2015-09-23: Celtic 2-0 Raith Rovers, League Cup

Trivia

• Scottish League Cup 3rd Round
• As you'd expect, lots of digs in at Celtic recalling the league cup final defeat in 1994. Fair enough a great event for Raith Rovers.
• TheRangers lost three one at home in this tournament to St Johnstone. Stops the parodied Warburton revolution at that club am thankfully we now can't face them now this cup. Lots of laughter.
  Charlton Cole (ex West Ham striker and on a free) possibly to sign short term with Celtic.
• Tennis player Andy Murray signed a Celtic shirt which was auctioned and raised a good sum of money for charity.
• Debut for Aidan Nesbitt
• Busy schedule of matches ahead. First match in league cup for the season.
• Rugby world cup under way in England, with Scotland playing their first group match v Japan today. Japan created history with possibly the greatest shock result in rugby's history with a win last weekend over South Africa. Scotland thumped a tired Japan side to get going.
• News in general much heavily focused in refugee crisis. Very difficult emotion days.

Review

(Henry C of KDS)
I suppose the most important thing is that we are only three wins away from winning a trophy now but this competition is well past its sell-by date. Only the final itself could be considered to be an attractive event.
I think there's a case for making a rule that teams have to field 8 or 9 under-21s in the earlier rounds so as to encourage development.

(Swavbhoy of KDS)
Absolutely dire. But the job got done and we go into the hat for the next round.

Goal aside, Johansen looked completely disinterested. GMS was poor and Ciftci did little of note. Brown seemed to be targeted in the hope of retaliation and took a couple of dull yins. Commons was good in spells.

The two centre halves were very good and Janko was our only real attacking outlet. Although, Forrest and Rogic looked lively when they came on. Tierney also played okay.

Embarrasing turnout, btw. How much were the tickets last night, £15? I don't think the club can make them any cheaper, without gving them away.
I had comps for the director's box last night and the three of us that used them, couldn't give our own seats away. No carrot wanted to go. What chance do Celtic have, if people can't be arsed to watch them?

Edit: To add, Callum McGregor is not good enough to merit a start, ever again. He should be punted at the earliest oportunity, along with the bright spark that gave him a five year contract. No harm to the boy, but he's pish.

Teams

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Forum

• Pre-match
• Match
• Post Match

MOTM

• Voting Thread
• Result Thread
• Winner –

Stats

Celtic Raith Rovers
Possession
37% 63%
90mins

Shots
22 5

On target
6 2

Corners
6 0

Fouls
10 10

Articles

BBC
By Richard Wilson BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

Celtic continued their defence of the Scottish League Cup by seeing off the doughty challenge of Raith Rovers.

The Championship side were never overwhelmed but Celtic bossed the game and opened the scoring through Kris Commons.

The Kirkcaldy side were game enough to create some half-chances, even if Celtic dominated possession.

It took until late on for a second goal, from Stefan Johansen on the counter attack.

Patience had to be the cornerstone of Celtic's display. The visitors were resolutely well organised and determined to restrict Celtic's attacking progress.

That often left Craig Wighton isolated in the lone striker's role. He was not entirely excluded from the flow of the game, though, and was sharply aware of the possibilities as Grant Anderson leapt to flick on a high ball.
Scott Brown and James Craigen

Raith restricted Celtic without seriously threatening to cause an upset

Wighton ran onto it, drove into the penalty area and drew a shot across goal that Craig Gordon had to move smartly to push away.

That kind of adventure might not have been at the forefront of the Raith players' minds, since they were set up to deny Celtic.

Celtic enjoyed plenty of possession and moved the ball around the field with casual precision but the play lacked a spark of dynamism.

The pattern might have provoked Commons. When he received the ball from Callum McGregor 20 yards out, he took one touch to shift it onto his left foot then arrowed a shot into the bottom corner of the net.

It was a moment of brutal aplomb and reminded again of the worth of Commons – a mercurial figure capable of great and decisive skill but not always with the application Deila demands – when games are so tight and deadlocked.

Commons, who scored when there appeared to be little danger, tends to perform in bursts. There was more sustained impressiveness from Kieran Tierney, the 18-year-old playing at left-back. He was self-assured, sound and always prepared to take his direct opponent on.
Celtic players celebrating

Commons (far right) gave Celtic a first-half lead

The confidence was welcome, because it often sparked an intrepid moment. At one stage in the first half, he burst into the Raith penalty area and only a lunging block from Kyle Benedictus prevented his shot reaching the target.

Celtic would have benefitted from a greater edge to their play. When they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the 'D' just before the interval, Nadir Ciftci strolled up before wafting an effort over the bar. The nonchalance seemed symptomatic.

