2017-08-11: Partick Thistle 0-1 Celtic, SP

Trivia

• Friday night game at Firhill.
• Celtic get lucky, Bitton lost Celtic a penalty but it wasn't given. In fairness to Ref not easy to adjudge from his angle, but still it should have been a penalty. Many are still concerned about Bitton in defence as he has not fully convinced, and the squad is lacking cover there.
• Lennon returns to Ibrox with Stokes both now at Hibs to play Sevco, expecting a tough welcome. Hibs win 3-2 at Ibrox! Incredible victory.
• Ntcham debut goal.
• European Cup play-offs next week: Astana game 1st leg at home.
  Celtic top dogs (Peter Lawell etc) met with Scottish authorities on the abusive act that is the “Offensive behaviour at Football act”, Celtic have always been against this bill, and have pushed to have it repealed.
  Simunovic rested as he is our only tier 1 central defender left (Boyata, Sviatchenko are both out injured).
• Transfers:
• Celtic still hoping to get Paddy Roberts to return to Celtic (even just on loan).
  Southampton are claimed to test Celtic’s resolve with a £3million bid for Stuart Armstrong.

Review

Twitter: Poor performance. Front 4 not at the races. Tierney and in the first half Ntcham were our best players by a distance.
Twitter: Below par Celtic win at Thistle. Thistle denied a late penalty, rather poor game.

(columbo of KDS)
Ordinary game.

Very little creativity – too many players not at their best.

Partick deserved nothing from the game – one chance in 90 mins at home is hopeless.

Close to the Bitton incident at the game – I thought Nir won the ball clean and the penalty shouts were just out of desperation , watching it back we got away with one.

