2013-03-02: St Mirren 1-2 Celtic, Scottish Cup

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

Trivia

• Scottish Cup Sixth Round.
• St Mirren had caused a shock and defeated Celtic in the League Cup at Hampden only a couple of weeks earlier.
• Lord Nimmo Smith report on Rangers OldCo released two days earlier. Quite scathing of the oldco but remarkably claimed no sporting advantage due to tax cheating(!) and so no titles stripped. Just a £250k fine! Paltry and pathetic. Very disappointing and a lot of dismay in Scotland over the result (outwith of Sevco). Despite being found guilty on all counts, hun media sycophants play it off as a victory with apologies demanded. Nonsense.
• Celtic release statement (measured) on the report, and state their surprise.

Review

(Steviefrombelfast of KDS forum)
The main thing was we won a 'must win' game.

I thought we were fine in the first half and poor in the second half. Once again when the opposition up their game, as St Mirren did in the second-half, we seem to lose our way.

Having three up front is fine when you are on top but when under pressure it just means you get out-numbered in midfield with 3 guys doing very little upfront. We (and I mean the manager) has to be smarter and make sure somebody drops back when we find ourselves in a midfield grind like the second-half was today. Others may criticise Ambrose but I thought Wanyama was rotten today – lazy and sloppy and looking like his mind was elsewhere.

Izzy was poor but that goal wont have done his confidence any good.

We've had worse days.

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Stats

St Mirren Celtic

Possession
51%49%
90mins

Shots
11 11

On target
4 7

Corners
8 8

Fouls
9 11

Articles

Celtic Football Club Statement

By: Newsroom Staff on 01 Mar, 2013 17:45 Following yesterday´s SPL Commission decision, we have been inundated with requests for the Club to make its position clear:

Celtic FC has today made the following statement:

We note yesterday´s decision that Rangers FC has been found guilty of contravening the SPL rules on disclosure of payments over 11 years between 2000-2011. The scale of this amounts to a deliberate non-disclosure of £47 million in payments to players and staff. We also note the penalty of £250,000 which has been imposed.

Like many within Scottish football, including supporters and other observers, we are surprised by the parallel conclusion that no competitive advantage was gained from these arrangements.

However, the implications of this verdict are for the Scottish football authorities to address since the rules breached were specifically intended to defend "sporting integrity".

Throughout this matter, Celtic has refrained from comment on the affairs of Rangers FC while the various tribunals and commissions went about their work.

We will continue to concentrate on our own affairs, and assure our supporters that at all times we will operate within both the rules of our governing bodies and the law of the land.

Our Club is in a great place at the moment and we are enjoying a fantastic season, maintaining our position at the top of Scottish football and enjoying huge success and profile across European football.

We ask our fans to unite with us once again as we look ahead to the rest of the season, to the Scottish Cup on Saturday, to the UEFA Champions League next week and to an exciting future with a young squad of high quality players and a talented manager in Neil Lennon.

Our fans have been magnificent this season, home and away, and as we head towards the end of the season, now, more than ever, we need our fans to be with us and to back the team and the Club. We sincerely thank our fans for their continued support.

Stokes sinks Saints in the Scottish Cup

By: Laura Brannan on 02 Mar, 2013 14:50 March 2, 2013, Celticfc.net
Scottish Cup, quarter final
St Mirren Park

ST MIRREN 1
(Goncalves 13

CELTIC 2
(Ledley 5, Stokes 21)

ANTHONY Stokes booked Celtic's place in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup with a first-half winner as the Hoops beat St Mirren 2-1 in Paisley.

His strike on the 21st minute added to Joe Ledley's early opener, and restored Celtic's lead after Esmael Goncalves' equaliser. The match continued to be played at an entertaining end-to-end pace but it was the goals in the opening period which guaranteed Celtic a date at Hampden next month.

