| Match Pictures | Matches: 2019 – 2020 | 2019-20 Pictures |
Trivia
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League Cup, Quarter-final
- Celtic eased past Partick Thistle to win their 29th successive domestic cup tie
- Celtic top of the top tier, Partick Thistle are bottom of the second tier. So on paper this was an easy match for Celtic (not always gone to plan but did this match for Celtic).
- Debut for Jeremie Frimpgong, won man of the match.
- 3rd season in a row Celtic have scored a goal from kickoff without the opposition touching the ball
- Rogic goal, and Bayo debut goal (although some say his past goals were his but really were tagged as own goals).
- Sinclair scores despite not having been in the first team for a while. Lennon gives him credit.
- Celtic draw Hibs for next round, Sevco v Hearts in other semi-final.
- Frimpong man of the match in his debut, although little tested in defence.
- Former Celtic captain Gary Caldwell was sacked as Partick Thistle manager – just one week before he was to take the Maryhill side to Parkhead for this match. Caldwell only took charge of the club last season, but the board have decided to part company.
- Tour operator Thomas Cook has gone under, putting many at risk of loss of jobs. Sevco used Thomas Cook, and number of fans via Club travel tour operator agreements are to lose out. People getting stiffed by a company going into administration, what an irony for Sevco fans!
- Kieran Tierney made his debut for Arsenal the night before, and had 'Bhoys' written on his boots.
- Rugby WC – Uruguay create massive shock & defeat Fiji. Scotland fans are all abject as concerned will be out of tournament soon in a tough competitive group.
Review
It threatened at being a match where we rotate the majority of the team with players who haven't played a lot of football and we kind of stumble over the line like a jaked horse. The first half definitely played to that narrative (although the running of Hayes, Frimpong and the availability of Bayo were real bright sparks). After half time there was a noticeable change in focus and I think that came from Ntcham's role.
He came a little bit deeper but didn't necessarily look for the ball in that position rather drawing his marker in before moving into space and receiving the ball further up the park. He also seemed to just turn on and rag dolled Thistle with his shooting, passing, dribbling and by being a eff hero.
Frimpong looks to have taken over from Tierney as fastest player at the club and didn't look either out of place or nervous which is amazing when you consider that's his first ever professional game. He clearly loved it and i'm really excited as to what he's going to do over the next few years. I'd also like to draw attention to Hayes who, against admittedly poor opposition, really put in a hell of shift in attack and looked good defending.
Bayo is giving us another option up front and, even although he is extremely unlikely to usurp Edouard, his future with us is definitely looking up. His link up play last night was much better than i'd given him credit for and that's while he still looks a bit unrefined and clumsy. I wouldn't surprise me if he scores 10-15 goals this season at all.
Part 1 of 1 in 3 of 12 is very much on the go!
Teams
Celtic
- 01 Gordon
- 30 Frimpong Booked at 52mins· Substituted for Hendry at 79'minutes
- 33 Elhamed
- 35 Ajer
- 15 Hayes Booked at 54mins
- 21 Ntcham
- 42 McGregor · Substituted for Brown at 62'minutes
- 27 Elyounoussi Substituted for Sinclair at 66'minutes
- 18 Rogic
- 16 Morgan
- 10 Bayo
Substitutes
- 4 Hendry
- 8 Brown
- 11 Sinclair
- 22 Edouard
- 23 Bolingoli-Mbombo
- 49 Forrest
- 67 Forster
Goals
- Bayo (15' minutes),
- Rogic (46' minutes),
- Ntcham (56' minutes, 63' minutes),
- Sinclair (76' minutes)
Partick Thistle
- 22Fox
- 2Williamson
- 4O'Ware
- 6McGinty
- 3PenriceBooked at 81mins
- 7Cardle· Substituted forDe Vitaat 59'minutes
- · 16Palmer
- · 8Bannigan
- · 15Robson
- · 14Gordon· Substituted forColeat 74'minutes
- · 9Miller Substituted forMansellat 64'minutes
- 1Sneddon
- 5Hall
- 12Cole
- 18Mansell
- 23De Vita
- 24Kakay
- 43Saunders
Referee: Steven McLean
Attendance: 25,008
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Forum
MOTM
- Voting Thread
- Result Thread
- Winner –
Stats
Possession
Home73%
Away27%
Shots
Home17
Away4
Shots on Target
Home8
Away1
Corners
Home5
Away1
Fouls
Home6
Away13
Articles
Celtic 5 Partick Thistle 0: Hoops ease into Betfred Cup semi-finals as Olivier Ntcham nets brace
Olivier Ntcham celebrates with Lewis Morgan and fellow goalscorers Tom Rogic and Vakoun Issouf Bayo
Stephen Halliday
Email
Published: 21:33
Updated: 21:40
Wednesday 25 September 2019
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-5-partick-thistle-0-hoops-ease-into-betfred-cup-semi-finals-as-olivier-ntcham-nets-brace-1-5011592
How the Scottish rugby team will beat the heat in Japan
As the Scottish rugby team prepare for kick-off in a sweltering Japan, we can all take tips from the top on staying hydrated.
