2016-03-12: Partick Thistle 1-2 Celtic, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2015 – 2016 | 2015-16 Pictures

Trivia

• Celtic stay top by 1pt with one game in hand; Aberdeen also won their game.
• Ross County beat Hibs to lift the League Cup.
• Scott Brown: “Everyone in the dressing room has got to believe that [we can see it through]. If we don’t believe that then that five-in-a-row and all the work we have done to get here will vanish. All the work we have done to get to this situation will have been for nothing. Now we need to grow a set, and kick on now until the end of the season.”
• Celtic draw TheRangers in Scottish Cup Semi-finals.
• Papers understandably more interested and wetting their pants about the upcoming Scottish Cup semi-final with TheRangers than this match.
• Airdrie confirmed that manager Eddie Wolecki Black suffered a stroke after he fell seriously ill during his side’s 3 -1 win over Cowdenbeath on Saturday past. We wish him a speedy recovery.
• Carlton Cole has been given time off by Celtic for personal reasons. He has been absent from training for the past fortnight and has been allowed to travel back down south.
• Norwich to sign James Forrest, according to reports. The Scotland winger has rejected a new deal at Celtic and looks likely to leave this summer.
• Rangers Oldco liquidators BDO have been granted leave to take their appeal of the ‘Big Tax Case’ verdict to the Supreme Court.
• Saidy Janko appeared for Celtic’s development squad last night as they took on St Mirren. A fine signing who has played diddly squat so far this season due to injury.
• Former Celtic ladies player Megan McFadden is cleared of online sectarian abuse charge. She posted on Facebook about 'dirty Orange inbred monkey b*******' on the day of Old Firm game but court rules she didn't intend to cause fear or alarm.
• Away Fans: One of the more enjoyable pastimes this season, given the paucity of the product on the pitch, has been counting the away fans. Aberdeen aside, domestically the visiting supports have been woeful, sometimes considerably less than 100.
• El Hadji Diouf claims he received a letter bomb during his time at Rangers OldCo: The man is known as a fantasist, and the Scottish police force have said there are no reports of the incident and have “no knowledge” of Diouf’s claims that his letters were searched from that point forward. So looks like garbage from the idiot.

Review

(warblesh of KDS)
The Good
Mulgrew in defence.

Griffith and McGregor finishes. GMS's byline cross for Griffiths.

The Bad
The pitch looked awful close up.

Sviatchenko's reputation for recent 'hugging' tackles has allowed the ref to give a penalty.

Bitton, for patches of the match, slows the game down and has us playing sideways and back too often.

The Ugly
For two guys you would look to for experience as we fight off Aberdeen's challenge Kris Commons and Scott Brown were not very good. You can forgive a bad day if you can see the player trying his heart out, but the lack of urgency is puzzling.

(okayibelieveyou of KDS)
I thought we played OK. The pitch obviously didn't help and thought in the first half it was seriously limiting Tierneys involvement in the game. Second half was much better with GMS having a really good second half until he looked absolutely knackered.

Think credit where credits due for McGregor. He plays better deeper with the game in front of him. He's also no a shampoebag. Plays decent passes and gets us moving. I'd start him deeper in most games.

Special shout out to Scott Brown who was so extremely pish however what irked me most was the captain of the team having a serious go at Sviatchenko for the penalty. It was seriously soft and Aye Erik shouldn't be doing that but when there's only 5mins ish left, don't bother with that and focus on seeing the game out. I think that sort of mentality is what's causing our team to look so disjointed. Blame instantly and performance coming second. Said it all that it was McGregor that was shouting at Brown to cut it out and geeing up the team as their heads had dropped.

3 points is most important, especially away at the moment because of the amount of away games we've got coming up. Next.