Neil Lennon had made four changes to the side which lost to Motherwell midweek, bringing Kelvin Wilson, Joe Ledley, Gary Hooper and Efe Ambrose back in to the side, with the latter slotting into central midfield.

And the Hoops looked hungry at the start with Stokes causing the Buddies' backline problems with his persistent running. But it was Ledley who found the opener and it came after just five minutes. James Forrest ran to the byline and fired in a good cross in for the Welshman to head home.

The lead was short-lived, though, as eight minutes later the home side found the equaliser. Emilio Izaguirre mis-judged his defensive clearance and his header over Fraser Forster allowed Goncalves to bundle the ball home at the back post.

With the sides level it produced an open game and a confident-looking St Mirren came close to going ahead on 18 minutes when Goncalves went on a solo run through midfield, but he shot wide.

Celtic maintained the pressure, though, and produced another goal at the opposite end. From a short corner, Forrest was once again the provider, and this time it was Stokes who knocked the ball into the net.

Forrest continued to be a constant menace in the final third, causing problems for the St Mirren backline and almost found the net himself on 38 minutes. He met Victor Wanyama's crisp pass and cut inside before unleashing an effort, but it was blocked before it could trouble Craig Samson.

Celtic continued to press forward for the remainder of the first half but the Buddies' defence kept them at bay, first blocking Ambrose's effort before Wanyama shot over the bar.

Hooper and Matthews produced good interplay down the right at the start of the second half, but the Englishman's cross was met by Ledley who couldn't produce enough power on his effort.

Forrest continued to twist and turn away from the St Mirren defence but in front of goal it was Stokes who was causing the problems, firing into the side-netting from a tight angle on 55 minutes.

At the opposite end, Goncalves weaved his way to the 18-yard line where he produced a low drive, but Forster made the save to deny him the equaliser.

Celtic almost scored a third on 68 minutes when Hooper's powerful effort cannoned off the upright. Forrest's follow-up was then fired wide of target and the chance to extend Celtic's lead was lost.

The home side were pushing forward looking to salvage their cup hopes but McGowan couldn't keep his shot on target. Steven Thompson found space behind the Celtic defence but Forster came out to sweep the danger clear and followed it through with a clearance.

The Hoops then replaced Stokes with Georgios Samaras but St Mirren also made a change, swapping former Celts Paul McGowan with Graham Carey. And the Buddies winger made an instant impact picking out Goncalves on the right, only for Forster to save the winger's shot.

Carey looked hungry, though, and lined up a free-kick on the 80th minute mark. His curling effort from 30 yards out forced Forster into a wonderful, one-handed stop, and the rebound was headed over the bar.

Despite the pressure in the closing stages, Celtic kept St Mirren at bay and their final attack was collected by Forster inside stoppage time. The victory books Celtic a place in the Scottish Cup semi-final which will be played next month.

ST MIRREN: Samson; Van Zanten, McAusland, Mair, Dummett (Parkin 85); Teale, Newton, McGinn, Goncalves; McGowan (Carey 73), Thompson
Subs not used: Adam, Guy, McLean

CELTIC: Forster; Matthews, Rogne (Kayal 81), Wilson, Izaguirre; Forrest, Wanyama, Ambrose, Ledley; Stokes (Samaras 72), Hooper (Commons 90)
Subs not used: Zaluska, Miku

Website man of the match: James Forrest

St Mirren 1-2 Celtic: Stokes puts Celtic in semis

Scotland on Sunday

By TOM ENGLISH
Published on Sunday 3 March 2013 00:49

AT VARIOUS stages of this tempestuous cup tie, the fear was that Neil Lennon was going to spontaneously combust on the touchline, one minute he would be there and the next he would be gone, only his suit and shoes left where once he railed.