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Celtic’s iron grip on Scottish football’s silverware shows no sign of slipping. Their remarkable and unprecedented run of consecutive victories in domestic cup ties was stretched to 29 games as they cruised past Partick Thistle into the semi-finals of the Betfred Cup.
The galvanising effect of Ian McCall’s return as Thistle manager extended only to a gritty first half display from the team currently at the bottom of the Championship as Celtic were restricted to a single goal lead at the break.
But Neil Lennon’s men cut loose after the break, producing some eye-catching football and high quality goals against their outclassed opponents.
The depth of Lennon’s squad allowed him the luxury of making no fewer than eight changes to his starting line-up from Sunday’s league win over Kilmarnock, while still being able to field nine full internationals in his side.
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Only 18-year-old Dutch full-back Jeremie Frimpong, making his debut following his deadline day move from Manchester City, and French midfielder Olivier Ntcham have yet to be capped at senior level by their respective countries.
It was another indication, if any were needed, of the size of the task facing Thistle whose last victory at Celtic Park was back in 1992.
McCall opted for a 4-5-1 formation aimed primarily at containment, with veteran striker Kenny Miller ploughing the lone furrow up front.
Frimpong made an early impression on the home fans with a slide rule pass which sent Lewis Morgan free down the right, the midfielder’s dangerous cross cut out by Thomas O’Ware just ahead of the lurking Vakoun Bayo.
Celtic were clearly eager to utilise Bayo’s aerial ability at every opportunity and the warning signs were clear for the visitors when the striker nodded just over from Jonny Hayes’ left wing cross in the eighth minute.
Sure enough, it was from a similar combination that Celtic made the breakthrough six minutes later. Ryan Williamson’s foul on Rogic conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position on the home side’s left. Hayes whipped the ball in to the edge of the six-yard box where Bayo outjumped Williamson to steer a header beyond Scott Fox.
It counts as Bayo’s first goal for Celtic, his previously credited double in the league win over Hearts last month having both subsequently been deemed as own goals by the SPFL. There was no dubiety on this occasion.
Thistle were now all too aware of the threat posed by Bayo but that did little to improve their efforts in trying to subdue him. He should have doubled Celtic’s lead in the 21st minute but this time his downward header from a Rogic cross bounced up over the crossbar.
Another excellent delivery from Hayes created Bayo’s next headed opportunity which again cleared the top of Fox’s goal.
Celtic hand debut to one player while fringe players get first starts of the season
Thistle were digging in gamely and with Celtic unable to bring any consistent tempo to their play, the visitors began to probe with greater confidence for a leveller. Joe Cardle’s wickedly curling free-kick into the area found no takers with Thistle skipper Sean McGinty agonisingly close to a connection amid uncertainty in the home defence.
A clever lay-off from Miller then presented Shea Gordon with a clear sight of goal four minutes before the interval but his powerfully struck effort was well saved by Craig Gordon, making his first appearance since the end of August.
But any encouragement Thistle and their noisy travelling support had taken from that spell of play was wiped out within 40 seconds of the restart when Rogic made it 2-0 for Celtic. Ntcham and Bayo were involved in the build-up and the Australian playmaker drilled a precise shot low beyond Fox’s right hand from the edge of the penalty area.
Thistle briefly believed they had cut the deficit when O’Ware headed home from a free-kick but the offside flag was quickly raised.
Any lingering hopes of a recovery for the visitors were emphatically ended by a thunderous strike from around 30 yards from Ntcham in the 56th minute, the ball arrowing into Fox’s top right hand corner.
