2018-11-24: Hamilton 0-3 Celtic, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2018 – 2019 | 2018-19 Pictures

Trivia

• Back after another unwanted international break long week.
• Hearts lose but Sevco win, so Celtic now clear at top of the league
• The only difficulty encountered by Celtic in Lanarkshire as they imposed themselves on Accies immediately from kick-off was an issue with the condition of the match ball which had to be replaced several times in the opening minutes amid complaints it was under-inflated.Rodgers made no attempt to hide his irritation as he remonstrated with the fourth official during an almost farcical stop-start first few minutes.“Every ball seemed to be flat, all seven of them,” he said afterwards.
• Griffiths returns to Celtic first team and scores a free kick.
• Ryan Christie scores again, and has signed a three year contract. Very good news, he has been excellent in his recent run in the first team.
• Bobby Lennox: Statue unveiled for Bobby Lennox in his hometown of Saltcoats. Well deserved.
• Fraser of Allander Institute economists estimated that the spending of Celtic and their supporters was worth £165MILLION in 2016/17 to the Scottish economy, helping to support the equivalent of 2,820 full-time equivalent jobs in Scotland. – The spending of Celtic and supporters worth £165million to Scottish economy. – Attendances of almost 2million. – Helping to support the equivalent of 2,820 full-time equivalent jobs. – 25th strongest brand in world football.
• To illustrate the scale of Celtic’s contribution, other studies have estimated golf tourism’s contribution to Scotland’s GDP is around £155million each year, while the one-off economic impact of the Commonwealth Games in 2014 to Scotland was valued at £125million. (Report link: http://cdn.celticfc.net/assets/downloads/Celtic_FAI_Nov_2018.pdf )
• Sky win rights over BT (fan's favourite) to have football rights for Scottish matches in the league. Premier TV have both cups.
• SFA signed a new six year broadcast deal with IMG that will see more Scottish Cup matches shown on free-to-air TV than ever before through BBC Scotland and Premier Sports. No one is impressed outwith the SFA, Sky Sports have lost the coverage.
• Ex-Celt John Guidetti rumours of request to return to Celtic in January. Most are against it. Guidettie & ex-Celt Teemu Pukki linked with Galatasary.
• Mikey Johnston has extended his stay at Celtic, keeping him at the club until 2023.The 19-year-old made his Hoops debut in May 2017, and signed a new three-year deal with the club shortly after.
  Scotland: Scotland 3-2 Israel, with James Forrest hat-trick, first Scotland hat-trick by Celtic player in 110 years.
• Ireland: Martin O'Neill & Roy Keane as management of national side. Good luck to both
• The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic are with the family and friends of former Celtic scout Robert Rowan who has passed away at just 28, he was with Brentford.
• Brendan Rodgers has been hailed by Celtic fans after writing to an ill Hoops follower. Rodgers sent a personal letter to the supporter after learning of his cancer diagnosis. In the letter the Celtic boss writes: “I know you have a difficult battle ahead and no doubt there will be many tough and trying times. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.”
• Rugby: Ireland defeat NZ at home for first time ever, and should move to top of the world rankings for the very first time. Exceptional. Congratulations.
• European Super League is a 'fiction', say Uefa boss & clubs chief; Proposed plans for a breakaway
• European Super League are "fiction" – according to the two most powerful officials in European football.
• Celtic AGM finished – nothing to report.

Review

(H of KDS)

(Suzie G of KDS)
Christie was great. I didn't think Ntcham was that good tbh but at least he's back fit. Better second half from Sinclair after a woeful first. Benkovic is a rolls roycefootballer. Griff doing what he does best. I thought Eddie's hold-up play was a lot better too and shame he never got a goal.

Teams

• 1Woods
• 2McGowan
• 5Tshiembe Substituted forKeatingsat 79'minutes
• Kilgallon
• 4Gordon
• 7Imrie
• 25MartinBooked at 81mins
• 12TaiwoBooked at 87mins
• 3McMannBooked at 57mins
• 9BinghamSubstituted forBrustadat 75'minutes
• 11Miller

Substitutes

• 10Keatings
• 16Enigbokan-Bloomfield
• 21Want
• 24Mucha
• 30Boyd
• 31Brustad
• 46Sowah

Celtic

• 1Gordon
• 23Lustig
• 20Boyata
• 32Benkovic
• 63Tierney Substituted for Izaguirre at 79'minutes
• 42McGregor
• 17Christie
• 21Ntcham
• 49Forrest Substituted for Morganat 84'minutes

• 22Edouard Substituted for Griffithsat 75'minutes
• 11Sinclair

Substitutes

• 3Izaguirre
• 4Hendry
• 9Griffiths
• 15Hayes
• 16Morgan
• 27Mulumbu
• 29Bain

Referee:
Don Robertson
Attendance:
4,688

Articles

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Stats

Possession
Home31%
Away69%
Shots
Home2
Away17
Shots on Target
Home0
Away4
Corners
Home3
Away6
Fouls
Home12
Away8