Articles

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Stats

Partick Thistle Celtic

Possession
Home43%
Away57%

Shots
Home7
Away15

Shots on Target
Home4
Away8

Corners
Home4
Away5

Fouls
Home8
Away10

Articles

Partick Thistle 1 – 2 Celtic: A spot of bother is Deila’s delight
http://www.scotsman.com/news/partick-thistle-1-2-celtic-a-spot-of-bother-is-deila-s-delight-1-4064699
ANDREW SMITH

THERE were all sorts out of the ordinary at Firhill yesterday.

A Partick Thistle penalty, for one, the club’s first in 69 games. A converted award, indeed, for the first time in more than two years. Most remarkable of all, though, was that, in the face of this, Celtic were dominant and won decisively. Even when, after Sean Welsh sent Craig Gordon the wrong way to slot in the spot-kick, they only had a one goal advantage for the closing minutes.

Knees did not knock among the visitors at that point, which isn’t what is supposed to happen with a Ronny Deila Celtic side. The visitors exhibited a vibrancy and focus seriously lacking in the league draws against Dundee and Hamilton Accies that preceded the three-point haul in Maryhill.

Central to the victory was a goalscoring performance from Callum McGregor, who afterwards expressed gratitude for his manager’s willingness to deploy him. The 22-year-old midfielder was earlier this month given a year’s driving ban and fined £500 as the result of being caught almost four times over the legal alcohol limit in February. Judging him in solely a professional context, though, McGregor was a shining light for his club, with Gary Mackay-Steven and Charlie Mulgrew also driving forces for their team. Oh, and Leigh Griffiths set up the victory with a opener seconds before the break, but that almost goes without saying in a season where his goal tally is now 35. Yesterday he wasn’t even fully fit, a stiff calf forcing him off.

Partick had one chance to change the complexion of the encounter – Kris Doolan only able “to throw a toe” at the ball and send it straight into Craig Gordon’s grasp after he had carved his way through the Celtic backline. Yet, that opportunity was offset by the half dozen that Deila’s side squandered, the only black mark on a day that allowed the Norwegian a smile post-match.

“We should have killed the game before. We had a lot of chances and that’s a positive thing,” he said. “You can frustrate yourself that the game wasn’t won sooner but I’m just happy for the three points. The performance was good as well.”

Maybe it is just coincidence that the month McGregor disappeared from the side following his serious indiscretion saw a form slump for Celtic. The midfielder claimed the goal his display deserved shortly after the interval when he received a pass from Mackay-Steven in oceans of space down the right flank and galloped into the box, feigned to square the ball before taking it himself and firing it across the bows of keeper Tomas Cerny. “He has been very good the past two or three months. He had a break because of other circumstances but he is showing a lot of confidence and he played very well today,” said Deila. “And scored – that’s important. “

Massively important for Celtic is that Griffiths can’t stop scoring. He pounced when a throw-in allowed Mackay-Steven to arc a cross in from the left, Danny Seaborne missed a header and Griffiths was allowed to pull the ball down and squeeze it into the corner in one seamless movement.

That slackness exasperated Thistle manager Alan Archibald. His side have lost by a single goal to the top three sides in the past nine days but, as he said, these games “will not define our season but the next four will [against] the bottom three and Ross County”.

Archibald ruefully stated that he was “shocked, stunned” when referee Stephen Finnie pointed to the spot after Erik Sviatchenko tugged the jersey of Steven Lawless in the 84th minute. Yet, curiously, when the club were last given a penalty, in September 2014, Finnie was also the referee. Thistle might be requesting him in their crucial quartet of upcoming games.

Partick Thistle1

Welsh 84

Celtic2

Griffiths 45; McGregor 54

Read more: http://www.scotsman.com/news/partick-thistle-1-2-celtic-a-spot-of-bother-is-deila-s-delight-1-4064699#ixzz42oMguVgk
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BBC

By Tom English

BBC Scotland at Firhill

From the section Football

Callum McGregor runs off to celebrate Celtic's second goal
Callum McGregor runs off to celebrate Celtic's second goal

Two goals in nine minutes either side of the interval gave leaders Celtic victory against Partick Thistle as they stay one point clear of Aberdeen.

