2014-01-01: Celtic 1-0 Partick Thistle, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2013 – 2014 | 2013-14 Pictures

Trivia

• Celtic top on 51pts with game in hand, M'well next on 40pts.
• First game of the New Year, and a return of the traditional big Glasgow Derby on New Year's Day.
• Glasgow New Year Derby game! First for a long while and is on New Years' Day as was the old tradition.
• Free bus service for New Year's Day derby laid on by the club, much respect to them for that.
• F1 racing legend Michael Schumacher in serious skiing accident, fighting for his life.
• January Transfer Window Open, let the fireworks begin (or not!) but loads of daft rumours to come.
• Aiden McGeady rumoured to be going to Everton, and not returning to Celtic.

Review

(elparison of KDS forum)
Another gash performance.

Our team is not great, but they should be good enough to dominate games like today and create a lot more chances than they did.

Too many players wanting too many touches or to sit behind the ball.

Pukka tried hard but the supply was abysmal. Lenny – get it fixed.

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• Audio Report: Paradise Report

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Stats

Celtic Partick Thistle
Possession
41% 59%
90mins

Shots
10 9

On target
5 3

Corners
5 7

Fouls
5 9

Articles

Celtic 1-0 Partick Thistle: Hoops remain unbeaten
The Scotsman

Published on the 01 January
2014
17:23

JOE Ledley’s fine first-half strike was enough to give Celtic a 1-0 Scottish Premiership win over Glasgow neighbours Partick Thistle at a sodden Parkhead.

The Wales international is in the last few months of his contract with his future subject to much speculation but in the 39th minute of a game played in relentless rain, he showed why Hoops manager Neil Lennon is so keen to keep him by driving in from 25 yards.

The goal followed several scares from the Jags who put up a spirited performance and who will argue they deserved to leave the east end of the city with a point.

However, in the final analysis, it was the third successive win by the same score for the Hoops who extended their unbeaten league run to 19 games since the start of the season.

Lennon was handed a boost when Charlie Mulgrew returned from his groin injury and striker Teemu Pukki was also reinstated as forwards Georgios Samaras and Anthony Stokes dropped to the bench.

Striker Lyle Taylor made his Thistle debut after joining on loan from Sheffield United with Aaron Muirhead also coming in and Steven Lawless and Kris Doolan starting among the substitutes.

There was less than a minute on the clock when Jags keeper Scott Fox, who learned his trade at Celtic, tipped a Pukki header over the bar for a corner which, although it came to nothing, hinted at a long afternoon ahead for the Maryhill men.

However, far from being cowed, the visitors, who arrived on the back of a 5-1 home defeat to Motherwell, started playing with some confidence.

In the seventh minute defender Stephen O’Donnell’s looping cross was met by midfielder James Craigen who headed wide from six yards under pressure from Hoops skipper Scott Brown, moments before Taylor headed a cross from Aaron Taylor-Sinclair past the far post.

In the 13th minute, after Muirhead was booked for a foul on Hoops wide-man James Forrest 25 yards from goal, Celtic’s 15-goal midfielder Kris Commons stung the palms of Fox with a powerful free-kick.

However, Thistle remained dangerous on the break and moments later Parkhead keeper Fraser Forster had to dive smartly down to his left to save from Stuart Bannigan’s left-footed drive.

Indeed, it looked like the Jags would surely take a shock lead in the 24th minute when Taylor- Sinclair’s magnificent deep cross from the left found Christie Elliott at the back post but his diving header was blocked by Forster.

The Englishman was finding himself busier as the half unfolded but all Thistle’s good work was undone when they allowed Ledley to take a pass from Efe Ambrose with enough time and space to drill a shot from 25 yards low past Fox and into the corner of the net.

The goal punctured the visitors’ confidence but only momentarily and to their credit, they refused to retreat into defence.

Mulgrew had the ball in the Thistle net in the 57th minute but the offside flag was already up and moments later Fox made a fine save from a Pukki piledriver.

Doolan replaced Taylor and Lawless came on for Kallum Higginbotham, either side of double substitution for the home side, Samaras replacing Mulgrew and Stokes on for Pukki.

But there was no sudden injection of pace or excitement into a game which was in danger of petering out in almost silence.

Thistle kept trying to break forward for the leveller and in the 85th minute, following a corner which the Hoops failed to clear properly, Lawless’ shot went through a crowd of players before being cleared at the post by right-back Adam Matthews.

Christie then failed to get enough on a header moments later to end the brief spell of pressure on the Celtic goal.

No one could have begrudged the Jags a share of the spoils but once again they found themselves short of end product while Celtic, despite not being at their best, march on towards the title.

Celtic: Forster; Matthews, Ambrose, van Dijk, Izaguirre; Commons (Biton, 90), Brown, Mulgrew, Ledley; Forrest (Samaras, 66), Pukki (Stokes, 66). Subs not used: Zaluska, Boerrigter, Balde, Fisher.

Goals: J Ledley, 39

Booked: S Brown

Partick: Fox, O’Donnell, Taylor-Sinclair, Muirhead (Wilson, 81), Balatoni, Craigen, Bannigan, Elliott, Piccolo, Taylor (Doolan, 65), Higginbotham (Lawless, 72). Subs not used: Gallacher, Forbes, Baird, Kerr.

