlie Mulgrew and Kris Commons dropped out, the latter to the bench, to be replaced by Tony Watt, Twardzik, McCourt and Lustig and it was the latter two, during a rather sedate start to the game, who combined for the opener.

When the Northern Irishman's corner from the right arrived at the feet of Lustig the Sweden defender volleyed it low past Williams from 10 yards with little hindrance from the static home defence.

It looked at that point like it was going to be a stroll in the sunshine for Lennon's men, more so when Gary Hooper crashed a shot off the crossbar in the 20th minute from 14 yards after being set up by James Forrest.

As the Hoops dominated against a helpless looking Leith side, Williams was forced into a good save from Victor Wanyama's drive before Watt, who scored a brace in his first start for Celtic in last week's 4-2 win at Inverness, sent his angled drive over the bar.

Forrest and right-back Adam Matthews both came close with efforts as the procession towards the Hibees goal continued.

In the 38th minute, moments after Hibs striker Leigh Griffiths' spectacular overhead kick from six yards following a rare foray in to the Celtic box had cleared the bar, Watt missed a golden chance to score his first competitive goal in front of the home support.

The 18-year-old striker was sent clear of the square Easter Road side's defence by Wanyama but although the former Airdrie United player was calm enough to flick the ball over the onrushing Williams, he missed the target.

Hooper then struck woodwork for the second time when he headed a Matthews cross off the near post.

Jackson Irvine came on to make his competitive debut at the start of the second half, replacing Wanyama but within moments Forster's goal survived a scare when Griffiths' whipped-in free-kick from the right was met by Hibs' striker Eoin Doyle who struck the post with his close-range effort.

The Parkhead defence failed to heed that warning.

A long ball from Doyle initially offered little danger but Lustig and Forster hesitated allowing Clancy to nip the ball past both and knock into an empty net.

The goal stung Celtic back into action and McCourt ended a trademark mazy run by sending his shot from 14 yards just past the post.

The home side restored their lead in the 67th minute when Williams spilled a good but not uncatchableTwardzik free-kick from 30 yards and as Lustig slid in to capitalise, McPake seemed to help the ball over the line.

However, that lead did not last long and in five minutes later slack defending again in the Hoops box allowed Cairney to ferret his way through before directing a low drive past Forster.

Commons replaced McCourt and when the Scotland midfielder sent in a free-kick from the left, it was cleared only to Twardzik who skied the ball over the bar.

The Parkhead side drove forward in the final stages looking for the winner but found a Hibs side determined to hang on and take full advantage of their hosts' hospitality.

BBC

By Alasdair Lamont BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

Celtic paid the price for missed chances as Hibs twice pegged them back.

The home side were utterly dominant in the first half but had only a Mikael Lustig strike to show for it, with Gary Hooper twice hitting the woodwork.

Hibs were a different side in the second half and levelled as Tim Clancy punished a Lustig error for a tap-in.

Lustig forced in a second via Hibs' James McPake after a Ben Williams spill. But a great individual goal by Paul Cairney earned Hibs a point.

The visitors had started the match pretty steadily but nonetheless found themselves behind after just 11 minutes.

James McPake made a crucial intervention to deny Victor Wanyama a tap-in from a Filip Twardzik corner, but no-one in the visiting defence could prevent Lustig's thunderous effort from 12 yards from Twardzik's subsequent corner out the net.

Celtic assumed complete control of the match and came within inches of a second when Hooper picked up possession on the edge of the box only to see his powerful toe-poke come off the underside of the bar.

Williams in the Hibernian goal was seeing plenty of the ball and he reacted brilliantly to push away a powerful Wanyama drive from 10 yards.

Forrest was next to try his luck, this time from outside the penalty area, but his low strike whistled just past Williams' right-hand post.

The game was in danger of drifting into non-event territory as half-time approached, though Hibs briefly threatened when McPake's header across goal allowed Leigh Griffiths to try an adventurous overhead-kick, which flew well off-target.

Celtic sprang into life and first Watt chipped wide when he should have scored before Hooper was again denied by the frame of the goal, heading against Williams' left-hand post from Adam Matthews' cross.

Whatever Pat Fenlon said to his players at the interval certainly had the desired effect, though.
Play media

Within two minutes of the restart, a Griffiths free kick from the right was knocked against the post by Eoin Doyle.

But the equaliser did arrive moments later after woeful defending by Lustig.

The Swede attempted to guide the ball back to Forster but failed miserably to do so, allowing Clancy to nip in, round the keeper and tap in to an empty net.

An inspired Paddy McCourt run and shot came close to restoring Celtic's lead and though Hibs were playing a far greater role in the match, they fell behind again when Williams spilled a long-range Twardzik free kick, allowing Lustig to slide in and, despite the best efforts of McPake on the line, force the ball over the line.

The home crowd were stunned again, though, when Cairney showed superb skill to get past two challenges and then slot the ball past Forster.
Play media

Celtic continued to create chances as the game wore on, and Twardzik passed up a glorious opportunity with eight minutes left.

A Kris Commons free kick was punched into the Czech's path by Williams but he blasted over the bar from eight yards.

McPake was playing heroically at the back for Hibs and he did just enough to deflect a Commons shot wide as time ticked away.

And in the end, Hibs held on comfortably to continue their impressive start to the league season, though Celtic have only themselves to blame for dropping two points.

