2019-01-19: Celtic 3-0 Airdrieonians, Scottish Cup

Trivia

Review

(bobby peru of KDS)
Fairly perfunctory, comfortable win.

Some observations.

Bain may or may not be a better goalkeeper than Gordon, he's definitely better on the ball and has a calmness about him with the ball at his feet that seems to spread to the players in front of him. I think he deserves a run now.

Ralston looks a decent squad option. Wouldn't want him as first choice but should be absolutely fine for most domestic games.

Burke seems to lack a bit of composure and everything seemed a bit frantic with him. Won't judge him until he's played in his usual position. For all i don't think he looked great he was involved in the majority of good stuff we did.

Weah had a great cameo and took his goal very well. Looks an exciting prospect.

Overall job done and with six home games out of the next seven we have a good chance to build a bit of momentum now, hopefully with at least a couple more new signings added.

(haith of KDS)
Easy win against a pish team.

Bain should be our number 1 goalie until we sign another.

Likewise Ralston at right back.

Sinclair could have a double hat trick if he had his shooting boots on and the officials done their job.

Brown looked somewhat back to form and McGregor was great too.

Great to see Weah scoring an making an impression on his debut.

Not convinced about Burke but he may be better on the wing.

Satisfying day all round. If Yaxley-Lennon was there I hope he got a sore face.

Teams

Celtic

• 29Bain
• 56Ralston
• 20Boyata
• 32Benkovic
• 3Izaguirre
• 8Brown· Substituted for Bitton at 82'minutes
• 42McGregor
• 49Forrest· Substituted for Johnston at 69'minutes
• 17Christie
• 11Sinclair Substituted for Weah at 69'minutes
• 25Burke

Substitutes

• 1Gordon
• 6Bitton
• 23Lustig
• 30Weah
• 35Ajer
• 52Henderson
• 73Johnston

Airdrieonians

• 1Hutton
• 2O'NeilBooked at 31mins
• 4Crighton
• 3MacDonald
• 7Stewart· Substituted forDuffyat 76'minutes
• 8CampbellBooked at 19mins· Substituted forCarrickat 59'minutes
• 6GallagherBooked at 77mins
• 5Millar
• 11Edwards
• 10Wilkie Substituted forGlassat 53'minutes
• 9McIntosh

Substitutes

• 12Duffy
• 14Carrick
• 15Glass
• 16Robertson
• 17McKenzie
• 18Page
• 19Cairns

Referee:Andrew Dallas
Attendance:29,941

Articles

• Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

• Match Pictures

Forum

• Pre-match
• Match
• Post Match

MOTM

• Voting Thread
• Result Thread
• Winner –

Stats

CelticAway TeamAirdrieonians
Possession
Home72%
Away28%
Shots
Home23
Away5
Shots on Target
Home13
Away4
Corners
Home13
Away0
Fouls
Home3
Away10

Articles

Celtic 3 – 0 Airdrie: Brendan Rodgers equals record set by Walter Smith

Celtic's Timothy Weah scores a debut goal to make it 3-0. Pic: SNS/Craig Williamson
Celtic's Timothy Weah scores a debut goal to make it 3-0. Pic: SNS/Craig Williamson
Andrew Smith
Published: 19:05 Saturday 19 January 2019
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/celtic-3-0-airdrie-brendan-rodgers-equals-record-set-by-walter-smith-1-4859361
Aside from a goal on his debut from late substitute Timothy Weah, there appeared to be little of lasting note about the Scottish Cup holders overwhelming a stoic Airdrieonians. Except that in notching the 3-0 victory Celtic recorded a 23rd straight domestic cup win under Brendan Rodgers.

His cup run now equals the record set by Walter Smith’s Rangers side between 1992 and 1994. Celtic will now take to the pitch for their

fifth-round tie next month knowing that success will ensure the longest sequence of cup wins in the annals of Scottish football.

The treble-treble seekers will hope there is greater pizazz about their game in the coming weeks than there was last night. Ultimately, they did win at a canter courtesy of Scott Sinclair helping himself to a double, but the bells and whistles – and the Parkhead light show – were reserved for the teenager from Paris Saint-Germain. Weah only came on in the 70th minute and both the home support and the home team both seemed notably pepped up his introduction. Within 13 minutes, Weah pounced on a sumptuous through ball from Dedryck Boyata and buried it low into the corner.

