2014-01-29: Celtic 4-0 Kilmarnock, SP

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

Trivia

• Celtic on top with 63pts with game in hand, Aberdeen next on 45pts
• Stokes suspended for match.
• Fraser Forster claimed a 10th successive clean sheet in the league (900 minutes), equalling a Celtic club league record from 1913-14.
• Fraser Forster is now just 5 games from beating Edwin van der Sar’s British record for consecutive clean sheets in the league
• Final match before the transfer window closes.
• "Club Celtic" opens its doors (a premium and corporate hospitality offering at Celtic Park).
• January Transfer Window Open
• Leigh Griffiths is target for Celtic, really creating divisions in the supporter over this move.
• Celtic have had an offer turned down for Dorin Rotariu, the young Romanian winger and target of Manchester United (acc to the kid's dad).

Review

(The Pin of KDS forum)
We played well, better in the first half than the second. Credit to Kilmarnock too, they passed it well.

Forrest was excellent. He's got his burst of acceleration back. It makes all the difference to his game. In that period when it was missing, and the fans, to Lennon's annoyance, were getting on his back, he couldn't eliminate defenders like he did tonight. He would be even better if he was comfortable shooting on his left foot: a few times tonight he made the space for himself but didn't want to take it on. The one time he did, his shot was side-footed and lacked power. He was more comfortable on his left foot a couple of years ago.

Ledley too. He seemed emboldened by his goal and started channelling Ronaldinho.

Commons was absolutely desperate to score and it showed in his decision-making a couple of times.

Pukki is a decent footballer and has the potential to do well with us. He's not a centre-forward, but I don't think we necessarily need to play with a penalty box striker. A lot of teams forgo that type of player because doing so can make your attacking play more fluid. He's another player who could really do with working on his weaker foot, though.

I was certain Forster was going to lose his clean-sheet record when that cross drifted toward the back post area with two Kilmarnock players waiting; another implausible save. That's why he's got the record.

Lennon talks about bringing in young players and making them better. There's no question that we've managed to achieve this a few times during his reign. I don't think we do enough work on individual players' technique, though. This is most clearly evidenced by two players: Forrest and Hooper. Forrest's ability to use his left foot has deteriorated since he's been in the first-team. I suspect that the youth coaches, whose focus would've been more on developing players, paid more attention to this than our first-team coaches do. Hooper was abysmal with his left foot, as we all recall. A couple of weeks ago I'm watching MOTD and I see him take on a long-range shot with his left foot. This would've been unthinkable when he was with us. I think Norwich have been working with him to improve this aspect of his game, and I don't think Celtic did.

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Stats

Celtic Kilmarnock

Possession
34% 66%
90mins

Shots
16 2

On target
7 1

Corners
7 4

Fouls
4 9

Articles

Celtic 4-0 Kilmarnock: All too easy for Hoops

The Scotsman

by STEPHEN HALLIDAY AT CELTIC PARK

Updated on the 30 January
2014

CELTIC continue to play the numbers game with ruthless efficiency as they stroll towards another title triumph.

A comprehensive swatting aside of Kilmarnock saw Neil Lennon’s team match a club record of 10 consecutive league clean sheets, previously achieved back in 1914 and 1922, as they eased themselves 18 points clear at the top of the Premiership.

Joe Ledley and Charlie Mulgrew struck either side of a Lee Ashcroft own goal, with substitute Amido Balde netting in injury time to complete a facile victory which extends Celtic’s unbeaten record in the SPFL this season.

Goalkeeper Fraser Forster kept his 90th career shut-out for the club and was seldom threatened by a Killie side who opted to leave top scorer Kris Boyd on the bench for the duration of the evening.

Celtic began exactly as might be expected of a team carrying such momentum with them, immediately forcing Kilmarnock onto the back foot. James Forrest, back in the champions’ starting line-up, was at the heart of much of the early pressure, which culminated in Ledley’s 11th-minute breakthrough.

Had Teemu Pukki’s first touch been a little sharper, Celtic might have been ahead even earlier. The Finnish striker could not get the ball under control quickly enough after being set up in the penalty area by smart combination work from Forrest and Darnell Fisher down the right and he was eventually crowded out by the Kilmarnock defence.

Celtic should have been awarded a penalty in the ninth minute when Kilmarnock captain Manuel Pascali clearly tugged Kris Commons back by his shirt as the prolific attacking midfielder latched onto a Fisher pass. Referee Brian Colvin had a clear view of the incident but saw nothing amiss.

Lennon and his players did not have to nurse a sense of injustice for long, as they took the lead two minutes later.

