2018-01-30: Celtic 3-1 Hearts, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2017 – 2018 | 2017-18 Pictures

Trivia

• Celtic 14pts out in front.
• Celtic gain revenge after 4-0 defeat in last meeting v Hearts which ended record undefeated domestic run.
• An interesting measure, all three scorers today were of Black African origin, and the upcoming star was debut boy Musonda.
• Musonda makes his debut, on loan for 18mths.
• Brendan Rodgers claims Celtic beat 24 clubs to the signing of Charly Musonda.The 21-year-old Chelsea attacker arrived in Glasgow on Monday morning to sign an 18-month loan deal with the Parkhead club following a medical.“I think there was something up to 24 clubs interested in taking Charly so for him to want to come to here and Chelsea very happily to want him to come is a great coup for us as a football club,” said Rodgers.
• Sevco making themselves look stupid with unrealistic fake news stories of £6m bid from China (unnamed) for one of their players, whom few rate.

Transfer Window:

• Celtic in hunt for a goalkeeper as the transfer deadline looms.
• Ex-Celt Tony Stokes released by Hibs (under ex-Celt Neil Lennon), he's still got some time but reports aren't positive. He seems to garner a bit of reputation where he goes, but not by any means the most difficult person to manage, but manager Neil Lennon has managed him for a long time over two clubs so knows him best. We wishStokes the best.
• Hamilton midfielder Massimo Donati is to leave the club after his contract was cancelled. The former Celtic midfielder has agreed to an early exit from Accies in order to begin his coaching career. Donati has been at Hamilton since 2016 and had started coaching in the club’s academy prior to leaving.

Review

(fatboab of KDS)
Lovely.

Thought we were excellent for an hour, although the “showboating” kicked in a bit, and a potential thrashing became a bit routine. What a difference in the midfield. Now why was that?

Eduoard and Dembele absolutely battered them in the first half, and Ntcham looks unstoppable at times. BR completely fecked with them with our set up, and they had no idea what was going on. The first half was an absolute joy to watch. I’d love to have sen us get our well deserved 6 or 7 -0 , but a combination of careless finishing, showboating, and a completely unmerited goal for that big Hun bastard meant that we’d save the annihilation for another day.

Musonda may be the smallest player ever to wear the hoops. His cameo performance might have resulted in an outrageous goal, and you can see the talent oozing out of him. His chipped pass for Sinclair was a joy to witness. Plenty more to come from him.

The walk back to Dalmarnock was utterly miserable , but it was worth it.

Teams

Celtic

Substitutes

• 06 Bitton
• 11 Sinclair
• 12 Gamboa
• 42 McGregor
• 45 Doohan
• 59 Miller
• 67 Musonda Junior

Goals

• Edouard (3' minutes),
Boyata (25' minutes),
Dembele (36' minutes)

Hearts

Goals

• Lafferty (67' minutes)

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Forum

• Pre-match http://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/topic/11056800/
• Match http://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/topic/11056801/
• Post Match http://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/topic/11056823/2/?x=50

MOTM

• Voting Thread http://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/topic/11056815/
• Result Thread
• Winner –

Stats

Celtic
Away Team
Hearts

Possession
Home65%
Away35%

Shots
Home17
Away3

Shots on Target
Home7
Away1

Corners
Home6
Away3

Fouls
Home9
Away21

Articles

Celtic 3-1 Hearts: Revenge sweet for dominant champions Moussa Dembele makes it 3-0 to Celtic.
Pic: SNS Craig Fowler Published: 22:27 Tuesday 30 January 2018
Celtic were able to gain some measure of revenge for the 4-0 trouncing which saw the end of the Invincibles’ run back in December, even if visitors Hearts were able to salvage a ration of respect from a contest which had at one point looked certain to be a complete hiding. New signing Charly Musonda must have felt satisfied with his choice of loan destination as the January addition witnessed his new team-mates rip apart a previously formidable back-line in 35 first-half minutes. The youngster, whose 18-month move from Chelsea was confirmed on Monday evening, made his debut midway through the second period to rapturous applause, though by then the game had long been settled. Having had come within seconds of making it nine consecutive clean sheets in their match with Motherwell just three days prior, the away defence seemed determined to truly soil their previously pristine record. The Ladbrokes Premiership leaders did dominate the contest, but their opponents didn’t half make it easy on them with some uncharacteristically poor defending. The only negative for Brendan Rodgers would have been the failure to take advantage of further generosity after the break.The Celtic boss opted for four changes to the side that defeated Hibs 1-0 at the weekend, though decided to keep the same 3-5-2 shape. Two of those changes were enforced with Leigh Griffiths and Craig Gordon ruled out through injury for four and 12 weeks, respectively. In came Moussa Dembele and Dorus de Vries, while there were places for Eboue Koussai in the centre and Odsonne Edouard alongside Dembele in attack. Hearts made five changes to the side who drew with Motherwell as Craig Levein continued with his squad rotation for the fourth match in ten days. Kyle Lafferty returned from suspension to lead the line, flanked by Don Cowie and David Milinkovic. Steven Naismith was a notable, though unsurprising omission. The on-loan Norwich attacker had completed three 90-minute games since his move north of the Border. Prior to that he hadn’t played since August. The visitors looked to recreate their high-pressing game from the last encounter between the sides, though that mission became a lot tougher just three minutes in. Celtic’s front two combined as Dembele held off Christophe Berra at the halfway line. Edouard then picked up the loose ball and drove through the gap in the away defence. Despite having 50 yards to travel and half a team chasing after him, the 20-year-old belied his inexperience to keep his cool and finish emphatically beyond Jon McLaughlin into the top corner. The goal cranked the atmosphere up a couple of notches and the home players responded in turn. Kieran Tierney flashed a shot from distance wide of the post a short time later as Celtic drove forward in numbers.Dembele should really have doubled the advantage on 20 minutes when an attempted tackle by Jozo Simunovic landed fortuitously for the Frenchman inside the penalty box. With Hearts appealing in vain for offside, the striker could only hit his finish straight at the keeper.He soon atoned for that miss. Taking in a short pass from James Forrest, he slipped Dedryck Boyata inside the penalty area. The Belgian had stayed in attack following an initial clearance from a set-piece and the centre-half showed the poise of a striker to slide his low finish underneath the sprawling McLaughlin.Dembele was frustrated in his attempts once again when he found himself denied by a last-ditch tackle from Connor Randall, but Hearts couldn’t keep the attacker at bay for much longer. After Tierney had turned Randall inside-out on the left wing, the full-back delivered a side-footed cross which Dembele was able to turn home from close range. Things went from bad to worse for Levein’s men just before the half as Harry Cochrane was forced off with a shoulder injury. The youngster was replaced by Prince Buaben and he was joined on the park for the restart by Danny Amankwaa as the away side sought to earn some respectability out of the contest.The first 15 minutes of the second period were a bit of a non-event as Celtic stroked the ball around at half-pace. Shifting through the gears once more they were able to force three great opportunities in the space of five minutes. Dembele was first up, curling a shot from the edge of the area just over when he could have advanced on the goalkeeper. He then turned provider, once again helping Edouard to burst through one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Where the PSG loanee had previously shown great composure, this time he was only able to lift his shot right at McLaughlin. Two minutes later, he found misfortune in the six-yard area as his attempt at close-range finish was blocked and scrambled clear by the away defence.Almost out of nothing, Hearts got themselves on the scoresheet. Having looked on the verge of completely losing his head in the first half, Lafferty was given a reprieve by his manager and repaid him with a fine finish into the bottom corner.

