2014-04-27: Celtic 6-0 Inverness CT, SP

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

Trivia

• Stokes scores a hat trick. Second for him of late.
• Game rescheduled to be played on a Sunday at 3pm instead of Saturday.
• Green Brigade unveiled a banner directed at the former Hibs striker.It read: “A man must be a Celt on and off the field otherwise he is of no value to the club.” (Quote is from Willie Maley).
• Johan Mjallby announces he is to leave Celtic assistant role at the end of the season. We'll be sorry to see him go, a great Celtic stalwart.
• Black armbands worn and one minute silence following recent passing of Sandy Jardine (Rangers) and former Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova. Both died of cancer. RIP.
• Former Celtic player Davie Moyes sacked as the Manchester Utd manager after only one season (admittedly a poor season for them).
• Liverpool manager Brendan Rogers, who are on the brink of their first league title for 24 years, states his Celtic roots and how fanatical he was for the Celts: “I loved it when they were on TV. They had special players. Paul McStay was a wonderful, influential player, Danny McGrain was brilliant and they had Packie Bonner in goal. I want to see players in my team like a Paul McStay or a Chris Waddle – great attacking players of their generation. It's a tough job managing Celtic although all my family would love to see me there in the future. Martin O'Neill and Lenny would have walked to be in charge there and I'm no different."
• The Rangers/Sevco heading closer to Admin after admitting can't accept debit/credit cards anymore for payments as company handling it refused them due to lack of collateral/security given.
• Izaguirre has landed a lucrative sponsorship deal ahead of this summer’s World Cup – advertising bottled water in his native Honduras in a series of adverts shot in Scotland for Aguazul mineral water. Izaguirre is seen in the Highlands, the streets of Glasgow and the Celtic changing room across the four short films.
• Kris Commons has been named PFA Scotland Player of the Year for this season. The award, voted for by Scottish Premiership players, saw three Celts nominated –Commons, Fraser Forster and Virgil van Dijk

Review

(Mick82 of KDS)
Really enjoyed today. Our strikers' goal haul is starting to look decent. Another clean sheet too.

Delighted for Forster as well.

No bad performances.

(remy mcswain of KDS)
Really enjoyed the second half yesterday. First half was dull till first goal went in.

Didn't see the GB banner as arrived just at ko, but have seen the pictures and delighted they did it. The support elsewhere for the racist tosser was embarrassing.

Stokes played very well and Pukki had a great wee cameo. I'd like to see us play a few games without commons now as he is frustrating the life out of me and I'd like to see the plan B.

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Stats

Celtic – Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Possession
46% 54%
90mins

Shots
24 10

On target
10 4

Corners
15 3

Fouls
8 10

Articles

Celtic 6 – 0 Inverness CT: Celtic crush Caley

The Scotsman
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/celtic-6-0-inverness-ct-celtic-crush-caley-1-3390521

Published on the 27 April 2014 16:50

ANTHONY Stokes helped himself to a hat-trick as Celtic handed Inverness a 6-0 thrashing in their Scottish Premiership clash at Parkhead.

SCORERS: Celtic – Stokes 34, 45, 53 (pen), Griffiths 68, Ambrose 78, Puk

The in-form Hoops striker grabbed two before the break before scoring his third from the spot early in the second-half.

Celtic keeper Fraser Forster saved an Aaron Doran penalty almost immediately afterwards but Leigh Griffiths, Efe Ambrose and substitute Teemu Pukki, on for Stokes, completed the rout.

It was 40 years to the day that the Parkhead club had clinched nine titles in a row under Jock Stein.

Neil Lennon’s men had won their third successive title last month and although traditional rivals Rangers are on their way back to the top flight- they will play in the Championship next season as League One champions – there is enough trouble in the Ibrox boardroom to suggest another long run of title wins in the east end of Glasgow is well under way.

There was a minute’s applause before the game in tribute to former Rangers and Scotland defender Sandy Jardine and former Barcelona boss Tito Vilanova who both passed away last week.