Forrest, although ostensibly deployed on the wide right of midfield, was roaming all across the central area. He completely disorientated the visitors when he received possession on the left, cut inside Sean Clohessy with delightful footwork and played a precise pass to Ledley.

From the corner of the six-yard box, the Welsh midfielder drilled a first-time shot low across Craig Samson and into the far side of the net for his fifth goal of the season. Kilmarnock were struggling to present themselves as an attacking force but they did produce a response to falling behind which caused some concern for the home side.

A sharp counter-attack allowed William Gros to burst through the middle and there were loud appeals for a penalty from the visitors when he went down under Virgil van Dijk’s challenge on the edge of the box. Again, Colvin was unmoved.

Celtic quickly reasserted themselves and, in the 20th minute, doubled their lead through a combination of more sterling work from Forrest and a dose of misfortune for Ashcroft.

Kilmarnock were exposed down their left flank by a dynamic run from Forrest who drove an inviting low cross into the six-yard box. Young defender Ashcroft got there ahead of any Celtic player at the near post but merely succeeded in turning the ball into his own net.

Utterly dominant in possession, Celtic continued to set a brisk tempo as they searched for more goals. Captain Scott Brown almost added to the tally with a sweetly struck, rising right-foot shot from 20 yards but it was kept out by Samson’s fine diving save to his right.

Every Celtic player was keen to get in on the act in the attacking third and van Dijk was next to try his luck from distance, driving a low right-foot shot narrowly wide of Samson’s left-hand post.

Such was Celtic’s control of the contest that slackness or complacency appeared the only danger to their ever-lengthening clean sheet sequence. Such a scenario presented itself six minutes into the second half when Commons was uncharacteristically caught in possession by Rory McKenzie, who was able to force a corner on the right.

When the Celtic defence were unable to clear their lines at the set piece, Sammy Clingan lofted the ball back into the six-yard area where Pascali looked certain to score from close range. But Forster, showing great alertness after so much inactivity, made a brilliant reaction save.

Kilmarnock had introduced the experienced Barry Nicholson in place of teenager Greg Kiltie at the start of the second half and the substitute did at least improve their standard of ball retention. But Celtic, while not as consistently fluent as they had been before the break, still carried all the attacking menace. The overdue third goal arrived in the 67th minute. Mulgrew, who moments earlier had struck Samson’s right-hand post with a low shot, made no mistake when he was picked out by a cute lofted pass from Ledley, stabbing home from six yards.

In stoppage time, Balde added a final flourish, latching onto a Commons pass and sending in a tame shot which Samson fumbled into the net.

Celtic: Forster, Fisher, Izaguirre, Mulgrew (Johansen, 82), Ambrose, van Dijk, Brown, Ledley, Pukki (Balde, 71), Forrest (Boerrigter, 77), Commons.

Subs not used: Zaluska, Biton, Samaras, O’Connell.

Goals: J Ledley, 11; L Ashcroft, 21 (OG); C Mulgrew, 68; A Balde, 90.

Booked: A Balde.

Kilmarnock: Samson, Clohessy (O’Hara, 53), Tesselaar, Clingan, Ashcroft, Pascali, McKenzie, Slater, Gros, Muirhead (Gardyne, 76), Kiltie (Nicholson, 45).

Subs not used: Reguero, Boyd, Johnston, Maksimenko.

Booked: J Tesselaar, M Pascali

Referee: B Colvin

BBC

James Forrest inspired Celtic to their 13th domestic win in a row as they easily swept aside Kilmarnock.

The Scotland winger was involved in both of Celtic's first half strikes; creating Joe Ledley's opener then instigating Lee Ashcroft's own goal.

Charlie Mulgrew and Amido Balde struck in the second half to give the score-line a more realistic look.

The visitors rarely threatened as goalkeeper Fraser Forster reached 1,000 minutes without conceding domestically.

It was a second successive four-goal salvo for Celtic manager Neil Lennon as his side moved 18 points clear of second-placed Aberdeen.

Kilmarnock left Scotland striker Kris Boyd on the bench, while new signing Alexei Eremenko was not fit enough to make the squad.
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It is doubtful if either man would have made much difference up front, where William Gros rarely got a touch as Allan Johnston's men were left chasing shadows.

It was an ominous sign of things to come when Kris Commons was held back in the box by Manuel Pascali, but referee Brian Colvin waved away the penalty claims.

Only two minutes later and Celtic had their lead, this time Forrest was the ringleader and Ledley side-footed his cross into the far corner.