The Championship strugglers were now being run ragged and Ntcham helped himself to his second goal of the night seven minutes later, this time with a low drive from the edge of the penalty area which went through McGinty’s legs and beat Fox via the inside of his left hand post.
There was still time for Scott Sinclair, making a rare appearance as a substitute, to get in on the act. In his first outing since 10 August, the winger pounced to ram home Celtic’s fifth after Fox had done well to block a shot from Rogic.
CELTIC: Gordon, Frimpong (Hendry 79), Elhamed, Ajer, Hayes; Ntcham, McGregor (Brown 62); Morgan, Rogic, Elyounoussi (Sinclair 66); Bayo. Subs not used: Forster, Bolingoli, Forrest, Edouard.
PARTICK THISTLE: Fox, Williamson, O’Ware, McGinty, Penrice; Cardle (De Vita 59), Gordon (Cole 74), Bannigan, Palmer, Robson; Miller (Mansell 64). Subs not used: Sneddon, Hall, Kakay, Saunders.
BBC
By Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at Celtic Park
From the section Scottish League Cup
Olivier Ntcham scores for Celtic against Partick Thistle
Olivier Ntcham struck twice in seven second-half minutes for Celtic
Holders Celtic eased past Partick Thistle to win their 29th successive domestic cup tie and set up a Scottish League Cup semi-final with Hibernian.
Vakoun Issouf Bayo headed in his first Celtic goal to open the scoring before Tom Rogic finished a flowing move.
Second-tier Thistle, in their first game under new boss Ian McCall, had Tam O'Ware's header ruled out for offside.
And Olivier Ntcham's seven-minute double, then Scott Sinclair's strike, sealed Celtic's last-four berth.
Celtic have won the competition three years running as one third of their domestic treble treble.
Thistle, bottom of the second tier, harried Neil Lennon's men will in the first half, but faded after the interval.
Holders Celtic to face Hibs in last four
Frimpong praised for Celtic debut
Reaction & as it happened
Five-star Celtic show strength in depth
If Celtic thought they'd have everything their own way against the team propping up the division below, they had another thing coming, certainly in the first half. Under McCall, returning this week for his second stint as manager, Partick were energised and organised, hard-working and disciplined.
They didn't buckle after Jonny Hayes' cross was perfectly weighted for Bayo to head home. And that speaks volumes about the improvement from Saturday's insipid 3-0 loss to Dunfermline Athletic.
The avalanche of goals from the much-changed champions simply didn't materialise. Some of those given a chance to shine failed to advance their cause for more regular action. Mohamed Elyounoussi and Lewis Morgan struggled to influence the game from out wide and were outshone by full-backs Hayes and Jeremie Frimpong, an impressive debutant.
Bayo came close from another Hayes cross, but it was the burgeoning Thistle who carved out the next big chance. Celtic gave the ball away and only a fine Craig Gordon save denied Shea Gordon as he galloped into the area.
Would Lennon's side heed that warning? The answer came within 40 seconds of the restart. Rogic applied the perfect finish to a fine Celtic move, with the hosts immediately showing the increased urgency their manager had presumably just demanded.
Then came the show-stopper. Ntcham's thunderous blast from at least 30 yards settled any lingering nerves. The Frenchman added a sumptuous second after robbing Raffaele de Vita on the left and curling in off the inside of the far post.
Sinclair applied the cherry to the cake after Thistle meekly surrendered the ball to Bayo, and where Rogic couldn't finish, the substitute could on just his fifth outing of the campaign.
An emphatic victory for a Celtic team showing eight changes from Saturday's win over Kilmarnock.
Man of the match – Olivier Ntcham
Ntcham delivered two fine goals, and was the main man in the middle of the park during a rampant second-half display.
All good things came through him, and when you consider the explosive power of his first goal, and the technical quality of his second, almost passed into the side netting, it would be harsh not to give the award to the Frenchman.
'A professional performance' – reaction
Celtic manager Neil Lennon: "People on paper think those games are easy. It was a professional performance, some outstanding play, particularly in the second half. The main thing is we're in the semi-final, injury free."
Partick Thistle manager Ian McCall: "The scoreline was probably fair reflection of the game. We had a really good chance to make it 1-1. And at 2-0, it looks like we scored a perfectly good goal, but Celtic deserved to win.
"I was really, really pleased with the effort and togetherness and I think we can take them up the league."