2013-01-30: Celtic 4-1 Kilmarnock, SPL

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

Trivia

• Celtic still top of the league, by 15pts!
• Stokes scores first goal since his injury layoff.
• Matthews scores his first double for Celtic. Last Celtic full-back to score 2? Jackie Mac at Easter Rd in 95/96.
• Couple of screamers in this game, cracking long range shots.
• Jackie McNamara appointed new manager of Dundee United with Simon Donnelly assisting.
• Hearts wrangle over player played in their League Cup semi may see them booted out tournament to be replaced by Inv Caley (their manager Terry Butcher turned down a job in England to stay recently).
• Transfer window last few days, rumours into overdrive now.
• CL opponents have signed ageing player Anelka (former Arsenal, Real Madrid and Chelsea player)

Review

(radar of KDS forum)
Strange first half tonight. Loads of possession, created a few chances but missed them. Crowd had the atmosphere that we might eff it all up again like we did on Sunday. That seemed to transfer to the players so there were passes going astray regularly and it all just seemed very low key.

2nd half was much better. Higher tempo, closing down better, moving the ball quicker (no Samaras?). Could easily have scored 10 on another day with the chances created.

Great to see Stokes back and looking so sharp. We've been so shot-shy at times it was great to see him take on that shot from such a wide angle, and score it obviously.

Watt showed some nice touches too. So much movement up front between Hooper, Stokes and Watt. Killie couldn't cope with it.

Matthews and Lustig both excellent tonight, but I couldn't help wonder what a natural winger like Forrest could have done with the space Matthews had first half.

Mulgrew played like someone with the weight of the world on his shoulders. And I've seen Wanyama knocked off the ball more times in the last 4 days than in the whole rest of the season.

Wasn't as cold as I thought it would be either. Maybe I've just perfected my winter attire.

4-1 totally flattered a pretty dire Killie side.

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Stats

Celtic Kilmarnock
Possession
29% 71%
90mins

Shots
20 6

On target
10 4

Corners
10 0

Fouls
5 8

Articles

Celtic 4 – 1 Kilmarnock: Lennon can crack a smile

The Scotsman

By ANDREW SMITH
Published on Wednesday 30 January 2013 23:51

HIS players can rest a little easier. So too can newspaper columnists who dare to comment on the latest on-field fortunes of his club.

SCORERS

Celtic – Ledley (41), Matthews (50, 83), Stokes (78)

Kilmarnock – Sheridan (48)

An ultimately comfortable outcome at Celtic Park last night may mean Neil Lennon can dispense with the Mr Angry, railing against the world persona he dusted down in the wake of his club’s dismal Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final defeat to St Mirren at the weekend.

The only Irish manager with a bee in his bonnet – or perhaps a swarm of them – after Celtic extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League to 15 points is likely to be Lennon’s Kilmarnock counterpart Kenny Shiels. From his vantage point in the main stand, where he was required to sit courtesy of the latest in a series of seemingly neverending touchline bans, he will have no doubt been of the same opinion of most watching on – that the officials failed to spot the ball crossing the Celtic goalline with the encounter still scoreless after 37 minutes.

Celtic responded by taking the lead through Joe Ledley, and although that was quickly cancelled out by Cilian Sheridan, a second half double from Adam Matthews, the first of which meant Kilmarnock were only level for three minutes, helped Celtic to, what would surely be, a satisfying enough response to Sunday’s cup calamity.

Lennon’s initial reaction to his side’s Hampden horror proved eye-popping in words, but not in deed.

Changes were minimal to the personnel he had decried as having produced a “soulless” performance and acting like “spoilt children” in losing to St Mirren. Lassad and Joe Ledley were relegated to the bench to accommodate starts for Kris Commons and Mikael Lustig.

What intrigued was where he chose to berth the Swede. He joined Kelvin Wilson and Charlie Mulgrew in a three-man defence as the home side were set-out 3-4-3. It was a shape last deployed in the defeat by Hibernian a month ago, an outcome that led Lennon to conclude he had the wrong configuration.

A trip to Easter Road is a very different assignment to facing a Kilmarnock side with a clutch of teenagers, the match labelled a “development” game by Shiels.