Then it was Kilmarnock's turn to call for a penalty when Gros appeared to be clipped by Virgil Van Dijk, but once more the referee refused to point to the spot.

That was as far forward as the Rugby Park men got in the first 45 minutes and, after Forrest turned Jeroen Tesselaar inside out, the unlucky Lee Ashcroft directed the ball past his own goalkeeper to double the deficit.
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Scott Brown, Teemu Pukki and Van Dijk all passed up opportunities before the break and the second half continued in the same vein.

Mulgrew hit the post after another Forrest cross before he eventually found the net when he skilfully collected Ledley's perfectly weighted pass and poked it home.

Kilmarnock were struggling to get anywhere near their hosts, but England goalkeeper Forster was called into action when Pascali tested him with a fine volley after a deep cross from Rory McKenzie.

The on-form Commons should have made it 4-0 when great link-up play with Mulgrew set him free, but he slipped his shot just wide when one-on-one with goalkeeper Craig Samson.

Van Dijk had the goal gaping as the game entered the last 10 minutes, but he somehow found the side netting.

However, substitute Balde grabbed the elusive fourth when his weak shot slipped through Samson's gloves.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Celtic 4, Kilmarnock 0.
90:00 +2:09 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Celtic 4, Kilmarnock 0.
90:00 +1:36 Booking

Booking Amido Baldé (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
90:00 +1:04 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 4, Kilmarnock 0. Amido Baldé (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kris Commons.
90:00 +0:27

Attempt missed. William Gros (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
87:58 Booking

Booking Manuel Pascali (Kilmarnock) is shown the yellow card.
87:54

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87:54

Foul by Manuel Pascali (Kilmarnock).
86:49

Attempt missed. Joe Ledley (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high.
85:22

Foul by Amido Baldé (Celtic).
85:22

Lee Ashcroft (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
84:39

Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
81:53 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Stefan Johansen replaces Charlie Mulgrew.
81:04

Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Virgil van Dijk.
78:30

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
76:49 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Derk Boerrigter replaces James Forrest.
76:07

Foul by Virgil van Dijk (Celtic).
76:07

Michael Gardyne (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
75:20 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Kilmarnock. Michael Gardyne replaces Robbie Muirhead.
74:19

Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
73:43

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Mark O'Hara.
72:24

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Lee Ashcroft.
72:16

Attempt blocked. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
70:18 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Amido Baldé replaces Teemu Pukki.
70:06

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Craig Samson.
69:46

Attempt missed. Teemu Pukki (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
68:12

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
68:12

Foul by Sammy Clingan (Kilmarnock).
67:49

Foul by Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic).
67:49

Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the left wing.
67:11 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 3, Kilmarnock 0. Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Joe Ledley.
65:20 Booking

Booking Jeroen Tesselaar (Kilmarnock) is shown the yellow card.
65:14

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
65:14

Foul by Jeroen Tesselaar (Kilmarnock).
63:03

Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box.
58:47

Attempt missed. Teemu Pukki (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is too high following a fast break.
57:47

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
52:15 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Kilmarnock. Mark O'Hara replaces Sean Clohessy because of an injury.
51:00

Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Fraser Forster.
50:45

Attempt saved. Manuel Pascali (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
50:10

Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Emilio Izaguirre.
45:00

Second Half begins Celtic 2, Kilmarnock 0.
45:00 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Kilmarnock. Barry Nicholson replaces Greg Kiltie.
45:00 +0:12 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Celtic 2, Kilmarnock 0.
42:27

James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
42:27

Foul by Jeroen Tesselaar (Kilmarnock).
41:25

Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
38:14

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Lee Ashcroft.
27:54

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Craig Samson.
27:41

Attempt saved. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
27:20

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Manuel Pascali.
23:21

Joe Ledley (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
23:21

Foul by Sammy Clingan (Kilmarnock).
22:25

Attempt missed. Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
20:36 Goal scored

Goal! Own Goal by Lee Ashcroft, Kilmarnock. Celtic 2, Kilmarnock 0.
18:33

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner.
14:55

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
14:55

Foul by Jeroen Tesselaar (Kilmarnock).
13:25

Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.
10:48 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 1, Kilmarnock 0. Joe Ledley (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by James Forrest.
10:13

Darnell Fisher (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
10:13

Foul by Craig Slater (Kilmarnock).
6:10

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Manuel Pascali.
4:01

Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
4:01

Foul by Sean Clohessy (Kilmarnock).
2:23

Darnell Fisher (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
2:23

Foul by Greg Kiltie (Kilmarnock).
1:28

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
1:28

Greg Kiltie (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the right wing.
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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