Live Text Commentary
90:00 +2:59 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.
87:19

Alan Maybury challenges Tony Watt unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kris Commons crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, Ben Williams makes a comfortable save.
86:47 Substitution

Substitution Ivan Sproule comes on in place of David Wotherspoon.
86:33 Substitution

Substitution Lewis Stevenson is brought on as a substitute for Gary Deegan.
86:10

Kris Commons decides to take a short corner.
85:51

Kris Commons takes a shot. Ben Williams makes a save.
81:40

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Emilio Izaguirre by Gary Deegan. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Kris Commons, save by Ben Williams.
80:13

Centre by Kris Commons, save by Ben Williams.
79:49

Outswinging corner taken by Kris Commons, clearance by Tim Clancy.
78:05

Jorge Claros gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kris Commons. Direct free kick taken by Mikael Lustig.
76:40

Shot by Filip Twardzik from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.
76:06

Outswinging corner taken by Kris Commons from the left by-line.
73:42 Substitution

Substitution Kris Commons replaces Patrick McCourt.
72:50 Goal scored

Goal – Paul Cairney – Celtic 2 – 2 Hibernian Paul Cairney finds the net with a goal from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Celtic 2-2 Hibernian.
68:07 Goal scored

Goal – James McPake – Celtic 2 – 1 Hibernian An unfortunate own goal is conceded by James McPake. Celtic 2-1 Hibernian.
68:07 Goal scored

Goal – Mikael Lustig – Celtic 2 – 1 Hibernian Goal scored by Mikael Lustig from inside the six-yard box to the top right corner of the goal. Celtic 2-1 Hibernian.
66:52

Gary Deegan challenges Patrick McCourt unfairly and gives away a free kick. Filip Twardzik produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick, save made by Ben Williams.
61:40

Patrick McCourt challenges Eoin Doyle unfairly and gives away a free kick. David Wotherspoon crosses the ball in from the free kick, save made by Fraser Forster.
60:29

Patrick McCourt produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the right-hand post.
54:07

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Patrick McCourt, Jackson Irvine takes a shot. Save made by Ben Williams.
52:48 Goal scored

Goal – Tim Clancy – Celtic 1 – 1 Hibernian Tim Clancy fires in a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Celtic 1-1 Hibernian.
50:53

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Filip Twardzik, clearance made by David Wotherspoon.
50:40

James Forrest sends in a cross, Paul Hanlon makes a clearance.
47:01

Corner taken left-footed by Leigh Griffiths from the right by-line, free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Hanlon on Kelvin Wilson. Fraser Forster takes the free kick.
46:08

Filip Twardzik concedes a free kick for a foul on Gary Deegan. Leigh Griffiths crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing.
45:49

Tim Clancy produces a cross, Filip Twardzik makes a clearance.
45:01

The second half begins.
45:01 Substitution

Substitution Jackson Irvine joins the action as a substitute, replacing Victor Wanyama.
45:00 +0:05 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.
44:38

Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Cairney on Kelvin Wilson. Fraser Forster restarts play with the free kick.
42:58

Kelvin Wilson challenges Eoin Doyle unfairly and gives away a free kick. Leigh Griffiths has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.
38:52

Centre by Adam Matthews, Gary Hooper gets a header at goal,
37:02

Shot from deep inside the area by Tony Watt clears the bar.
35:43

Patrick McCourt challenges Paul Cairney unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tim Clancy crosses the ball, Shot from deep inside the area by Leigh Griffiths goes over the bar.
33:36

Unfair challenge on James Forrest by Jorge Claros results in a free kick. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Filip Twardzik, comfortable save by Ben Williams.
32:07

Tim Clancy sends in a cross, free kick awarded for a foul by Eoin Doyle on Mikael Lustig. Direct free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
30:08

Shot from deep inside the area by Adam Matthews goes over the bar.
29:10

Unfair challenge on Kelvin Wilson by Gary Deegan results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Patrick McCourt.
27:38

James Forrest produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the target.
24:39

Tony Watt has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.
24:16

Victor Wanyama takes a shot. Ben Williams makes a fantastic save.
22:18

Outswinging corner taken by Filip Twardzik, Foul by Mikael Lustig on Paul Hanlon, free kick awarded. Ben Williams takes the direct free kick.
21:10

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Patrick McCourt by Gary Deegan. Direct free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
20:21

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Paul Cairney by Gary Hooper. Paul Hanlon takes the free kick.
19:15

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Filip Twardzik.
18:52

Gary Hooper takes a shot.
17:14

Filip Twardzik produces a cross, save made by Ben Williams.
16:22

Corner taken by Filip Twardzik from the right by-line, Tim Clancy makes a clearance.
13:20

Filip Twardzik produces a cross.
13:05

Filip Twardzik takes a short corner.
12:07

Gary Hooper fouled by Jorge Claros, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Filip Twardzik, James McPake makes a clearance.
9:53

Patrick McCourt provided the assist for the goal.
9:53 Goal scored

Goal – Mikael Lustig – Celtic 1 – 0 Hibernian Mikael Lustig gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Celtic 1-0 Hibernian.
9:26

Corner from the right by-line taken by Patrick McCourt,
8:54

Inswinging corner taken by Filip Twardzik from the right by-line, James McPake manages to make a clearance.
8:01

A cross is delivered by James Forrest, clearance by James McPake.
7:32

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Matthews by Eoin Doyle. Fraser Forster takes the free kick.
5:51

Victor Wanyama fouled by Paul Cairney, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Adam Matthews.
4:58

The assistant referee flags for offside against Tony Watt. Free kick taken by James McPake.
2:32

Tony Watt challenges Paul Hanlon unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ben Williams takes the direct free kick.
0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match