He was one of the many to feel the wrath of Lennon’s tongue in the build-up. Shiels was slated for stating that Celtic had “massively underachieved” by failing to win any of the domestic cups. With their League Cup final win over Lennnon’s side, Kilmarnock were factored in to that. As they were with the underwhelming, as well as underachieving, home league form Celtic endured in the early months of this campaign, courtesy of Killie’s first win at Celtic Park in 57 years, when last visiting in October.

Celtic’s early domination suggested there would be no repeat of that 2-0 reverse, though the fact that a goal could not be fashioned from hemming the Ayrshire side in was sufficient cause for anxiety.

Georgios Samaras failed to convert when clean through, Commons skimmed the bar and Gary Hooper was denied by a full length stop to his right by Cammy Bell.

The real anxieties, with Celtic’s last-16 Champions League tie against Juventus only a fortnight away, were injury withdrawals of Samaras and Emilio Izaguirre. And the Honduran’s loss altered the complexion of the confrontation.

Ledley had only been on the field for seven minutes when, as he fell backwards, he arced an unstoppable effort in to the top corner from fully 22 yards. The 41st minute opener, however, was not when the night started to get interesting. That point came just before Ledley’s strike, when Celtic keeper Lukasz Zaluska failed to stop the ball crossing his line. It was the champions’ good fortune that the man who could not be sure was standside assistant Stephen Mitchell.

In truth, most in the stadium, and the players in the vicinity, seemed sure that, when Zaluska failed to deal with a cross floated in from the left by Rory McKeown, Mulgrew, following in at the back post, knocked the ball over the line when attempting to touch it back to his keeper, who dropped down to smother it at his post. Mitchell, then, could have had no clear view, but Killie’s Ross Barbour, in close attendance to pressurise Mulgrew, and Sheridan, could.

The sense of injustice was no doubt coursing through the visiting players at the interval and that might have been a factor in their electric start to the second period that brought instant reward. Especially since the move that allowed Sheridan to score, as he had in October, began with Christian Gros outmuscling Victor Wanyama down the right channel and squaring for the Irishman to slot in from inside the six-yard box.

The goal didn’t prove the cue for Shiels’s men to extend their unbeaten run in Glasgow – which ran through the whole of 2012 with wins at Ibrox, Hampden and Celtic Park.

Within three minutes, Matthews had speared an effort beyond Bell from the edge of the area. Only his second for the club, his third arrived half an hour later, with a bundle in from two yards. And Anthony Stokes got his first goal of the season, the substitute netting 12 minutes from time, after being slipped through by Hooper and rounding the keeper.

BBC
By Chris McLaughlin BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

Celtic recovered from their weekend League Cup hangover with a comfortable victory at home to Kilmarnock.

Joe Ledley opened the scoring for Celtic four minutes from the end of the first half with a long-range effort.

Shortly after the restart, Killie levelled through a Cillian Sheridan tap-in at the back post.

Anthony Stokes added a close-range shot on either side of two strikes by Adam Matthews – one a long-range screamer to match Ledley's first half strike.
Play media

With the weekend fury of their manager Neil Lennon still ringing in their ears, it was back to the league and back to winning ways for Celtic as they swept Kilmarnock aside in some style.

Kris Commons rattled the bar twice in the first half as the home side looked to bounce back from that Hampden defeat by St Mirren. .

The visitors were struggling to deal with a more lively Celtic side and Georgios Samaras could, and perhaps should, have given the home side the lead after 10 minutes when he rounded Cammy Bell in the Kilmarnock goal but his shot smashed the side netting.

In the dying minutes of the first half Killie thought they had grabbed a shock lead.

Lukasz Zaluska was caught out by a looping ball by teenager Ross Barbour from the left and, as he and Kelvin Wilson tried to clear, Killie claimed the ball crossed the line.

Referee Callum Murray looked to his assistant but waved play on.

Lennon was forced to shuffle his pack after Emillio Izaguirre hobbled off but substitute Ledley fired a rocket past Bell to put Celtic one up.
Play media

The former Parkhead striker Sheridan pulled Kilmarnock level just after the interval, though, following a great cross from William Gros.

Five minutes later Matthews put Celtic ahead again with a thunderous shot that rivalled Ledley's for the spectacular and from that point Celtic never looked back.