Articles

Hamilton 0 – 3 Celtic: Celtic cruise despite balls like ‘balloons’
brendan Rodgers complained that "every ball seemed to be flat." Pic: SNS/Craig Williamson
brendan Rodgers complained that "every ball seemed to be flat." Pic: SNS/Craig Williamson
Stephen Halliday
Published: 14:22 Saturday 24 November 2018
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/hamilton-accies/hamilton-0-3-celtic-celtic-cruise-despite-balls-like-balloons-1-4834535
At the start of a relentless schedule of 11 games in 35 days which will shape their season, Celtic cruised through as undemanding an assignment as they could have hoped for to retain top spot in the Scottish Premiership.

This was as routine as it gets for Brendan Rodgers’ side as strikes from Ryan Christie and the returning Leigh Griffiths, either side of a Scott Martin own goal, saw off a toothless Hamilton Accies outfit.

It was the perfect loosener for the Scottish champions ahead of a week which sees them face Rosenborg in a crucial Europa League fixture before the first leg of their ‘treble treble’ attempt against Aberdeen in the Betfred Cup Final at Hampden next Sunday.

The only difficulty encountered by Celtic in Lanarkshire as they imposed themselves on Accies immediately from kick-off was an issue with the condition of the match ball which had to be replaced several times in the opening minutes amid complaints it was under-inflated.

Rodgers made no attempt to hide his irritation as he remonstrated with the fourth official during an almost farcical stop-start first few minutes.

“Every ball seemed to be flat, all seven of them,” he said afterwards. “I’m not sure if that was a tactic or whatnot, but it was like passing a balloon.

“They’ve got all the tricks up here, haven’t they, to slow the game? Eventually we got our own kit-man to go and get the pump and pump them all up.”

The visitors were certainly fully pumped up to return to winning ways in the Premiership after dropping two points in their previous outing at Livingston before the international break.

They were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty in the second minute when Accies defender Matt Kilgallon appeared to clearly block an Odsonne Edouard cross with a hand. Referee Don Robertson was well positioned but dismissed the appeal.

All of the momentum was with Celtic, not that they required their highest levels of intensity to dominate proceedings against a Hamilton side simply intent on a policy of containment.

Kieran Tierney, back in action after missing out on Scotland duty because of a hamstring strain, had little in the way of defensive duties to concern himself and the left-back created Celtic’s next opening with a cross for Edouard who saw his shot blocked by Martin.

All the signs pointed to an early breakthrough for the champions and it duly arrived with the brilliantly worked set piece which led to Christie’s 13th minute opener. Callum McGregor played a short corner from the left to Edouard who returned it to the midfielder with a delightful back-heel.

With the Hamilton defence wrong-footed, McGregor rolled a pass into the path of Christie who slammed a shot high beyond Gary Woods from around 10 yards.
Celtic's Ryan Christie celebrates his goal with his teammates. Pic: SNS/Craig Foy
Hamilton 0 – 3 Celtic: Three things we learned

Celtic signed Odsonne Edouard on a permanent contract.
Grading all 12 Scottish Premiership teams’…

During what at times resembled a glorified training session, the only criticism which could be levelled at Celtic was a lack of ruthlessness in and around the Accies penalty area in the remainder of the first half.

Scott Sinclair should have doubled their lead in the 28th minute when set free by Olivier Ntcham’s fine through ball but the winger’s shot was too close to Woods who was able to turn it behind.

Another perfectly weighted and cleverly picked pass from Ntcham then created another sight of goal for Edouard whose low effort was deflected narrowly wide of Woods’ left hand post. Such was the freedom allowed to Celtic, Mikael Lustig even popped up in the centre-forward position at one stage, the Swedish right-back’s shot blocked by Ziggy Gordon.

Rodgers’ men continued to control proceedings with ease after the break, albeit while remaining profligate. Ntcham was next to miss a more than presentable chance for Celtic, slicing a shot just wide after carving open the Accies defence with an exchange of passes with Edouard.

As the second half progressed, Celtic began to get bogged down in the overall mediocrity of the occasion. But any anxiety on the part of their supporters that the slender lead they enjoyed might be threatened was eased when it was finally doubled in the 68th minute.

It was an excruciating moment for Martin. In attempting to block a tame header from Scott Sinclair, who had got on the end of a Lustig cross, the young Accies midfielder merely succeeded in flicking the ball beyond his own goalkeeper from the edge of the six yard box.

The simplest of victories for Celtic was provided with a sprinkling of late glitter with the introduction of Griffiths. Just eight minutes after replacing Edouard, he marked his return in trademark fashion.