St Mirren 1(Goncalves) Celtic 2 (Ledley; Stokes)

Attendance: 5572

Referee: Alan Muir

Bookings: St Mirren (Thompson)

stoked-up celtic prevail

It wouldn’t quite cover it to say that the Celtic manager was so fired up that he metaphorically kicked every ball. He practically kicked every one of his own players as well. Plus the referee, the linesmen and a fourth official who would have had an easier afternoon had been asked to go play with the traffic on the motorway. Lennon was determined that the torpor of Celtic’s 3-2 Hampden League Cup semi-final defeat to St Mirren in January was not going to be repeated here. It wasn’t. Celtic had their revenge, but nothing came easy to them yesterday.

Lennon attributed his spiky mood to a number of things. Firstly, there was the grief he was getting from the home fans behind the Celtic dug-out. Secondly, and more importantly, there was the knowledge that had things gone pear-shaped in this cup tie the way they had done at Hampden, then their season would just peter out. “If we’d lost, then our season, competitively, might have been over, but we kept it alive. We have another semi-final to look forward to, a championship to win and a Champions League match during the week, so it’s all guns blazing.”

To give credit to St Mirren, after so much pain in recent years at Celtic’s hands, they have seemingly figured out how to avoid humiliation against them. This didn’t have a joyous ending like their last meeting, but they made them sweat and they gave them an almighty scare in the closing minutes when Graham Carey’s crashing free-kick forced a terrific save from Fraser Forster. They were defeated, but there was optimism here for St Mirren all the same.

Which is a lot more than you thought they’d have given at the beginning of this match. The fact that Celtic scored so early rather suggested that this was going to be one of those days when they brutalise opponents with their tempo and goal power. The nature of Joe Ledley’s opener – Ledley was Celtic captain for the day – only added to the feeling that St Mirren were not so much going to exit the cup as get fired out of it with the velocity of a bullet leaving a gun.

When James Forrest’s cross came to Ledley there really wasn’t any defender causing him undue pressure, the Welshman stooping to glance a header past Craig Samson. That was after just five minutes. On the touchline, Neil Lennon liked what he saw. Then his mood darkened at the concession of a surprise and slapstick equaliser.

Nobody saw it coming, Emilio Izaguirre most of all. Izaguirre has been a fine Celtic player but there is no question that this finest work is done up the field rather in the basic art of defending, which is what he was supposed to be doing when John McGinn launched a cross into his air-space just eight minutes after Ledley had put Celtic ahead.

Izaguirre felt the heat of Steven Thompson’s presence behind him, which accounted for the first of two duff headers, one that sent the ball towards Forster and the second which sent it past him and into the path of the in-rushing Esmael Goncalves who headed in from about two yards. After all of Izaguirre’s build-up play, he couldn’t miss. “A comedy of errors,” said the Celtic manager. “We’ve got to stop doing that.”

In fairness, the visitors struck back quickly and it was again thanks to some awful defending and some clever thinking to take advantage of it. Forrest worked a short corner with Gary Hooper and then got it back from the striker. While this was going on, Stokes peeled off his marker at the front post and made his way across the six-yard box. Forrest picked him out before St Mirren twigged that they were in danger and Stokes headed home, but it was a desperately slack moment from Danny Lennon’s team, the classic “bad goal to give away” to borrow a hoary old line from the book of clichés so beloved by managers.

The goal did nothing to calm the Celtic manager, pictured, who couldn’t have got on his players’ case more effectively had he put a saddle on their backs and galloped them around the park. To be fair, he had good cause. This was nothing like we thought it might be after the early goal. It became a battle and, clearly, one that St Mirren were up for despite the handicap of a vulnerable heart to their defence. It was also one Celtic could have settled midway through the second half when Hooper got away from Lee Mair and then thrashed a shot off Samson’s crossbar, the goalkeeper getting important fingertips to it.

That was a frustration for Celtic and soon there was to be a scare. Carey came on as a substitute and thundered a free-kick at the Celtic goal, forcing a one-handed save from Forster. With Forster’s defence spread-eagled, Conor Newton seized on the breaking ball, but headed harmlessly over.

“Our day,” said the Celtic manager, later. By then he was chilled-out and smiling. Lennon will have slept well last night.