The home defence lacked poise when a long throw reached the penalty area, and the ball dropped to Ross Matthews. Leaping to meet it, the 19-year-old midfielder could only poke his volley over.

James Craigen tried his luck from distance – with Gordon saving comfortably – and Scott Brown found Gary MacKay-Steven inside the area at the other end but he steered his shot wide.

James Forrest, too, made an effort to add to the scoreline but his effort curled just wide. His fellow substitute Tom Rogic screwed another chance wide but there was never any sense of alarm for Celtic.

Another moment of fine individualism added some gloss to the scoreline when Johansen dinked the ball past Benedictus at the halfway line, surged upfield and then calmly clipped the ball into the far corner. It was, then, job done.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Celtic 2, Raith Rovers 0.
90:00 +3:00 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Celtic 2, Raith Rovers 0.
90:00 +2:44

Attempt missed. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
88:09 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Aidan Nesbitt replaces Nadir Ciftci.
86:50 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 2, Raith Rovers 0. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Saidy Janko.
86:13

Attempt blocked. Nadir Ciftci (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
85:26

Foul by Nadir Ciftci (Celtic).
85:26

Lewis Toshney (Raith Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
84:26

Attempt missed. Ryan McCord (Raith Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
82:23

Attempt missed. Jon Daly (Raith Rovers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high.
80:10

Attempt missed. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
78:04 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Raith Rovers. Ryan McCord replaces Ross Matthews.
75:57 Booking

Booking Ross Matthews (Raith Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
75:43

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
75:43

Foul by Ross Matthews (Raith Rovers).
74:26 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Raith Rovers. Mitchel Megginson replaces Grant Anderson.
74:05

Attempt missed. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
73:29

Attempt saved. Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top left corner.
72:44

Attempt missed. Efe Ambrose (Celtic) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
72:03

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jason Thomson.
69:37 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Raith Rovers. Jon Daly replaces Iain Davidson.
68:54

Attempt saved. Efe Ambrose (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner.
68:29

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Lewis Toshney.
68:10

Attempt blocked. Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
67:21

Attempt missed. Nadir Ciftci (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left.
65:42 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. James Forrest replaces Callum McGregor.
65:26 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Tomas Rogic replaces Kris Commons.
65:02

Foul by Saidy Janko (Celtic).
65:02

Rory McKeown (Raith Rovers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
64:15

Attempt saved. James Craigen (Raith Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
60:16

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Rory McKeown.
59:20

Attempt missed. Stefan Johansen (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
59:05

Nadir Ciftci (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
59:05

Foul by Iain Davidson (Raith Rovers).
57:55

Attempt missed. Ross Matthews (Raith Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
56:05

Foul by Nadir Ciftci (Celtic).
56:05

Lewis Toshney (Raith Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
54:23

Foul by Saidy Janko (Celtic).
54:23

Mark Stewart (Raith Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
53:21

Attempt blocked. Scott Brown (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
53:08

Kieran Tierney (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
53:08

Foul by Grant Anderson (Raith Rovers).
49:29

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
48:59

Attempt saved. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
47:19

Kieran Tierney (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
47:19

Foul by Grant Anderson (Raith Rovers).
45:00

Second Half begins Celtic 1, Raith Rovers 0.
45:00 +0:06 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Celtic 1, Raith Rovers 0.
44:17

Attempt missed. Nadir Ciftci (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner from a direct free kick.
43:38

Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
43:38

Foul by Lewis Toshney (Raith Rovers).
41:27

Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
40:45

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
40:45

Foul by James Craigen (Raith Rovers).
39:40 Booking

Booking Lewis Toshney (Raith Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
39:37

Kris Commons (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
39:37

Foul by Lewis Toshney (Raith Rovers).
36:10

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Lewis Toshney.
35:40

Attempt blocked. Kieran Tierney (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
34:37

Scott Brown (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
34:37

Foul by Ross Matthews (Raith Rovers).
31:30 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 1, Raith Rovers 0. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
28:16

Foul by Nadir Ciftci (Celtic).
28:16

Ross Matthews (Raith Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
27:40

Foul by Nadir Ciftci (Celtic).
27:40

Jason Thomson (Raith Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
26:00

Rory McKeown (Raith Rovers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
25:54

Foul by Nadir Ciftci (Celtic).
25:35

Kieran Tierney (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
25:35

Foul by Grant Anderson (Raith Rovers).
24:13

Attempt missed. Efe Ambrose (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
21:26

Attempt saved. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
20:44

Attempt missed. Nadir Ciftci (Celtic) header from very close range misses to the right.
18:37

Attempt missed. Nadir Ciftci (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
16:13

Foul by Nadir Ciftci (Celtic).
16:13

Iain Davidson (Raith Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
14:57

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jason Thomson.
14:26

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Mark Stewart.
13:24

Foul by Mark Stewart (Raith Rovers).
13:24

Efe Ambrose (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
12:47

Attempt saved. Craig Wighton (Raith Rovers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
7:49