Leigh Griffiths scored his 35th of the season just before half-time and Callum McGregor struck soon after the restart.

Sean Welsh pulled a goal back for the hosts with a penalty six minutes from time after Erik Sviatchenko was harshly done for dragging back Steven Lawless.

Celtic saw out some nervy minutes for their first win in three league games.

This game was open from the start. In the opening 10 minutes, Griffiths and Gary Mackay-Steven both went close to scoring, followed soon after by Liam Lindsay's thumping hit that Craig Gordon beat away.
Leigh Griffiths scores Celtic's opener just before half-time, his 35th goal of the season
Leigh Griffiths scores Celtic's opener just before half-time, his 35th goal of the season

Celtic had most efforts on goal in the opening half – eight to Thistle's three – and it was the last of them that proved the most telling.

Alan Archibald, Thistle's manager, would have been relatively happy with his team in the minutes leading up to the break. They had soaked up the pressure but had also threatened a few times down the other end. Parity at half-time would have done him nicely, but it was not to be.

The goal had its origins in hard work by Kieran Tierney and Mackay-Steven up the left. When the midfielder swung in his cross, Thistle lost their defensive bearings and allowed Griffiths to take over.

He controlled the ball with his first touch. As his markers evaporated, Griffiths struck his shot low past Tomas Cerny. The goalkeeper got a hand to it but could not keep it out. Yet again, Celtic's arch-marksman had done the job.
Sean Welsh slots home a penalty to spark hopes of a Thistle comeback
Sean Welsh slots home a penalty to spark hopes of a Thistle comeback

It was his eighth goal in eight games in a season that could well see him hit the precious half-century if he keeps going at his current rate.

The second half was only nine minutes old when they doubled their lead, McGregor coming in from the right-hand side of Thistle's penalty area and drilling a shot into the far corner of Cerny's net.

Griffiths could – and should – have had a second midway through the second half, but Cerny won the one-on-one battle. Colin Kazim-Richards, a second-half replacement for Kris Commons, got on the breaking ball but put a tame effort wide.
Jags on the spot
Partick Thistle's penalty was their first in 69 matches and the first they have successfully converted since February 2014, 86 games ago.

Later, the substitute set himself up with a chance, but that one went wide, too. Nir Bitton missed an easy chance also. None of these misses looked like they would have any relevance until that late penalty which could, at first viewing, could be categorised as the softest of the soft.

Welsh sent Gordon the wrong way from the spot and, suddenly, a cruise had become a bit of a bumpy ride. Celtic would have been feeling a tad queasy at the end of it, but they deserved their win.

It did not cost them, but they will ponder their profligacy all the same.