BBC

By Kenny Crawford BBC Sport Scotland

Joe Ledley and Anthony Stokes netted against St Mirren to put Celtic into Monday's Scottish Cup semi-final draw.

Ledley's close-range header from James Forrest's cross gave the visitors a fifth-minute lead.

Emilio Izaguirre's blunder allowed Saints' Esmael Goncalves to level soon after, before Stokes headed home another Forrest delivery.

St Mirren pressed without success in the second half and Celtic's Gary Hooper fired against the crossbar.

It was just 34 days since St Mirren defeated Celtic 3-2 in the Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final at Hampden.
Play media

Celtic's Stokes had the game's first real chance on three minutes, profiting from Hooper's headed flick-on to run through the centre before being closed down quickly by St Mirren's defence.

However the visitors ensured their next attacking move had an end result.

Forrest tricked his way past Saints' Paul Dummett on the right and provided the cross for Ledley to head home on the six-yard box.

But any hopes Celtic had of this cup tie being a straightforward affair were extinguished when St Mirren hit back on 13 minutes.

Izaguirre looked to have Lee Mair's long diagonal ball covered but, under pressure from Steven Thompson, the Honduran's unsure first header was followed by a catastrophic one as he knocked it over onrushing keeper Fraser Forster, leaving Goncalves to nod into an empty net.
Goncalves

Esmael Goncalves' fifth goal for St Mirren had levelled matters

St Mirren Park was buzzing but Celtic tempered that in the 21st minute with a goal straight from the training ground.

Forrest's short corner to Hooper was returned to him and the winger dinked it to the far post where Stokes arrived unmarked to head in off the post.

The game was then given an opportunity to get its breath back before Efe Ambrose's slaloming run into the box ended with a blocked shot on 40 minutes.

Matthews and Hooper combined to set up captain for the day Ledley at the beginning of the second half, but the Welshman's tame effort was gathered easily by Samson.

St Mirren began to impose themselves on their visitors on the hour mark, when a series of corners led to Victor Wanyama blocking well from another Goncalves strike.
Play media

Mair misread an Ambrose header in the 68th minute which allowed Hooper to run clear and put his laces through a shot which Samson turned onto the bar.

Then it was Forster who had to be alert, rushing out to thwart Thompson.

Saints' midweek goal hero Graham Carey replaced Paul McGowan and, with 10 minutes remaining, he forced Forster into an excellent diving save from a whipped free-kick.

Kelvin Wilson cleared well from Gary Teale's cross in the closing stages, with the ensuing St Mirren corner presenting Mair with a great chance at the back post, but the defender could only slam in into the side-netting.

And it proved to be the home side's last opportunity as Celtic progressed to the semi-final stage.

Live Text Commentary
90:00 +3:20 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00 +3:00

Gary Teale produces a cross, save by Fraser Forster.
90:00 +2:37

The ball is delivered by James Forrest.
90:00 +2:09

Unfair challenge on Beram Kayal by Esmael Goncalves results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Matthews.
90:00 +0:18 Substitution

Substitution Kris Commons is brought on as a substitute for Gary Hooper.
90:00 +0:18

Lee Mair produces a right-footed shot from close in which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
89:48

Graham Carey takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post.
89:37

The ball is swung over by John McGinn, clearance made by Kelvin Wilson.
88:06

Joe Ledley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marc McAusland. David van Zanten takes the free kick.
87:36

Outswinging corner taken by James Forrest.
85:13

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by James Forrest, David van Zanten manages to make a clearance.
85:13 Substitution

Substitution Sam Parkin joins the action as a substitute, replacing Paul Dummett.
83:06

Shot from outside the box by Conor Newton goes wide right of the target.
82:27

Kelvin Wilson challenges Esmael Goncalves unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by David van Zanten.
80:26 Substitution

Substitution (Celtic) makes a substitution, with Beram Kayal coming on for Thomas Rogne.
80:26 Substitution