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Partick Thistle 0 – 1 Celtic: Rodgers’ side make it 50 unbeaten
Celtic's Olivier Ntcham (left) and Scott Brown celebrate the opening goal. Picture: SNS
STEPHEN HALLIDAY
Published: 21:40 Friday 11 August 2017
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/partick-thistle-0-1-celtic-rodgers-side-make-it-50-unbeaten-1-452978415
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Brendan Rodgers notched up another landmark moment in his relentlessly dominant tenure at Celtic as he stretched his sequence of unbeaten domestic fixtures since taking charge to 50.
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Olivier Ntcham’s first goal for the Scottish champions, midway through the first half, was enough to give their manager his 46th victory in that remarkable run. Celtic were some way short of being at their best but this is a group of players who will not easily be stripped of the aura of invincibility Rodgers has created around them.
It was never likely to happen at a venue where they have not lost since 1994 and they enjoyed the short trip across Glasgow once more. Yet another three points takes them into the weekend in their customary position at the top of the Premiership, leaving the rest to play a daunting game of catch-up.
There is a clear order of priorities for Rodgers at this juncture of the season and that was evidenced in a team selection which saw Leigh Griffiths begin his evening among the substitutes.
READ MORE – Brendan Rodgers: Armstrong situation needs sorted one way or another
Qualification for the Champions League group stage is the be all and end all for Celtic in these formative weeks of the campaign and the involvement of their only fit striker was always likely to be strictly rationed ahead of the first leg of their play-off round tie against Astana on Wednesday.
But as they illustrated in their 5-0 whipping of Kilmarnock in the Betfred Cup earlier in the week, Celtic can be confident of overcoming any domestic opponent regardless of the personnel their manager deploys.
Only Craig Gordon, Kieran Tierney and Jonny Hayes kept their places in the starting line-up as Rodgers made eight changes from the youthful side which had impressed against Killie. With Griffiths on the bench, it meant another run-out in the central striking position for James Forrest. The winger was the first to threaten for the visitors, receiving a pass from Scott Sinclair and drilling in a low shot which Thistle ‘keeper Tomas Cerny parried in the ninth minute.
The home side spared no effort in attempting to prevent Celtic settling into the possession-based attacking rhythm which has proved so effective and irresistible under Rodgers. But if the champions were not quite at their optimum levels of fluency, they were in firm control nonetheless.
A slip from Adam Barton allowed Ntcham to steal the ball and set up another chance for Forrest who this time dragged his shot wide of Cerny’s left hand post.
READ MORE – Brendan Rodgers considering swoop for new Celtic striker
Thistle, with on-loan Hearts striker Conor Sammon making his debut after signing earlier in the day, struggled to make any headway towards Gordon’s goal. A rare break did see Ryan Edwards bursting into the Celtic penalty area but the danger was snuffed out by Jozo Simunovic’s fine tackle.
Celtic’s response was to ratchet up the pressure at the other end which finally told with Ntcham’s 25th minute breakthrough. Stuart Bannigan conceded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area with a foul on Callum McGregor, the set piece taken by Nir Bitton whose effort was turned behind by Cerny.
Sinclair floated over the resultant corner which was headed out by Jordan Turnbull, the ball dropping invitingly into the path of Ntcham. He struck his 25 yard shot sweetly and while it appeared to take an involuntary nick off Scott Brown on its way to beating Cerny, it would a harsh judgement from any dubious goals panel which denied the Frenchman the credit.
Brown himself came close to doubling Celtic’s lead ten minutes before the interval, his looping header from Mikael Lustig’s cross dropping narrowly over the crossbar.
Tierney, having recovered from a clash of heads with team-mate Simunovic, surged forward to pose the first threat at Cerny’s goal in the second half with his low shot fizzing just wide of the ‘keeper’s left hand post.
With opportunities for Thistle at such a premium, they simply couldn’t afford to miss the type of glaring chance which came Kris Doolan’s way in the 52nd minute. He was left unmarked to get on the end of a Christie Elliott cross but sent a tame header off target from close range.
READ MORE – Partick Thistle 0 – 1 Celtic: How the players rated on each side
It was a reminder to Celtic that victory was not yet assured and Rodgers made a double substitution just after the hour mark with Hayes and McGregor making way for Griffiths and Tom Rogic.
Thistle remained combative, sensing the evening may yet offer them something tangible for their efforts, but they needed a goalline clearance from Callum Booth to keep out Lustig’s header from a Griffiths corner. As Celtic pressed for the insurance of a second goal, Booth was in the right place again to hoof a Sinclair shot off the line with Cerny beaten.
A slip by Brown offered a glimpse of goal to Thistle substitute Miles Storey, making his debut after signing from Aberdeen, but Tierney got back to neutralise the threat for Celtic.
Thistle made vociferous appeals for a penalty in stoppage time, Storey going down under a nudge from Bitton, but referee Andrew Dallas was unmoved.
PARTICK THISTLE: Cerny, Elliott, Keown, Turnbull, Booth; Barton, Bannigan (McCarthy 82); Lawless (Erskine 64); Sammon, Edwards; Doolan (Storey 57). Subs not used: Scully, Nitriansky, Nisbet, Penrice.
CELTIC: Gordon, Lustig, Bitton, Simunovic, Tierney; Brown, Ntcham (Armstrong 78); Hayes (Griffiths 62), McGregor (Rogic 62), Sinclair; Forrest. Subs not used: De Vries, Ajer, Ralston, Benyu.

