2012-11-24: Celtic 0-1 Inverness CT, SPL

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

Trivia

• Back to own domestic league after downer in Benfica.
• Celtic remain top of league despite defeat. 1pt lead & one game in hand. Just 4pts gap between top few teams in SPL.
• This is Celtic's worst start of the season since 1998/1999.
• Stokes back in training next week but not likely to return till January for first team action.
• Wilson, Rogne and others out injured.
• Mascots today were 26 exceptional kids, disabled kids who loved the occasion.
• Lennon: "Look, if they are not happy with what I am doing and they want me to go, I will". Over-reaction after a disappointing result from some supporters, and Lenny playing them a bit with this remark. All need to calm down. Lennon reacted back to a few fans but doesn't help situation. Lennon later dismissed journos as irrelevant who tried to take him to task.
• Brown to go for surgery and then out for ten weeks, his last game for a while, although reports later saying he will wait till after Spartak game.
• Celtic have taken Ghanian left winger Frank Acheampong on trial.
• Green Brigade protest today and not turned up following dispute with club over alleged treatment of their members and supporters.
• Tabloids pandering to Huns after their supposed victory (sic!) in first round of tax cases.

Review

(Adam Smith 11 of KDS)
As aggressive an optimist as I am I fear that this dip in league form has now become a slump.

The fans need to have a reason to turn up beyond loyalty and the home performances have not been good.

The players still have lots of goodwill for their efforts in the last 2 years and in Europe this year however it is running out and they are in danger of taking the fans for granted.

I think we should be doing something radical at home (whatever is the most attacking viable format there is), if not a sizeable section of the fans will stop showing up during the winter. We are still top of the league with a terrible home record, I think we'd rather draw 3-3 than 1-1 or get beat 4-3 rather than 1-0.

I'm not one for knee jerk reactions but I think Neil has to engage the fans on how he plans to bring excitement back to our home league games, 1 goal a game is not Thunder inducing.

Still 100% behind the squad but this is not good enough.

Teams

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)
• Audio Report: Paradise Report

Pictures

• Match Pictures

MOTM

• Voting Thread
• Result Thread
• Winner –
• 2012-13 Winners

Stats

Celtic v Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Possession
39% 61%
90mins

Shots
11 7

On target
3 3

Corners
7 2

Fouls
11 8

Articles

Celtic 0 – 1 Inverness CT: Dogged display earns three points

The Scotsman

Published on Saturday 24 November 2012 17:15

BILLY McKay’s second-half goal gave Inverness a shock win over lacklustre Celtic in their Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Inverness at Parkhead.

Following their 2-1 Champions League defeat by Benfica in Lisbon in midweek Hoops boss Neil Lennon had claimed fatigue was impacting on his squad and it looked that way as they never got going against the neat and tidy visitors.

Kris Commons and Mikael Lustig missed good chances for the home side in an otherwise dull first half but there was no second-half surge from the champions and indeed, after McKay notched in the 65th minute from close range, he later spurned a good chance to double their lead when he hit the bar with only Fraser Forster to beat.

Inverness manager Terry Butcher had challenged his side to maintain their record of having scored in every game this season and he will have no complaints although conversely, Lennon had a shouting match with one Celtic fan behind the dugout before the game had ended.

It was an afternoon of frustration for the former Hoops skipper who made three changes to his starting eleven.

Commons, Beram Kayal and Tony Watt were drafted in with Kelvin Wilson (flu), Joe Ledley (groin) and Scott Brown dropping out, the Hoops skipper shrugging off an on-going hip complaint which may require surgery to take his place on the bench

Butcher made one change to the side which lost 5-1 at home to Motherwell last week, with Philip Roberts in for Gavin Morrison.

The absence of the Green Brigade – the vociferous and occasionally controversial section of the Hoops support who were boycotting the match after claiming they had been subject to “oppressive police tactics” in recent months – deadened the atmosphere further in a half-filled stadium.

In the 12th minute the home fans who did turn up gave a standing ovation, apparently in support of the Green Brigade’s actions, but that was mostly all they had to applaud in a lacklustre start to the match.

Caley defender Graeme Shinnie fired a 25-yard free-kick over the bar before Commons had an effort which failed to trouble Caley keeper Antonio Reguero.

The Highlanders’ goal almost came under threat in the 17th minute when Kayal played in Lustig but his attempted cut-back from the byline to Gary Hooper was thwarted by a fine Josh Meekings tackle.

Almost 10 minutes later Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew picked out Hooper with a cross which allowed the striker to set up Kayal at the edge of he box but the midfielder’s shot was blocked by Caley skipper Richie Foran and the ball spun through to Reguero.