Substitution (Celtic) makes a substitution, with Beram Kayal coming on for Thomas Rogne.
79:16

Victor Wanyama concedes a free kick for a foul on Graham Carey. Strike comes in from Graham Carey from the free kick, Fraser Forster makes a save. Header on goal by Conor Newton from just inside the area goes over the target.
79:08

Steven Thompson produces a cross, clearance made by Victor Wanyama.
78:15

Unfair challenge on Conor Newton by Joe Ledley results in a free kick. Graham Carey delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, Joe Ledley makes a clearance.
77:59

The ball is crossed by Graham Carey, Thomas Rogne makes a clearance.
77:11

Esmael Goncalves takes a shot. Save by Fraser Forster.
76:21

A cross is delivered by Graham Carey, save made by Fraser Forster.
73:31

Gary Teale crosses the ball, Adam Matthews manages to make a clearance. Graham Carey takes the outswinging corner, Thomas Rogne manages to make a clearance.
72:17 Substitution

Substitution Graham Carey comes on in place of Paul McGowan.
70:37

Free kick taken by Lee Mair. Shot from long distance by Conor Newton goes over the bar.
70:37 Substitution

Substitution (Celtic) makes a substitution, with Georgios Samaras coming on for Anthony Stokes.
70:37

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Paul McGowan by Efe Ambrose.
69:51

The ball is swung over by Esmael Goncalves, Emilio Izaguirre manages to make a clearance.
67:19

Gary Hooper takes a shot. Craig Samson makes a save. Shot from just outside the area by James Forrest misses to the right of the target.
66:40

Shot from just outside the box by Paul McGowan misses to the left of the goal.
66:31

Steven Thompson crosses the ball, clearance made by Thomas Rogne.
65:49

The ball is crossed by Anthony Stokes, David van Zanten manages to make a clearance.
65:15

The assistant referee signals for offside against Esmael Goncalves. Fraser Forster takes the free kick.
64:21

The ball is sent over by Adam Matthews, Lee Mair manages to make a clearance.
63:29

Foul by David van Zanten on Anthony Stokes, free kick awarded. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Anthony Stokes, Lee Mair makes a clearance.
62:45

The ball is delivered by Paul Dummett, blocked by Adam Matthews.
61:51

The ball is delivered by James Forrest.
61:30

David van Zanten sends in a cross, save by Fraser Forster.
59:12

Esmael Goncalves takes a shot. Save made by Fraser Forster.
57:55

Inswinging corner taken by Gary Teale from the left by-line.
57:18

Esmael Goncalves takes a shot. Victor Wanyama gets a block in. Corner taken right-footed by Gary Teale from the right by-line, clearance by Kelvin Wilson.
56:52

Paul Dummett produces a cross, Adam Matthews gets a block in. Corner taken right-footed by Gary Teale from the left by-line, Kelvin Wilson makes a clearance.
54:23

Shot by Anthony Stokes from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
53:47

Free kick awarded for a foul by Esmael Goncalves on Adam Matthews. Thomas Rogne takes the free kick.
53:28

James Forrest delivers the ball.
52:51

Unfair challenge on Gary Hooper by John McGinn results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Anthony Stokes.
49:14

Esmael Goncalves is caught offside. Free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
48:52

The ball is delivered by Gary Hooper, Joe Ledley takes a shot. Save by Craig Samson.
48:09

The ball is swung over by Anthony Stokes, Marc McAusland manages to make a clearance. Corner taken right-footed by Anthony Stokes from the left by-line to the near post, Steven Thompson manages to make a clearance.
45:01

The second half has started.
45:00 +1:03 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.
45:00 +0:31

Effort on goal by Victor Wanyama from long range goes over the bar.
44:36

Foul by Efe Ambrose on Paul McGowan, free kick awarded. Lee Mair restarts play with the free kick.
41:35

Victor Wanyama gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on John McGinn. Lee Mair takes the indirect free kick.
40:24