Ryan Edwards and Olivier Ntcham fight for possession. Picture: SNS

Craig Fowler

Published: 00:05 Saturday 12 August 2017
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Ratings out of 10 for every player involved in Celtic’s 1-0 win over Partick Thistle.
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PARTICK THISTLE
Tomas Cerny – 7
Made an excellent stop from James Forrest in the ninth minute and pushed away Nir Bitton’s free-kick a short-time later. Other than the goal, which he couldn’t do much about due to Scott Brown’s deflection, he wasn’t really tested, which is a testament to the way his defence played in front of him.
Christie Elliott – 7
Though his passing was a little erratic at times, he remained a willing out-ball moving forward from right-back whenever Thistle were able to get out of their own half. Should have notched an assist when Doolan somehow headed his cross clean over the bar. Did a good job keeping Sinclair quiet also.
Jordan Turnbull – 8
He made a couple of excellent challenges inside the penalty area to stop Celtic having a clean strike at goal including a perfectly timed sliding challenge on Callum McGregor as the midfielder charged into the box.
Niall Keown – 9
Turnbull was great, but Keown was even better. On so many occasions it seemed almost inevitable that Celtic were going to add to their 1-0 lead, only for Keown to throw his body in front of the goal time and again. A real gutsy performance in the face of unrelenting pressure.
Callum Booth – 7
Cleared two efforts off the line. He improved on the football, and in one-on-one battles with the opposing winger, as the game went on.
Stuart Bannigan – 4
His return from long-term injury has been a welcomed boost for Thistle, but he wasn’t at the races on Friday night. Gave away possession too easily, lost the physical battle with his Celtic counterparts, and wasted a couple of dead-ball deliveries. He’ll bounce back, but this was not one to remember.
Adam Barton – 5
Usually so composed on the football, the towering Englishman was guilty of giving away possession far too cheaply on many an occasion.
Ryan Edwards – 6
Buzzed around a lot in the midfield, but it has to be said he was swimming against the tide from the off, particularly with the two players beside him suffering off-days.
Steven Lawless – 4
Failed to cover Kieran Tierney, regardless of whether he tracked the Celtic full-back or not, and didn’t offer anything in attack.
Kris Doolan – 4
Admittedly he was starved of any service for the most part, but even on the rare occasions Thistle got themselves in good areas his usual instinctive movement seemed lacking. When a great chance finally presented itself, he wasted it badly.
Conor Sammon – 5
When asked to try and win some headers he did his job fairly well. When asked to link play with his feet, not so much.
SUBS
Miles Storey 6 – Gave Thistle a different option and looked more threatening than Doolan. Should’ve won a late penalty.
Chris Erskine 5 – Harshly dropped before the game but never showed much in his time on the park to prove the manager wrong.
Andrew McCarthy n/a – no time
READ MORE – Brendan Rodgers considering swoop for new Celtic striker
CELTIC
Craig Gordon – 6
The Celtic keeper didn’t really have much to do aside from coming for a couple of crosses.
Mikael Lustig – 7
Lost a couple of headers to Conor Sammon. Other than that, he performed his role in the accomplished manner we’ve come to expect.
Jozo Simunovic – 8
The Croatian confidently dealt with any attack which came his way and contributed to the Celtic attack in the second half by striding purposefully out of defence with the ball at his feet.
Nir Bitton – 5
Should have conceded a last-minute penalty for a trip on Miles Storey after getting himself into a right mess in his own penalty area. This came after he should have been at fault for Thistle’s equaliser, only for Doolan to pass up a gilt-edged opportunity after drifting off the makeshift centre-back at the far post.
Kieran Tierney – 8
The left-back was one of Celtic’s better attacking outlets and never gave an inch to the opposition defensively. Unlucky not to score with a driving second half run and shot which saw him fire the ball just wide of the far post.
Scott Brown – 7
Aside from one wayward header which almost sent Storey through, the Celtic captain rarely wasted a pass and halted his fair share of Thistle attacks in front of the back four.
Callum McGregor – 7
Brought his usual energetic style to the tip of the Celtic midfield trio and won the free-kick on the edge of the area which would eventually lead to the opening goal.
Olivier Ntcham – 7
Appeared to get his first goal for the club after somehow managing to contort his body and send a superb volley towards the goal. However, it was deflected in by captain Scott Brown, so who knows whether he’ll get to keep it. Otherwise he was the epitome of composure in the centre.
Scott Sinclair – 6
Had a couple of good deliveries but otherwise it was a quiet game from last season’s Ladbrokes Premiership leading goalscorer.
James Forrest – 7
Once more he never looked comfortable playing as the No.9 and Celtic’s dynamism in attack again improved following the introduction of Leigh Griffiths. Was moved back out to the right following the striker’s introduction and his pace and direct running caused Thistle problems on the counter attack late in the game.
Jonny Hayes – 6
Went right at Callum Booth in the first couple of minutes, got a yard on the defender and whipped a decent ball into the box. He never kicked on from there though and drifted out of the match before being substituted.
SUBS
Leigh Griffiths 6 – Added a spark in attack but it just didn’t break for him in front of goal.
Tom Rogic 6 – Shot wide on a couple of occasions, once when it would have been better crossing for Griffiths.
Stuart Armstrong 5 – Looked somewhat subdued following his introduction.

Graham Spiers Times newspaper:

BBC

By Tom English

BBC Scotland at Firhill

From the section Football

Highlights: Partick Thistle 0-1 Celtic

Defending champions Celtic survived a late penalty claim to earn a 1-0 win over Partick Thistle at Firhill.

Olivier Ntcham volleyed Celtic in front by virtue of a deflection off captain Scott Brown.

Kris Doolan passed up a golden opportunity to equalise when he put a free header over from close range.