Moments later at the other end, Owain Tudur Jones set up Andrew Shinnie but his 20-yard drive limped wide of the target.

The champions then squandered two good chances to break the deadlock.

In the 39th minute, as the Parkhead side broke swiftly, Hooper sent Commons through but the Scotland midfielder’s angled-shot from 12 yards was wayward.

Two minutes later Lustig had a similar and possibly better opportunity when Hooper cleverly allowed a Kayal pass to run through to the right-back but he hit the side-netting with his unconvincing effort.

Celtic began the second half as they ended the first, on the front foot, but with still several gears to find.

The visitors, resolute in defence, carried more than a hint of danger on the break.

Parkhead defender Efe Ambrose came to Celtic’s rescue in the 54th minute when he cut out a dangerous cross from midfielder Aaron Doran and although the corner came to nothing it served to accentuate the sense of frustration inside Celtic Park.

Caley’s goal was not a surprise and came through another swift counter.

Roberts took a pass from Doran inside the Celtic box, turned inside Adam Matthews and Mulgrew, and fired the ball across for McKay to guide the ball past Forster, with the home fans claiming offside.

Paddy McCourt replaced Watt and Brown came on for Matthews but before the second substitution there was another scare for the Hoops when Andrew Shinnie played in Tudur Jones but he could not set himself properly and his effort was easily saved by Forster.

Celtic, urged on by their fans, stepped up the pressure and Gary Warren hit his own post under pressure before Reguero made a good save from what looked to be a Samaras header.

At last the match was warming up and before Hooper was replaced by Lassad in the 75th minute, Lennon was warned by referee Calum Murray after his frustrations boiled over.

With nine minutes remaining and the Caley goal under siege, Reguero made a fine save from Commons powerful drive from 16 yards with the Hoops midfielder firing the rebound over the bar.

In the 83rd minute Caley should have scored the second when they broke in a two-versus-one situation.

Doran set up McKay who hit the bar with only Forster to beat before the Caley midfielder’s shot from the rebound was cleared off the line by Ambrose.

The Highlanders were made to defend for the rest of the match but held on for the win, as Celtic Park echoed to the sound of boos at the final whistle.

Top Bhoys and Ghirls lead the team out at Celtic Park

By: Newsroom Staff on 26 Nov, 2012 13:27 IT was a special day for 26 exceptional children on Saturday as they were the team mascots at Celtic Park for the game against Inverness Caley Thistle.
Celticfc.net
The children from the award-winning Ability Counts project visited Celtic Park and also entertained fans at half time with a dance routine that they practiced especially for the visit.

And the children received a wonderful and warm welcome from the Celtic supporters, both before the game and at half-time.

To view all the pictures from a great day out at Paradise, go to Celtic´s official Facebook page HERE

It was also a chance for all involved with the project to celebrate it becoming the winner of the ‘People’s Choice Heart and Soul Award’ at this year’s Scottish Charity Awards.

This is the initiative’s second award after already winning the prestigious European Club Association Award in 2011 under the ‘Best Community and Social Responsibility Programme’ category.

The Celtic Foundation and Down’s Syndrome Scotland met in 2010 to discuss joint working and both partners quickly realised that they shared similar values and goals and agreed to design a programme together.

This would engage the heart of the community, offering children with Down’s Syndrome an opportunity to develop motor skills, ball skills, team working and to play football and in a fun but challenging environment.

The Ability Counts Programme launched in February 2011 and was the first of its kind in Scotland and has now grown from strength to strength.

In addition to the weekly football coaching we have now introduced a successful dance element and hope to add music tuition to the programme in the near future.

As a club open to all since its formation in 1888, Celtic promotes inclusion and diversity – the Ability Counts programme has been a perfect way to celebrate diversity and promote friendship between the children involved through a common goal and interest.

Pandora Summerfield Chief Executive of Down’s Syndrome Scotland said: “Celtic’s willingness to work with us and make this project a success cannot be understated.

“They have gone above and beyond our expectations and have given the children and their families some special memories as well as improved their football and dance skills.

“We are looking forward to seeing this project grow with Celtic and hope to see it expand to other clubs in the future.”

Peter Lawwell, Celtic’s Chief Executive added: “Celtic is here for everyone and through our range of social projects we aim to do as much as possible to benefit the wider community in various ways.

“We’re delighted to be part of this innovative programme and we are excited about growing the programme with Down’s Syndrome Scotland in order that we can make a positive difference to more and more children.

“Every member of the team involved in the programme has enjoyed it wholeheartedly and the opportunity has provided us and the children with some very special moments and memories.