Mark Stewart (Raith Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
7:49

Foul by Saidy Janko (Celtic).
5:18

Craig Wighton (Raith Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
5:18

Foul by Tyler Blackett (Celtic).
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Live data and text provided by our data suppliers

Celtic 2-0 Raith Rovers: Hoops sink Rovers in Scottish League Cup
By Ronnie Esplin

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/fa-league-cups/celtic-20-raith-rovers-hoops-sink-rovers-in-scottish-league-cup-31553736.html
Celtic's Callum McGregor (left) and Raith Rovers' Mark Stewart battle for the ball during the third round of the Scottish Communities League Cup at Celtic Park, Glasgow
Celtic's Callum McGregor (left) and Raith Rovers' Mark Stewart battle for the ball during the third round of the Scottish Communities League Cup at Celtic Park, Glasgow
Celtic's Nadir Ciftci (left) and Raith Rovers' Ross Matthews battle for the ball during the third round of the Scottish Communities League Cup at Celtic Park, Glasgow. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 23, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Celtic. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Celtic manager Ronny Deila before the third round of the Scottish Communities League Cup at Celtic Park, Glasgow. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 23, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Celtic. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Celtic's Nadir Ciftci and Raith Rovers' Rory McKeown (floor) battle for the ball during the third round of the Scottish Communities League Cup at Celtic Park, Glasgow. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 23, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Celtic. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Celtic's Kris Commons (centre) celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game with teammate Gary Mackay-Steven (right) during the third round of the Scottish Communities League Cup at Celtic Park, Glasgow. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 23, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Celtic. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Celtic's Kris Commons scores his side's first goal of the game during the third round of the Scottish Communities League Cup at Celtic Park, Glasgow. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 23, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Celtic. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Raith Rovers' Grant Anderson (left) and Celtic's Kieran Tierney battle for the ball during the third round of the Scottish Communities League Cup at Celtic Park, Glasgow. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 23, 2015. See PA story SOCCER Celtic. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire. EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Celtic began their defence of the Scottish League Cup with an insipid 2-0 third-round win over Raith Rovers at Parkhead.

Midfielder Kris Commons gave a much-changed home side the lead over the Ladbrokes Championship side in the 32nd minute with a stunning 20-yard drive.

Share

The goal, however, was not the signal for the Hoops to kick-on and they toiled until midfielder Stefan Johansen grabbed an 87th minute clincher to put them into the quarter-final draw next Monday.

Boss Ronny Deila, as promised, utilised his squad and made six changes to the side which started in the 6-0 Ladbrokes Premiership win over Dundee on Sunday at Celtic Park.

Top scorer Leigh Griffiths was a notable absentee as Nadir Ciftci led the line in his first domestic start since signing from Dundee United in the summer with places for Tyler Blackett and Kieran Tierney in defence.

The top tier of Celtic Park was closed and a meagre crowd witnessed the home side survive an early scare.

In the 13th minute, moments after a great ball by Hoops wide-man Gary Mackay-Steven found no takers in the Rovers' box, Grant Anderson's header sent Craig Wighton through at the other end.

However, the Raith striker's powerful drive was parried by Parkhead keeper Craig Gordon with the danger cleared.

It was not the most pulsating cup-tie but just after the half-hour mark Commons interjected with a stinging left-footed shot from the edge of the box which sped past Kirkcaldy keeper Kevin Cuthbert.

The home side stepped up the pace momentarily and Raith defender Kyle Benedictus had to throw himself to block a goal-bound drive by Tierney for a corner, which came to nothing, as did another drive by Commons before the break which flew over.

The visitors might have levelled in the 58th minute when a long-throw by right-back Jason Thomson into the box fell to Ross Matthews, but his volley from 10 yards cleared the bar.

In the 65th minute, just after Gordon saved a decent long-range effort from Rovers midfielder James Craigen, Deila brought on James Forrest and Tom Rogic for Callum McGregor and Commons respectively and some chances arrived.

Mackay-Steven had a shot deflected past for a fruitless corner and then had an even better chance when Rogic set him up 10 yards out but Cuthbert made a fine save.

Forrest curled a shot just past the post from the edge of the penalty area moments later, as did Rogic with 10 minutes remaining.

The increasingly restless home fans held their breath in the 83rd minute when former Rangers striker Jon Daly, on as Rovers substitute for Iain Davidson, scooped a shot over the bar from six yards.

However, Celtic nerves were eased four minutes later when Johansen raced clear of the Rovers defence to knock the ball past Cuthbert, with time for Aiden Nesbitt to come on for Ciftci to make his debut.