The ball is crossed by Emilio Izaguirre, Paul Dummett manages to make a clearance.
39:08

Effort from 18 yards by Efe Ambrose. Blocked by Marc McAusland. Corner taken by Anthony Stokes from the right by-line.
38:11

Shot from 20 yards from James Forrest. Blocked by Lee Mair.
36:50

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Anthony Stokes by David van Zanten. Joe Ledley takes the free kick.
36:20

A cross is delivered by Conor Newton, clearance made by Efe Ambrose.
34:31

Gary Teale delivers the ball.
34:11

Gary Teale decides to take a short corner.
33:31

Gary Teale fouled by Kelvin Wilson, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Gary Teale from right wing, clearance made by Efe Ambrose.
33:08

Emilio Izaguirre concedes a free kick for a foul on Esmael Goncalves. David van Zanten takes the indirect free kick.
32:30

Corner taken by Anthony Stokes from the right by-line played to the near post, Steven Thompson manages to make a clearance.
32:22

James Forrest crosses the ball, clearance made by Marc McAusland.
28:03

David van Zanten concedes a free kick for a foul on Anthony Stokes. Free kick taken by Emilio Izaguirre.
24:04

Fraser Forster restarts play with the free kick.
24:04 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Steven Thompson for unsporting behaviour.
23:52

Steven Thompson concedes a free kick for a foul on Kelvin Wilson.
22:50

Centre by Adam Matthews, save by Craig Samson.
21:27

The assistant referee signals for offside against Esmael Goncalves. Indirect free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
20:35

Assist on the goal came from James Forrest.
20:35 Goal scored

Goal – Anthony Stokes – St Mirren 1 – 2 Celtic Anthony Stokes finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close range. St Mirren 1-2 Celtic.
20:27

A cross is delivered by James Forrest,
20:03

The ball is swung over by James Forrest, blocked by Paul McGowan. James Forrest takes a short corner.
18:12

The ball is crossed by Gary Teale, Foul by Steven Thompson on Thomas Rogne, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
17:02

Esmael Goncalves produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.
15:23

Corner taken right-footed by Gary Teale from the right by-line, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Efe Ambrose by Steven Thompson. Indirect free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
12:27

The assist for the goal came from John McGinn.
12:27 Goal scored

Goal – Esmael Goncalves – St Mirren 1 – 1 Celtic Esmael Goncalves grabs a headed goal from close in. St Mirren 1-1 Celtic.
11:44

Paul McGowan fouled by Thomas Rogne, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by John McGinn.
11:00

The ball is sent over by Emilio Izaguirre, John McGinn makes a clearance.
10:51

Centre by Emilio Izaguirre, clearance made by John McGinn.
10:05

A cross is delivered by Anthony Stokes, John McGinn makes a clearance.
9:28

Emilio Izaguirre delivers the ball, Gary Teale gets a block in. Corner taken by Anthony Stokes from the left by-line to the near post, Gary Teale makes a clearance.
6:31

The offside flag is raised against James Forrest. Craig Samson takes the indirect free kick.
4:25

James Forrest provided the assist for the goal.
4:25 Goal scored

Goal – Joe Ledley – St Mirren 0 – 1 Celtic Joe Ledley grabs a headed goal from close in. St Mirren 0-1 Celtic.
4:16

A cross is delivered by James Forrest,
3:41

John McGinn fouled by Victor Wanyama, the ref awards a free kick. John McGinn takes the free kick.
3:04

Anthony Stokes takes a shot. Blocked by Lee Mair. Victor Wanyama takes a shot.
1:58

Adam Matthews crosses the ball, Conor Newton manages to make a clearance. Corner taken right-footed by Anthony Stokes from the right by-line, clearance by John McGinn.
0:36

Outswinging corner taken by Gary Teale from the right by-line.
0:27

Centre by Gary Teale, clearance made by Thomas Rogne.
0:00

The game kicks-off.

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