A series of banners held up by some Celtic fans in the Lisbon Lion stand before the game read: ‘A man must be a celt on and off the field otherwise he is of no value to this club’.

The display could have been referring to Griffiths who is under investigation by the police, the Scottish Football Association and Celtic for allegedly joining Hibernian fans, of which he is one, in singing a song calling former Hearts player Rudi Skacel “a refugee” in a pub before the Edinburgh derby last month.

However, that debate was for another day as the former Wolves forward and the rest of his team mates put the hapless Highlanders to the sword once again, John Hughes’ side having lost 5-0 in their last trip to play Celtic.

Stokes’ first goal came after 33 minutes of mostly domination when, from a Griffiths corner, he rose to flick his header into the far corner.

The game opened up more after that. Celtic defender Ambrose bravely stuck his head in front of a goal-bound drive from Danny Williams before Dean Brill made a decent save from Stokes at the other end.

The increasingly busy Caley keeper was called into action again six minutes from the break, making a great save down at his left-hand post when right-back Adam Matthews fired in a powerful shot.

But a minute from the interval Stokes made it 2-0 with some ease when he drove in from eight yards after Kris Commons had missed a fine cross from the right by Griffiths.

It looked like being a matter of how many Celtic would score, a notion strengthened three minutes into the second-half when Brill had to tip a powerful drive by Griffiths over the bar for yet another Hoops corner, which Caley defended.

Stokes secured the match ball in the 53rd minute after midfielder Stefan Johansen won a penalty when he was squeezed by Garry Warren and Ross Draper, the Republic of Ireland striker calmly beating Brill from 12 yards.

Less than two minutes later there was some anger among the Celtic fans when referee Craig Charleston awarded Caley a chance to pull a goal back from the spot when defender Virgil van Dijk tackled Billy McKay, but Forster dived to his left to parry Doran’s penalty to safety.

Forster then made a good save from McKay’s angled-drive but Celtic were relentless.

Stokes crashed a shot off the bar before van Dijk sent a header against the post but in the 68th minute Griffiths made no mistake when the chance was put on a plate for him by Stokes.

Ambrose glanced in a Commons cross for number five and Pukki drilled in number six before the final whistle sounded to the delight of the bedraggled Caley players.

BBC

By Richard Wilson BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

Celtic could not be contained and were only limited by the accuracy of their finishing as they swept past Inverness.

Anthony Stokes struck an accomplished hat-trick, with three more goals coming from Leigh Griffiths, Efe Ambrose and Teemu Pukki.

Despite being comfortable on the ball, Inverness ended up looking beleaguered.

They had no answer to Celtic, and Aaron Doran's second-half penalty was saved by Fraser Forster to cap a galling occasion for the visitors.

The remaining targets for these two teams are self-imposed.
Play media

Celtic's competitive instincts are being honed by the ambition to finish with more than 100 points, while Inverness want to claim more points than last season, with each place they climb in the table bringing higher prize money.

There was an opportunity, too, for individuals to thrive, with Celtic in particularly starting with a line-up that was arguably the strongest they could select even with a full squad to choose from.

There will be alterations over the summer as players arrive and depart. Even so, this will be the core of the side that attempts to reach the Champions League group stages in the summer qualifying rounds, and there was cause for optimism.

The front three, with Stokes and Griffiths in front of Kris Commons, were deft, full of movement and guile, and clinical. Commons was the orchestrator in the early stages, but then Stokes grew to prominence and the game began to revolve around him.
Teemu Pukkis scores for Celtic against Inverness

Pukki's late strike wrapped up an impressive win for the Scottish Premiership champions

The opening goal – a Stokes header from Griffith's corner – came either side of three excellent Dean Brill saves.

The Inverness goalkeeper was agile as he kept out a Commons effort from close range, a fierce Stokes shot from distance and then Adam Matthews, who tried to squeeze a shot inside the goalkeeper's near post.

If Brill's involvement was indicative of the game's nature, it was telling also that one Inverness counter attack ended with the midfielder Ross Draper passing the ball back to his own goalkeeper.