“It lived up to my expectations,” the youngster gushed of starting his six-month loan spell in earnest. “It’s probably the best experience I have had, playing in front of those Celtic fans.

“When I scored it was something out of a dream. It’s amazing to see that at such a young age. If this is just the minimum [with the stadium half full] that’s insane. I can’t imagine how it is when it’s full. It’s crazy. I’m really honoured and blessed to be here.”

Celtic took time to get going, but that was owed in no small part to the defensive discipline exhibited by their opponents. The contest in microcosm was the curious afternoons experienced by Sinclair and visiting keeper David Hutton.

Hutton produced some smart saves, and indeed denied Sinclair from the penalty spot in the 30th minute, the award given by Andrew Dallas after Chris O’Neill tripped Emilio Izaguirre. With the tie then deadlocked, Hutton brilliantly clawed the ball away with one hand down to his right. However only minutes later, and just after Sinclair had missed a howler from two yards out, he slapped the ball into the winger’s path to allow him to knock home from close in. The Airdrie keeper was guilty of knocking the ball out for Sinclair to clip in the second 68 minutes in. In fairness, it seemed then he was caught out by a Boyata header from a Ryan Christie corner flashing towards him via a deflection from Leighton McIntosh.

Sinclair then ought to have had a hat-trick when he had the ball in the net after Hutton had pushed out a snapshot from Oliver Burke. Television pictures showed he was onside, and this was the only real grumble that Rodgers had on an evening where his pre-match thoughts were required to turn to the future of Celtic captain Scott Brown. Reports have suggested that Australian A-League club Western Melbourne are confident they can entice the 33-year-old with the offer of a three-year deal.

Rodgers said Brown needed to make a decision “soon”, stating that he remained “hopeful” that he would sign a contract extension. “He knows he’ll have to make a decision, and he wants to make a decision, to be fair,” said Rodgers. Clarity is expected this week.

Football

By Andrew Southwick

BBC Scotland

From the section Scottish Cup

Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain's denies Airdrie with five of the best

Timothy Weah scored on his Celtic debut as they strolled into the last 16 of the Scottish Cup at the expense of Airdrieonians.

Scott Sinclair missed a first-half penalty but made amends just five minutes later to give Celtic the lead.

He then had an easy finish, following up after goalkeeper David Hutton had saved on the line to make it 2-0.

And, 14 minutes after coming off the bench, Weah raced through to open his Celtic account.

The win continues manager Brendan Rodgers' unbeaten record in domestic cups with the Scottish champions, with Celtic taking another step towards an unprecedented 'treble-treble'.

Reaction & fourth round as it happened

Referee Andrew Dallas caused fury among the visiting players when he pointed to the spot after Emilio Izaguirre fell to the ground inside the box.

The Honduran defender was also surrounded by an angry visiting contingent, who felt he had taken a tumble without any contact.

But they were celebrating when goalkeeper Hutton got his right hand to Sinclair's low effort and steered it around the post.

Celtic goalkeeper Scott Brain was the hero with an astonishing five saves within 10 seconds amid a goalmouth scramble.

That was as close as the League One side got and Sinclair doubled Celtic's lead when Hutton prevented an own goal at a corner but could only parry into the path of the Englishman, who rifled home the rebound.

He could have had a hat-trick when he finished a rebound after Oliver Burke's shot was again parried by Hutton, but he was harshly ruled to be offside.

Nir Bitton made a return from injury for the home side – his first appearance in almost a year – before 18-year-old Weah announced his arrival with his first goal.

The on-loan Paris St-Germain striker latched on to a fine Dedryck Boyata through ball and poked it first time past the advancing Hutton.
Timothy Weah has made a great start at Celtic
'We started to find gaps' – reaction

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "It took us a bit of time to get going, but after that first 15-20 minutes, we started to find the gaps.

"Scored three goals, missed a penalty, had a lot more chances and had a goal ruled out that would have given Scott a hat-trick."
'Weah can be a real asset' – analysis

Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner on Sportsound

Timothy Weah looks quick and strong. He can be a real asset for Celtic. I'm not sure Oliver Burke is an out-and-out striker, but his movement was better in the second half and he'll be happy to get 90 minutes under his belt.

Dumbarton manager Jim Duffy on Sportsound

Celtic are miles ahead of Airdrie in every department. But they kept at it and they had that one chance. If they had got that right on half time, you never know, but Celtic had more gears to go through.