Read more at: https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/celtic-3-1-hearts-revenge-sweet-for-dominant-champions-1-4677920

BBC

By Chris McLaughlin

BBC Scotland at Celtic Park
Highlights: Celtic 3-1 Hearts

Celtic hit three first-half goals to ease past Hearts and go 14 points clear at the Scottish Premiership summit.

Odsonne Edouard got the third-minute opener, with Dedryck Boyata and Moussa Dembele also scoring before the break.

Hearts' Kyle Lafferty pulled one back with a fine low strike on 67 minutes.

But it was the sole chance of note for the visitors as dominant Celtic gained a degree of revenge for the thumping at Tynecastle that ended their 69-game unbeaten domestic run in December.

The defeat is Hearts' first in 13 matches. Craig Levein's side remain fifth in the table, four points behind rivals Hibernian.
◾It's too late in the window to lose one of our key players – Rodgers
◾As it happened: Celtic too strong for Hearts

Just over six weeks ago, Celtic's lengthy and historic unbeaten streak came to a crashing end when they were trounced 4-0 in Gorgie. Nobody could possibly have predicted it, and such was its impact, people are still talking about the result. This game provided the opportunity for retribution. And the champions grasped it in style.

Odsonne Edouard scores for Celtic against Hearts

Striker Odsonne Edouard fired in the opening goal after less than three minutes

Given the injury to the recently favoured Leigh Griffiths, manager Brendan Rodgers opted for a front pairing of Edouard and Dembele and it took less than three minutes for the duo to carve out the opener.

The visitors were caught in possession inside Celtic's half and when the ball broke to Edouard, he sprinted towards goal with Hearts defenders in hot pursuit. Just as it looked as though the chasing pack would catch him, the 20-year-old smashed the ball past Jon McLaughlin in the away goal.

It was a moment that rocked Hearts – and one from which they never recovered. Kieran Tierney, then Dembele, went close, before the second goal arrived after 25 minutes.

Dedryck Boyata scores for Celtic against Hearts

Dedryck Boyata slid the ball under Jon McLaughlin to put Celtic two goals ahead

Another slick passage of play ended with Dembele playing in Boyata, and the big Belgian slotted deftly under McLaughlin. With Celtic in ruthless mood, and Hearts floundering, it looked like game over already.

Dembele was desperate for a goal of his own and he got it before the break, thanks in no small part to Tierney. The young full-back was at his impressive best, working the left flank with searing speed, silky skill and ferocious determination.

Moussa Dembele scores for Celtic against Hearts

Moussa Dembele diverted Kieran Tierney's cross into the Hearts net – his first goal since November

When he turned Conor Randall inside out, and flicked in a cross, Dembele turned it home at the near post. Goal number nine for the season and some relief following questions about his future and form.

The Frenchman almost registered another assist when he played Edouard in with a sumptuous spin and pass just after the hour, but his compatriot could only strike the ball against McLaughlin.

New loan signing Charly Musonda took the field with the event pretty much over as a contest and, with lime green boots on his feet and the number 67 on his back, he teased the home fans with flashes of trickery and patches of promise.

Charly Musonda

New Celtic signing Charly Musonda made his debut off the bench

The pantomime villain role was played by Lafferty, but the former Rangers striker silenced the jeers with an absolute howitzer of a goal after Celtic captain Scott Brown uncharacteristically surrendered the ball.

The skipper, who was an otherwise dominant presence in the centre of midfield, was perhaps put under pressure by the pass of Jozo Simunovic.

Nevertheless, he was caught in possession, and Northern Irishman Lafferty punished him with a long-range shot that flew into the bottom corner – his 12th goal of the season.

Kyle Laffery celebrates scoring for Hearts

Kyle Lafferty rocketed home a superb consolation for Hearts

As the home fans started to make for the exits, Celtic passed up a number of opportunities to make the scoreline more emphatic. This was a fine display, though – their best of 2018 by some distance.