There was late controversy when referee Andrew Dallas waved away strong shouts for a penalty after Nir Bitton appeared to shove Miles Storey in the box.

But Celtic, not at their fluid best, survived to maintain their winning start to the season and extend their unbeaten domestic run to 51 matches.

Thistle started one of their new signings, Conor Sammon, and the other, Storey came off the bench, as did Leigh Griffiths. James Forrest played through the middle until the striker made his appearance on the hour-mark.
Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham
Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham volleyed the visitors into a first-half lead

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers said before kick-off that he was hopeful of bringing in another player, possibly even before the Astana game in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Celtic have been pushing hard to resign Patrick Roberts from Manchester City, a player whom the visiting support adore and a man whose name they chanted during the game.

Was Rodgers referring to Roberts when talking about a new arrival? He wouldn't say. How Celtic people will hope that he comes back. How the rest of Scottish football will sigh if he does. It's hard enough to lay a glove on Rodgers' team as they are.

The Jags were one of the few sides who had any joy from Celtic last season in domestic competition, taking a 1-1 draw away from Parkhead. The last time they were at Firhill, of course, Celtic won 5-0, and they started off brightly here again, without ever hitting full stride.

Filling in for Griffiths, Forrest had two early chances to opening the scoring, his first effort beaten away well by Tomas Cerny, his second driven wide of goal. The Jags' goalkeeper then made a fine save from a thumping Bitton free-kick.

Celtic got their breakthrough when Jordan Turnbull's header was volleyed goalwards by Ntcham, the ball deflecting past Cerny off what Thistle claimed was the arm of Brown, not that Brown knew anything about it.

He turned his body away from Ntcham's shot and the ball looked to come off him and find the net. Had it not, Cerny would probably have dealt with it comfortably enough.
Kris Doolan (left)
Kris Doolan (left) watches as he passes up a first half chance

They felt a bit hard done by there, but Thistle had an excellent opportunity to wipe out Celtic's lead early in the second half.

Christie Elliott's cross was met by the head of Doolan, who had lost Bitton. From close range, Doolan had to score. For such a dependable striker, you would have expected him to. He didn't. His header flew over.

Celtic could not give themselves the cushion of a second goal against a resolute Thistle defence. Even when they looked like they were going to add a second, Callum Booth cleared off the line from Jozo Simunovic.

The Jags had a huge penalty shout right at the end when Storey went down under a clumsy challenge from Bitton. Celtic, and their uncomfortable makeshift centre-half, looked like they got away with it.

Thistle were left frustrated and angered. For Rodgers, another win, but a problem to solve, too. Does he dare go into Wednesday night's critical game with Astana with the Israeli at the heart of his defence?

Parody Report by Tinsoldier

Partick Thistle 0 Celtic 1

Michael Gannon at Firhill (Parody Report by Tinsoldier)

They say 3 points are everything in football, but just like the bird at the end of the night when you are stoating about with chips in your hand, they can be easily forgotten.

Celtic may have had one eye on Astana – aye that bird again eh? – but this performance was all about Thistle and they way they came at the champions at home.

Rangers may have put six past Dunfermline on Tuesday night in the cup, and well done to them again for that, but that's not the issue here.

Or is it?

Because from where I'm standing, the Celtic support seem as hot and bothered as I would be in a sauna with Carol Vorderman.

It's all about the songs, eh bhoys?

Seemed to be tonight. I'm not going to repeat them, save to say I won't be singing them in a bubble bath with the lassies from Love Island any time soon.

But to the game, which is what we should be talking about.

Celtic won it, with a goal about as welcome as a dug doing a rancid steamer in the middle of the couch when your Auntie is round for afternoon tea and scones.

As for this Champions League stuff, do us a favour Celts and make your mind up what league you actually want to play in. Is it the European elite super super thing or the one where you are actually based? Because believe me we are all bored senseless with your constant Saturday – Wednesday – Saturday folly.

Make your bloody minds up, before we all die of boredom eh? Hoops? Celts?

As for Rangers, they go into a game against Lennon's Leaping Leps with a spring in their tartan tails, a feather in their courageous caps. If I were a Hibee I'd be crapping my breeks like I'd crap myself if that large breasted bird from the internet actually returned my countless messages.

It's not happening right hoops fans, you aren't going to England, you all smell and you won't win the Champions League.

RIGHT???????