Inverness were capable of some neat and constructive passing exchanges, but they ran out of purpose in the final third. Sitting so deep, they were also vulnerable to periods of pressure, and one ended with a Griffiths cut back that Commons could not connect with.

The ball ran to Stokes, though, and he fired it into the net.

Inverness retained their idealism, but it was occasionally a hindrance. The intention was to always play the ball out of defence, but Greg Tansey was careless with one pass, which Stefan Johansen intercepted.
Play media

As the Norwegian surged into the penalty area, he was tripped by Gary Warren, and Stokes converted the penalty with aplomb for his treble.

There was no limit to Celtic's ambition. It was briefly interrupted when the visitors were awarded a penalty after contact between attacker Billy McKay and defender Virgil van Dijk, even though there was no discernible foul.

Forster dealt with the spot-kick anyway, saving from Doran.

Hitting the woodwork twice in 10 seconds, through Stokes and Van Dijk, was a reminder to Inverness of the challenge they faced, then Griffiths scored with a shot across Brill.

An Ambrose header – after which he made a point of celebrating with the departing assistant manager Johan Mjallby – and a Pukki strike completed the scoring.

It was chastening for Inverness, but a reminder of the slick assurance Celtic are capable of.

Boss Neil Lennon delighted as Celtic hit Inverness for six
BBC
Neil Lennon reckons Celtic produced their finest display of the season to defeat Inverness 6-0.

The champions cruised to a home win against the Highlanders with Anthony Stokes hitting a hat-trick.

Leigh Griffiths, Efe Ambrose and Teemu Pukki were also on target, and goalkeeper Fraser Forster saved Aaron Doran's second-half penalty.
Efe Ambrose celebration

Celtic defender Efe Ambrose's acrobatic celebration

"It was a fantastic all-round performance and probably the best of the season," said Celtic boss Lennon.

"The attitude of the players from the start was fantastic. Our quality was brilliant and we got stronger as the game went on. All the plaudits go to the players.

"There was a flow to us and we looked really dangerous going forward, defensively we were pretty solid, and when the keeper was called on he made a penalty save."

Lennon revealed news of English Premier League leaders Liverpool's home defeat by Chelsea filtered through to his players at half-time.

And he said that helped him highlight just how well his side have done this season.

"When we got the Liverpool score in we said to them, 'You know titles are not given to you, and you've gone and won yours, and it's never easy to do something like that," explained Lennon.

"You need to enjoy the moment and enjoy your career here and don't take it for granted.

"And they went out in the second half and again the attitude was spot on and they went right to the last minute. We never really gave Inverness an in at all."

Lennon praised hat-trick hero Stokes, and also joked about his concerns over Ambrose's acrobatic goal celebration.
Play media

"Anthony Stokes is playing really well, he's been bang on form for the last four or five months of the season," added the Celtic boss.

"He's up to 19 goals now and if he gets 20 that'll be his third or fourth successive season getting 20, so he's been a very important player for us.

"I'm just picturing him [Efe Ambrose] landing on his neck one day and us having to scrape him off the floor. You can see the joy he gets out of his football and scoring goals is always special for him."

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Celtic 6, Inverness CT 0.
90:00 +1:13 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Celtic 6, Inverness CT 0.
89:59

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Graeme Shinnie.
89:25

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
87:51

Foul by Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic).
87:51

Aaron Doran (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84:07

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Graeme Shinnie.
82:04

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Josh Meekings.
80:54

Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
79:54

Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
79:44

Teemu Pukki (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
79:44

Foul by Gary Warren (Inverness CT).
78:39 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Inverness CT. Liam Polworth replaces Ross Draper.
77:54 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 6, Inverness CT 0. Teemu Pukki (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kris Commons.
77:14 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 5, Inverness CT 0. Efe Ambrose (Celtic) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kris Commons with a cross.
76:27

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Josh Meekings.
74:16

Attempt missed. Teemu Pukki (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
73:25