Posted at
Match ends, Partick Thistle 1, Celtic 2.
Full Time
Posted at 90'+4'
Second Half ends, Partick Thistle 1, Celtic 2.
Posted at 90'+4'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Liam Lindsay.
Substitution
Posted at 90'+2'
Substitution, Celtic. Efe Ambrose replaces Gary Mackay-Steven.
Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by Mathias Pogba (Partick Thistle).
Posted at 90'+2'
Nir Bitton (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+1'
Ryan Edwards (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+1'
Foul by Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic).
Booking
Posted at 90'
Nir Bitton (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 90'
Mathias Pogba (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'
Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
Substitution
Posted at 89'
Substitution, Celtic. Stuart Armstrong replaces Leigh Griffiths because of an injury.
Posted at 88'
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Kieran Tierney.
Posted at 86'
Foul by Christie Elliott (Partick Thistle).
Posted at 86'
Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Posted at 85'
Substitution, Partick Thistle. Ryan Edwards replaces Steven Lawless.
Goal!
Posted at 85'
Goal! Partick Thistle 1, Celtic 2. Sean Welsh (Partick Thistle) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Booking
Posted at 84'
Erik Sviatchenko (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 84'
Penalty Partick Thistle. Steven Lawless draws a foul in the penalty area.
Posted at 84'
Penalty conceded by Erik Sviatchenko (Celtic) after a foul in the penalty area.
Posted at 81'
Attempt saved. Nir Bitton (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Posted at 80'
Attempt missed. Colin Kazim-Richards (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right.
Booking
Posted at 78'
Scott Brown (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 78'
David Amoo (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 78'
Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
Posted at 77'
Attempt missed. Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Posted at 75'
Christie Elliott (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 75'
Foul by Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic).
Posted at 74'
Attempt missed. Colin Kazim-Richards (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Posted at 73'
Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Substitution
Posted at 71'
Substitution, Partick Thistle. Christie Elliott replaces Gary Fraser.
Posted at 71'
Foul by Steven Lawless (Partick Thistle).
Posted at 71'
Mikael Lustig (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 69'
Foul by Sean Welsh (Partick Thistle).
Posted at 69'
Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 68'
Attempt saved. Colin Kazim-Richards (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Substitution
Posted at 67'
Substitution, Celtic. Colin Kazim-Richards replaces Kris Commons.
Posted at 65'
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Kieran Tierney.
Posted at 61'
Gary Fraser (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 61'
Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
Substitution
Posted at 60'
Substitution, Partick Thistle. Mathias Pogba replaces Kris Doolan.
Posted at 59'
Attempt saved. Callum Booth (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Posted at 58'
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Erik Sviatchenko.
Posted at 58'
Attempt blocked. David Amoo (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Posted at 57'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Gary Miller.
Goal!
Posted at 54'
Goal! Partick Thistle 0, Celtic 2. Callum McGregor (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
Posted at 52'
Delay in match Callum Booth (Partick Thistle) because of an injury.
Posted at 49'
Attempt missed. Steven Lawless (Partick Thistle) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Second Half
Posted at
Second Half begins Partick Thistle 0, Celtic 1.
Half Time
Posted at 45'+2'
First Half ends, Partick Thistle 0, Celtic 1.
Goal!
Posted at 45'
Goal! Partick Thistle 0, Celtic 1. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Gary Mackay-Steven with a cross.
Posted at 41'
Attempt missed. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Posted at 39'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Tomás Cerny.
Posted at 39'
Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Posted at 36'
Attempt missed. Mikael Lustig (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
Posted at 36'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Danny Seaborne.
Posted at 36'
Attempt blocked. Danny Seaborne (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is blocked.
Posted at 34'
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Steven Lawless.
Posted at 33'
Attempt saved. Callum Booth (Partick Thistle) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Posted at 30'
Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
Posted at 30'
Gary Fraser (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 29'
Attempt saved. Kris Commons (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Booking
Posted at 29'
Gary Miller (Partick Thistle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 28'
Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 28'
Foul by Gary Miller (Partick Thistle).
Booking
Posted at 25'
David Amoo (Partick Thistle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 25'
Kieran Tierney (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 25'
Foul by David Amoo (Partick Thistle).
Posted at 23'
Attempt missed. Kris Commons (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Posted at 18'
Attempt saved. Liam Lindsay (Partick Thistle) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
Posted at 16'
Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
Posted at 16'
Sean Welsh (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 16'
Attempt missed. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Posted at 15'
Callum McGregor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 15'
Foul by Abdul Osman (Partick Thistle).
Posted at 12'
Callum Booth (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 12'
Foul by Leigh Griffiths (Celtic).
Posted at 8'
Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Posted at 2'
Foul by David Amoo (Partick Thistle).
Posted at 2'
Kieran Tierney (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 1'
Corner, Partick Thistle. Conceded by Kieran Tierney.
Posted at 1'
Foul by Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic).
Posted at 1'
Kris Doolan (Partick Thistle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Kick Off
Posted at
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.