“We have a fantastic relationship with Down’s Syndrome Scotland it’s also a pleasure to see the young people and parents get so much out of this programme”.

BBC

24 November 2012 Last updated at 16:59
By Kheredine Idessane BBC Scotland
Comments (33)

History was made in the East End of Glasgow as Inverness CT won their first-ever league match at Celtic Park.

Billy Mckay was the headline-maker, turning in a cross to create another Champions League hangover for Celtic.

Neil Lennon's side have now lost two out of their last three home league matches, with the other a draw, all after midweek European matches.

But focus should be on the visitors as only the bar and a goal-line clearance prevented a more emphatic win.

Not that Celtic did not have chances; they just could not take any.

Mikael Lustig, Kris Commons and Georgios Samaras were the chief culprits on a day when nothing much went right for the home side.

And what a transformation in Caley Thistle. Could this really be the same side who shipped five goals to Motherwell last week?

Despite a promising start for Inverness, the first serious chance of the match fell Celtic's way; an excellent short pass from Beram Kayal sent Lustig into the area but, rather than shoot, he tried to cross and the opportunity was wasted.
Play media

Victor Wanyama tried his luck with an effort from outside the area but the shot was easily held by Antonio Reguero in goal.

Just before the half-hour, Inverness got into their stride and a strong run from Owain Tudor Jones from midfield created some space for the visitors' Andrew Shinnie but he totally miscued his strike wide.

Commons squandered a wonderful chance to put Celtic ahead. Played in by Gary Hooper, his right-foot shot went horribly wide. He would go on to have an afternoon he would rather forget.

As Celtic picked up the pace, Lustig should have put his side into the lead after being played in by Beram Kayal, but he side-footed straight into the side netting.

After a goalless first half – and, one would imagine, a bit of a dusting down from manager Neil Lennon – Celtic had the first chance after the break but the sight of Commons with his head in hands reflected his high blast over.

As Inverness grew in confidence, and pressed in the opening period of the second half, Efe Ambrose almost put into his own net for Celtic from Aaron Doran's cross.
Play media

But the Inverness threat would not be blunted for long and, on 64 minutes, just as Celtic prepared to bring on Paddy McCourt for Tony Watt, Philip Roberts broke down the right wing and checked back inside to flummox two Celtic defenders, before firing over a cross which was touched in by a grateful McKay.

Minutes later, Inverness created another chance but Jones just could not get a touch to another cross from the Celtic left.

Samaras then wasted a wonderful chance for Celtic, as his header was saved by Reguero when he really should not have been given a chance to reach it.

Inverness were good value for their lead – which should have been doubled when Billy McKay was played in again.

He watched his curling effort come back off the crossbar, and expected, as we all did, that Aaron Doran would bury the rebound, with keeper Fraser Forster stranded.

However, a split-second hesitation before shooting allowed Efe Ambrose to make a magnificent goal-line clearance to keep the deficit to one, and retain a glimmer of Celtic hope.

That petered out in three minutes of stoppage time, after which the Inverness players, and their delighted manager Terry Butcher, took a well deserved curtain call in front of a small band of ecstatic fans who have now seen their side win in the League Cup at Ibrox and, for the first time ever, at Celtic in the league.

Live Text Commentary
90:00 +3:10 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
90:00 +1:06

Fraser Forster restarts play with the free kick.
90:00 +1:06 Substitution

Substitution Conor Pepper replaces Philip Roberts.
90:00 +1:06

The assistant referee signals for offside against Aaron Doran.
89:09

Free kick awarded for a foul by Scott Brown on Owain Tudur Jones. Josh Meekings takes the free kick.
88:24

Corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew from the right by-line.
86:59

Shane Sutherland fouled by Scott Brown, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Aaron Doran.
86:14

Free kick awarded for a foul by Graeme Shinnie on Kris Commons. Direct free kick taken by Kris Commons.
83:46 Substitution

Substitution (Inverness CT) makes a substitution, with Shane Sutherland coming on for Billy McKay.
83:25

Andrew Shinnie takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Blocked by Efe Ambrose.
82:53

Drilled right-footed shot by Billy McKay.
82:19

Corner taken by Kris Commons.
81:47

Graeme Shinnie concedes a free kick for a foul on Patrick McCourt. Free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
81:31

Kris Commons produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the crossbar.
80:56

Kris Commons has a drilled shot. Brilliant save by Antonio Reguero.
80:37

Kris Commons decides to take a short corner.
79:16

Corner taken by Kris Commons from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by David Raven.
78:40

Charlie Mulgrew takes the direct free kick.
78:40 Booking

Booking Richie Foran is booked.
78:29

Gary Warren challenges Georgios Samaras unfairly and gives away a free kick.
77:48