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Gary Warren.
72:23

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
72:23

Foul by Aaron Doran (Inverness CT).
71:05 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Liam Henderson replaces Charlie Mulgrew.
70:50 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Teemu Pukki replaces Anthony Stokes.
70:05

Corner, Inverness CT. Conceded by Virgil van Dijk.
68:17 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Inverness CT. Ryan Christie replaces Nick Ross.
68:05 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Mikael Lustig replaces Adam Matthews.
67:20 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 4, Inverness CT 0. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Anthony Stokes.
64:29

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).
64:29

Greg Tansey (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
64:07

Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) hits the right post with a header from very close range.
63:51

Anthony Stokes (Celtic) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the left side of the box.
63:00

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Josh Meekings.
61:48

Attempt missed. Billy McKay (Inverness CT) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
60:16

Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
60:16

Foul by Danny Williams (Inverness CT).
58:53

Attempt missed. Ross Draper (Inverness CT) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
58:41

Attempt saved. Billy McKay (Inverness CT) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top left corner.
56:36

Attempt missed. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
55:08

Penalty saved! Aaron Doran (Inverness CT) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the top right corner.
54:22

Penalty conceded by Virgil van Dijk (Celtic) after a foul in the penalty area.
54:22

Penalty Inverness CT. Billy McKay draws a foul in the penalty area.
53:00 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 3, Inverness CT 0. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
52:31 Booking

Booking Gary Warren (Inverness CT) is shown the yellow card.
52:18

Penalty Celtic. Stefan Johansen draws a foul in the penalty area.
52:18

Penalty conceded by Gary Warren (Inverness CT) after a foul in the penalty area.
51:08

Foul by Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic).
51:08

Graeme Shinnie (Inverness CT) wins a free kick on the left wing.
49:36

Adam Matthews (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
49:36

Foul by Nick Ross (Inverness CT).
49:07

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Dean Brill.
47:54

Attempt missed. Ross Draper (Inverness CT) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
47:30

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Dean Brill.
47:15

Attempt saved. Billy McKay (Inverness CT) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner.
45:00

Second Half begins Celtic 2, Inverness CT 0.
45:00 +2:02 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Celtic 2, Inverness CT 0.
45:00 +0:15

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
45:00 +0:15

Foul by Billy McKay (Inverness CT).
44:04 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 2, Inverness CT 0. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Leigh Griffiths.
42:57

Attempt missed. Danny Williams (Inverness CT) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
39:32

Foul by Kris Commons (Celtic).
39:32

Danny Williams (Inverness CT) wins a free kick on the right wing.
39:02

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Dean Brill.
38:50

Attempt saved. Adam Matthews (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner.
37:24

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Nick Ross.
36:20

Attempt saved. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
35:23

Corner, Inverness CT. Conceded by Efe Ambrose.
35:10

Attempt blocked. Danny Williams (Inverness CT) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
34:39

Foul by Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic).
34:39

Nick Ross (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
34:22

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
34:22

Danny Williams (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
33:29 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 1, Inverness CT 0. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) header from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Leigh Griffiths with a cross following a corner.
31:16

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Josh Meekings.
31:06

Attempt blocked. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
29:18

Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
27:51

Attempt missed. Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
27:20

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
27:20

Foul by Greg Tansey (Inverness CT).
23:38

Attempt blocked. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
20:38

Attempt missed. Graeme Shinnie (Inverness CT) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
19:31

Foul by Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic).
19:31

Gary Warren (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
19:10

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Graeme Shinnie.
17:20

Attempt saved. Carl Tremarco (Inverness CT) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
16:47

Corner, Inverness CT. Conceded by Virgil van Dijk.
14:24

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
14:15

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Dean Brill.
14:04

Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner.
12:57

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
9:07

Attempt blocked. Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
6:49

Anthony Stokes (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
6:49

Foul by Gary Warren (Inverness CT).
5:56

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Graeme Shinnie.
5:21

Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
5:21

Foul by Nick Ross (Inverness CT).
4:23

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ross Draper.
3:25

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
2:07

Foul by Josh Meekings (Inverness CT).
2:07

Efe Ambrose (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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