Gary Hooper, subject of yet another failed bid from English Premier League side Norwich, passed up a number of chances to stretch the lead further but Killie were on the verge of crumbling.

Stokes, on for the injured Samaras, made it three after rounding the goalkeeper and slotting past Bell from a tight angle.

Matthews put the icing on the cake with his second and Celtic's fourth shortly after, tapping in from a yard out.

Live Text Commentary
90:00 +2:08 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.
89:06

Inswinging corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Ross Barbour.
88:41

Gary Hooper produces a right-footed shot from close range and strikes the post.
88:00

Danny Racchi handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Victor Wanyama.
87:26

Danny Racchi takes the free kick.
87:26 Booking

Booking Scott Brown is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.
87:21

Scott Brown challenges James Dayton unfairly and gives away a free kick.
86:00

Shot from just outside the box by Gary Hooper goes over the crossbar.
85:18 Substitution

Substitution Paul Heffernan comes on in place of William Gros.
84:37

William Gros is caught offside. Free kick taken by Lukasz Zaluska.
82:57

Assist by Anthony Stokes.
82:57 Goal scored

Goal – Adam Matthews – Celtic 4 – 1 Kilmarnock Adam Matthews grabs a goal from close range low into the middle of the goal. Celtic 4-1 Kilmarnock.
82:55

The ball is delivered by Anthony Stokes,
80:50

Unfair challenge on Victor Wanyama by James Fowler results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Mikael Lustig.
77:20

Gary Hooper provided the assist for the goal.
77:20 Goal scored

Goal – Anthony Stokes – Celtic 3 – 1 Kilmarnock Anthony Stokes scores a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Celtic 3-1 Kilmarnock.
76:27

Jeroen Tesselaar has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
76:05

Anthony Stokes is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Cameron Bell.
73:42 Substitution

Substitution Anthony Stokes comes on in place of Kris Commons.
72:57

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew from the right by-line.
71:30 Substitution

Substitution (Kilmarnock) makes a substitution, with Ryan O'Leary coming on for Rory McKeown.
70:26

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance by William Gros.
70:19

The ball is delivered by Tony Watt, blocked by Mark O'Hara.
67:10

Gary Hooper fouled by Mohamadou Sissoko, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Kelvin Wilson.
65:35

Kris Commons fouled by Rory McKeown, the ref awards a free kick. Victor Wanyama restarts play with the free kick.
65:17

Ross Barbour takes a shot. Save made by Lukasz Zaluska.
64:06

Kris Commons takes a shot. Save by Cameron Bell.
62:04

Effort on goal by Kris Commons from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.
61:30

Danny Racchi takes a shot. Save by Lukasz Zaluska.
60:26

Free kick taken by Rory McKeown.
60:26 Substitution

Substitution Danny Racchi on for Jude Winchester.
60:26

Rory McKeown fouled by Gary Hooper, the ref awards a free kick.
58:56

The ball is swung over by Charlie Mulgrew, Gary Hooper takes a shot. Cameron Bell makes a save.
56:45

The ball is delivered by Adam Matthews.
55:08

Kris Commons takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.
54:37

The ball is swung over by Tony Watt, James Fowler makes a clearance.
53:20

Scott Brown fouled by Cillian Sheridan, the ref awards a free kick. Victor Wanyama takes the direct free kick.
52:39

Handball by Tony Watt. Free kick taken by Jeroen Tesselaar.
52:21

The ball is sent over by Joe Ledley.
51:54

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Cameron Bell.
51:26

The ball is delivered by Kris Commons, Rory McKeown makes a clearance.
51:02

Kris Commons decides to take a short corner.
50:53

The ball is delivered by Tony Watt, clearance made by Mark O'Hara.
49:17

The assist for the goal came from Kris Commons.
49:17 Goal scored

Goal – Adam Matthews – Celtic 2 – 1 Kilmarnock Adam Matthews grabs a goal from long range to the top left corner of the goal. Celtic 2-1 Kilmarnock.
48:41

Corner taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew to the near post, Cillian Sheridan manages to make a clearance.
48:30