Martin conceded the free-kick on the edge of the penalty area with a foul on Sinclair and when the Hamilton defensive wall obligingly allowed Christie to peel off and create a space, Griffiths drilled his left footed effort low beyond the flat-footed Woods.

BBC
By Colin Moffat
BBC Scotland
Celtic extended their unbeaten Premiership run to seven games with a comfortable win at Hamilton, moving two points clear at the top.

In-form Ryan Christie shot the visitors into an early lead from a well-worked short corner routine.

After the break, Scott Martin turned in an own goal in an attempt to keep out a Scott Sinclair header.

And substitute Leigh Griffiths marked his return from injury by drilling in a late free kick.

A deflected strike from Christie clipped the outside of the post in stoppage time as Celtic strolled to victory.

The champions have scored 16 goals without reply in their past five domestic games as they warmed up for Thursday's Europa League visit to Rosenborg and next weekend's League Cup final.

Hamilton, who have lost 10 of their 14 league games, remain in 10th place, five points above the play-off spot.

Griffiths returns after 'dark times'

Celtic cruise after Christie breakthrough

James Forrest was the Scotland hero with five goals in the wins over Albania and Israel, while team-mates Callum McGregor and Christie also impressed on international duty.

Those two combined for a smart opening goal on 13 minutes.

McGregor rolled a low corner into the feet of Odsonne Edouard, who returned it into the advancing midfielder's path with a neat back heel. McGregor then had time to pick out Christie, who slammed a rising shot high into the net for his fourth goal in six club outings.

Prior to the breakthrough, Accies were fortunate not to concede a penalty when Matt Kilgallon slipped while closing down Edouard, blocking the striker's cross with his arm.

The home side lined up with five at the back and camped deep in their own half from the first whistle, allowing Celtic to dominate possession. For long spells of the game the visitors knocked the ball around under little or no pressure.

Sinclair should have doubled Celtic's lead before half time when he ran on to Olivier Ntcham's lofted pass, but his tame effort was kept out by goalkeeper Gary Woods.

Accies showed a bit more bite in the second half but failed to muster a shot on target over 90 minutes.

Ntcham hammered an angled shot high into the side-netting before the second goal arrived. Sinclair met a Mikael Lustig cross with his head, and when Martin flicked out a leg to block he could only send the ball looping into the far corner of the net.

With 15 minutes remaining, Griffiths appeared for the first time since 7 October and the striker was soon celebrating as his raking free kick from the edge of the penalty area fizzed past Woods.
Analysis – When Scott Brown comes back, who do you leave out?

Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner on BBC Sportsound: "It was a decent display, another shut-out and the three goals will keep confidence high for the big games coming up. It keeps the momentum going.

"The Celtic full-backs were allowed to come forward under no pressure all afternoon. It was so easy for Celtic to keep the ball, although there was a lot of monotonous side to side. They were getting into good positions but overplayed in the final third a bit too often.

"When Scott Brown comes back, who do you leave out? Olivier Ntcham was a little bit rusty but Christie and McGregor were very good again – and then you have Tom Rogic as well."

Former Hamilton midfielder Derek Ferguson on BBC Sportsound: "Accies lined up with five at the back and four across the middle but I didn't see too many players going the extra yard, or prepared to go in where it hurts. They were playing with an element of fear and it was an absolute stroll for Celtic in the first 45 minutes. Without Darian MacKinnon they lacked that nasty streak.

"There was a bit more aggression in the second half but I expected more. Sometimes these are games you can enjoy because there's no expectation, no pressure."
Leigh Griffiths cracked in a late free kick to underline Celtic's dominance
Leigh Griffiths cracked in a late free kick to underline Celtic's dominance
Reaction – 'It looked like the first year I was here'

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "Off the back of the international break you want to come back and get the points on the board as quickly as you can

"We had to generate the rhythm and intensity in our own game. I thought we did that really well, the passing was really crisp, and we could've been up by about three at half-time.

"We had trust in our position, and trust in our possession and our ability to get there. We've got our rhythm back, that's for sure, over this last period.

"The confidence players have gained from playing well, being creative, scoring goals, that performance looked like the first year I was here. The players came in, they really controlled the game, and they had that personality in the team to be aggressive."

Hamilton manager Martin Canning: "The plan was to try frustrate as long we could, keep ourselves in the game and give ourselves an opportunity to take something from the game.

"We lose two goals from set-pieces which is disappointing, it shouldn't have happened.

"And Scott Sinclair scored a header which he is not renowned for, I wouldn't expect that when I have Delphin Tshiembe and Aaron McGowan at the back post.

"We had half a dozen opportunities with set-pieces to put the ball in the box and we weren't able to make the most of it and in the end we were beaten by a top side."