Effort from inside the area by Kris Commons misses to the right of the goal.
74:56

Gary Warren restarts play with the free kick.
74:56 Substitution

Substitution Lassad Nouioui joins the action as a substitute, replacing Gary Hooper.
74:56

Patrick McCourt challenges Andrew Shinnie unfairly and gives away a free kick.
73:59

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew, Richie Foran manages to make a clearance.
72:48

Foul by Andrew Shinnie on Efe Ambrose, free kick awarded. Efe Ambrose takes the free kick.
71:33

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Beram Kayal by Andrew Shinnie. Charlie Mulgrew takes the direct free kick.
70:18

Shot from just outside the area by Kris Commons misses to the right of the target.
67:59

Direct free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
67:59 Substitution

Substitution Adam Matthews goes off and Scott Brown comes on.
67:59 Booking

Booking Caution for Philip Roberts.
67:50

Philip Roberts gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mikael Lustig.
67:31

Owain Tudur Jones takes a shot. Save by Fraser Forster.
67:12

The ball is swung over by Mikael Lustig.
65:13

Effort by Victor Wanyama from a long way out goes over the target.
64:46 Substitution

Substitution Patrick McCourt is brought on as a substitute for Tony Watt.
64:00

The assist for the goal came from Philip Roberts.
64:00 Goal scored

Goal – Billy McKay – Celtic 0 – 1 Inverness Billy McKay scores a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Celtic 0-1 Inverness CT.
60:40

The offside flag is raised against Gary Hooper. Antonio Reguero takes the indirect free kick.
60:24

Outswinging corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew from the left by-line, clearance by Owain Tudur Jones.
56:59

The ball is sent over by Andrew Shinnie.
55:38

Gary Warren fouled by Tony Watt, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Andrew Shinnie.
54:32

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Graeme Shinnie, Gary Warren has a header from close range and clears the crossbar.
54:22

Aaron Doran crosses the ball, clearance by Efe Ambrose.
51:19

Kris Commons produces a cross, David Raven gets a block in.
50:37

Short corner worked by Graeme Shinnie.
50:25

A cross is delivered by Billy McKay, clearance made by Charlie Mulgrew.
47:37

The official flags Aaron Doran offside. Efe Ambrose restarts play with the free kick.
46:58

Kris Commons produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target.
45:01

The referee starts the second half.
45:00 +0:23 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.
44:09

Foul by Victor Wanyama on Andrew Shinnie, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Josh Meekings.
41:30

Free kick taken by Josh Meekings.
41:30 Booking

Booking Beram Kayal shown a yellow card.
41:14

Foul by Beram Kayal on Andrew Shinnie, free kick awarded.
39:54

Effort from inside the six-yard box by Mikael Lustig goes wide right of the goal.
38:18

Kris Commons produces a right-footed shot from close in which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
33:29

Gary Warren takes the direct free kick.
33:29 Booking

Booking Georgios Samaras is shown a yellow card.
33:24

Georgios Samaras concedes a free kick for a foul on Aaron Doran.
32:15

Corner taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew, save made by Antonio Reguero.
31:58

The ball is sent over by Mikael Lustig, clearance by David Raven.
28:36

Shot from just outside the area by Andrew Shinnie misses to the left of the target.
25:57

Beram Kayal takes a shot. Gary Warren gets a block in.
24:05

Victor Wanyama concedes a free kick for a foul on Richie Foran. Graeme Shinnie takes the free kick.
23:06

Adam Matthews crosses the ball, Gary Warren makes a clearance.
20:49

Shot from 20 yards by Victor Wanyama. Save by Antonio Reguero.
19:55

Foul by Gary Warren on Fraser Forster, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
19:17

Free kick awarded for a foul by Beram Kayal on David Raven. Free kick taken by Billy McKay.
18:31

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Richie Foran by Victor Wanyama. Free kick taken by Antonio Reguero.
17:36

The ball is crossed by Gary Hooper.
17:11

Unfair challenge on Victor Wanyama by Richie Foran results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Victor Wanyama.
10:12

Kris Commons has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the goal.
6:53

Philip Roberts crosses the ball, Efe Ambrose makes a clearance.
4:29

Foul by Georgios Samaras on Andrew Shinnie, free kick awarded. Graeme Shinnie has an effort direct from the free kick.
3:07

Philip Roberts is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Fraser Forster takes the free kick.
1:37

The official flags Tony Watt offside. Indirect free kick taken by Antonio Reguero.
0:52

The ball is sent over by Kris Commons, Antonio Reguero makes a save.
0:00

The referee gets the game started.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association