Charlie Mulgrew delivers the ball, Jeroen Tesselaar makes a clearance.
47:02

The assist for the goal came from William Gros.
47:02 Goal scored

Goal – Cillian Sheridan – Celtic 1 – 1 Kilmarnock Cillian Sheridan grabs a goal from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Celtic 1-1 Kilmarnock.
46:58

The ball is swung over by William Gros,
45:47

Kris Commons produces a drilled left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
45:21

Kris Commons decides to take the corner short.
45:14

Adam Matthews produces a cross, blocked by Rory McKeown.
45:01

The match restarts for the second half.
45:00 +1:10 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.
43:44 Substitution

Substitution Tony Watt joins the action as a substitute, replacing Georgios Samaras.
42:12

Georgios Samaras sends in a cross, Cameron Bell makes a save.
40:58

Kris Commons provided the assist for the goal.
40:58 Goal scored

Goal – Joe Ledley – Celtic 1 – 0 Kilmarnock Joe Ledley finds the back of the net with a goal from outside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Celtic 1-0 Kilmarnock.
39:34

Shot by Gary Hooper from 12 yards. Cameron Bell makes a save. Close range shot by Georgios Samaras misses to the left of the goal.
38:01

James Dayton has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
37:07

Centre by Gary Hooper, Jeroen Tesselaar makes a clearance.
36:29

Rory McKeown produces a cross, Lukasz Zaluska makes a save.
35:05 Substitution

Substitution Joe Ledley comes on in place of Emilio Izaguirre.
33:59

The ball is sent over by Adam Matthews.
31:29

Free kick awarded for a foul by Victor Wanyama on James Dayton. Direct free kick taken by James Fowler.
30:27

Charlie Mulgrew has a headed effort from close range and clears the crossbar.
29:53

Corner from the right by-line taken by Adam Matthews, Cillian Sheridan manages to make a clearance.
29:48

The ball is swung over by Georgios Samaras, clearance made by Ross Barbour.
29:10

Unfair challenge on Kris Commons by Mohamadou Sissoko results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Kelvin Wilson.
28:27

Corner from the left by-line taken by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance made by Rory McKeown.
28:14

Scott Brown takes a shot. Save made by Cameron Bell.
27:56

The referee gives a free kick against Georgios Samaras for handball. Direct free kick taken by Mohamadou Sissoko.
26:40

William Gros crosses the ball, save made by Lukasz Zaluska.
26:06

Shot from 20 yards by Kris Commons.
25:11

Kelvin Wilson takes the free kick.
25:11 Booking

Booking James Fowler goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
25:02

Victor Wanyama fouled by James Fowler, the ref awards a free kick.
24:48

The ball is swung over by Ross Barbour.
22:42

Foul by Mikael Lustig on James Dayton, free kick awarded. Cillian Sheridan fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
20:03

James Fowler gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Georgios Samaras. Free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
19:00

Centre by Adam Matthews, clearance by Mark O'Hara.
18:25

Cillian Sheridan is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Kelvin Wilson restarts play with the free kick.
17:20

The ball is delivered by Mikael Lustig, Victor Wanyama produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
16:48

Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Save made by Cameron Bell.
15:37

The ball is swung over by Charlie Mulgrew.
12:51

Georgios Samaras has an effort at goal from close range which goes wide right of the target.
12:27

Centre by Kris Commons, clearance by Mohamadou Sissoko.
11:27

Emilio Izaguirre sends in a cross, save made by Cameron Bell.
9:35

Adam Matthews sends in a cross.
9:07

The ball is swung over by Charlie Mulgrew, Mohamadou Sissoko makes a clearance.
8:49

Corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew, William Gros manages to make a clearance.
7:56

Jeroen Tesselaar gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Georgios Samaras. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Kris Commons.
7:24

The ball is sent over by Kris Commons, clearance by Rory McKeown.
5:13

The ball is sent over by Emilio Izaguirre, Jeroen Tesselaar makes a clearance.
4:53

The ball is delivered by Charlie Mulgrew.
4:05

Inswinging corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew from the right by-line, Mohamadou Sissoko manages to make a clearance.
3:19

Free kick awarded for a foul by Victor Wanyama on Jeroen Tesselaar. Cameron Bell takes the free kick.
2:08

Mikael Lustig sends in a cross.
1:10

A cross is delivered by Adam Matthews.
0:00

The referee starts the match.

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