Booked: A Muirhead

Ref: K Clancy

BBC

By John Barnes BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

Joe Ledley's strike gave Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic their fifth straight victory against Partick Thistle.

The Welsman's drilled shot opened the scoring after Thistle had come close on several occasions.

Stuart Bannigan and Christie Elliott tested Celtic keeper Fraser Forster, with new Jags signing Lyle Taylor also prominent in the first half.

And one goal proved to be enough for Neil Lennon's side.

Celtic set out their intention right from kick-off with Thistle Keeper Scott Fox having to tip over a Teemu Pukki header after only 40 seconds.

Fox wearing the captain's armband for the day then twice prevented Kris Commons making an early breakthrough.

One was a shot that took a deflection, the other a 30 yard free kick which did well to parry away.

Lyle Taylor made his Thistle debut following his loan move from Sheffield United and he blasted high and wide from the edge of the penalty box.

Having won only one of their last 15 matches in all competitions Thistle were looking for a better start to the New Year.

Stuart Bannigan had Fraser Forster stretching to his left to turn away a 20-yard left-foot strike.

The big English keeper was a relieved man when he managed to get an unorthodox touch on a Christie Elliott header moments later.

It was a good spell for Thistle with James Craigen next to threaten when he got on the end of a Gabriel Piccolo cross to direct a glancing header just wide of the right hand post.

But, six minutes before the interval, the league leaders opened the scoring when Ledley drilled a low shot into the bottom corner.

There were fewer chances in the second half and Thistle were unable to regain the momentum they had in the opening period.

Craigen had a couple of shots but neither were accurate enough.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Celtic 1, Partick Thistle 0.
90:00 +3:13 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Celtic 1, Partick Thistle 0.
90:00 +0:07 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Nir Biton replaces Kris Commons.
89:45

Joe Ledley (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
89:45

Foul by Gabriel Rojo de la Vega (Partick Thistle).
83:47

Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Kris Commons.
82:13

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Gabriel Rojo de la Vega.
81:30

Georgios Samaras (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
81:30

Foul by Gabriel Rojo de la Vega (Partick Thistle).
80:58 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Partick Thistle. David Wilson replaces Aaron Muirhead.
80:40

Attempt missed. Christie Elliott (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
79:13

Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
79:13

Foul by Kris Doolan (Partick Thistle).
71:04 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Partick Thistle. Steven Lawless replaces Kallum Higginbotham.
70:43

Attempt missed. Christie Elliott (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
69:49

Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Adam Matthews.
68:50

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
68:50

Foul by Kallum Higginbotham (Partick Thistle).
68:20

Foul by Georgios Samaras (Celtic).
68:20

Stephen O'Donnell (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
66:41 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Anthony Stokes replaces Teemu Pukki.
66:35 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Georgios Samaras replaces Charlie Mulgrew.
64:11 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Partick Thistle. Kris Doolan replaces Lyle Taylor.
63:50

Attempt missed. Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
61:31

Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.
61:01 Booking

Booking Scott Brown (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
61:00

Kallum Higginbotham (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
60:55

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
59:21

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Scott Fox.
59:10

Attempt saved. Teemu Pukki (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
55:15

Attempt missed. Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
54:34

Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
54:34

Foul by Stephen O'Donnell (Partick Thistle).
49:22

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
47:35

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Gabriel Rojo de la Vega.
45:00

Second Half begins Celtic 1, Partick Thistle 0.
45:00 +0:36 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Celtic 1, Partick Thistle 0.
45:00 +0:04

Attempt missed. Joe Ledley (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
42:23

Foul by Teemu Pukki (Celtic).
42:23

Gabriel Rojo de la Vega (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
41:18

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Gabriel Rojo de la Vega.
40:28

Attempt missed. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
38:35 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 1, Partick Thistle 0. Joe Ledley (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Efe Ambrose.
36:36

Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.
36:01

Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Virgil van Dijk.
35:33

Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Fraser Forster.
35:24

Attempt saved. James Craigen (Partick Thistle) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
32:40

Joe Ledley (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
32:40

Foul by Stuart Bannigan (Partick Thistle).
27:33

Attempt missed. James Craigen (Partick Thistle) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
27:13

Delay over. They are ready to continue.
27:11

Delay over. They are ready to continue.
26:52

Delay in match Adam Matthews (Celtic) because of an injury.
26:24

Foul by Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic).
26:24

James Craigen (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
25:19

Foul by Efe Ambrose (Celtic).
25:19

Lyle Taylor (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
24:25

Attempt saved. Christie Elliott (Partick Thistle) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
21:05

Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Adam Matthews.
17:46

James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
17:46

Foul by Stephen O'Donnell (Partick Thistle).
15:26

Attempt saved. Stuart Bannigan (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
14:06

Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
14:06

Foul by Lyle Taylor (Partick Thistle).
13:12

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
12:46 Booking

Booking Aaron Muirhead (Partick Thistle) is shown the yellow card.
12:39

James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
12:39

Foul by Aaron Muirhead (Partick Thistle).
10:27

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
8:43

Attempt missed. Lyle Taylor (Partick Thistle) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
7:24

Attempt missed. Stuart Bannigan (Partick Thistle) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
1:42

Attempt missed. Lyle Taylor (Partick Thistle) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
0:54

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Scott Fox.
0:46

Attempt saved. Teemu Pukki (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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