2019-12-07: Celtic 2-1 Hamilton, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2019 – 2020 | 2019-20 Pictures

Trivia

• Midweek league game.
• Sunday coming is League Cup final v Sevco.
• Celtic finally go clear on top on points with Scott Brown the goalscoring hero after Sevco drop pts to Aberdeen (2-2) with Sevco having led 2-0 at one pt, and both had penalties denied.
• Celtic on 40pts, Sevco on 38pts after 15 games played each. Long way to go.
• Some very prematurely questioning if this is the night that will win Celtic the league? Well it's not won by a long way, there's too many games to go and many twists & turns still to come. Complacency could easily scupper it all. But a good night for Celtic, thx in part to Aberdeen.
• 'Subconscious thoughts' of Betfred Cup final nearly cost Celtic, admits Neil Lennon“I didn't enjoy it,” he saw of the tumultuous added time. "It's the psychology of sport – people are asking about the cup final and subconsciously that was playing on their minds. "We were flat and we were tired, mentally, at the end. Hamilton equalised and then we came to life again. "We deserved to win but you could just feel even before the game that it would be difficult. "However, I am delighted we won, I am thrilled for the players and I understand why it was a bit flat. It's a big win but is it pivotal?
• Injury load: Olivier Ntcham (knock), Mohamed Elyounoussi (foot), Boli Bolingoli (hamstring) and Jonny Hayes (shoulder) trained at Lennoxtown along with striker Vakoun Bayo who has been out since October with a knee injury, although only the former will be available for the Accies match.
• Sevco's Stevie Gerrard on penalty not given: "I don’t think there will be a more disappointed person outside of Rangers tonight than [referee] John [Beaton]. ‘He has just explained to me that he got it wrong."
  (Did the ref apologise to Aberdeen manager too for not giving them a penalty as should have a few mins earlier to that incident?)
• Reports: Celtic are said to be keeping close tabs on Ivorian midfielder Ismaila Soro. The £3m-rated player is currently at Bnei Yehuda in the Israeli top flight
• Lennon has taken exception with Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd’s assertion that there are no great footballers plying their trade in the Scottish game, calling the comment "idiotic".
• Celtic lifted the ticket ban imposed on the Green Brigade for the upcoming final. Club had banned the section of their support following a third Uefa charge this campaign for banners and pyrotechnics on display during the 2-1 home win over Lazio.

Review

"Scott Brown is 'modern-day Celtic great'" – Lennon

(JBCity of TheCelticWiki)
Crazy night. Celtic leading one nil v Hamilton early on yet despite all the the pressure applied just can't get that second. Sevco were leading two nil and dominating away to Aberdeen.

Then Aberdeen came back in their match to score twice to level with Sevco! Both sides were then denied penalties. So all going well for Celtic, then disaster with Celtic conceding on 90th minute. So Huns were laughing and a big chance for Celtic to go clear on pts at the top of the league is lost.

But they didn't count on Scott Brown who drove Celtic at the death to score and make all Huns spew!

Wonderful for all there at the match and all Celtic fans. Sadly match wasn't on the box or on radio.

Anyhow, some very prematurely questioning if this is the night that will win Celtic the league? Well it's not won, there's too many games to go and many twists & turns still to come. But a good night for Celtic.

Teams

Celtic

• 67 Forster
• 13 Bauer
• 6 Bitton
• 35 Ajer
• 3 Taylor
• 8 Brown
• 42 McGregor
• 17 Christie
• 21 Ntcham Substituted for Johnston at 59'minutes
• 49 Forrest Substituted for Frimpong at 87'minutes
• 16 Morgan Substituted for Griffiths at 68'minutes

• 28Smith Substituted for Beck at 85'minutes
• 25Martin
• 20Moyo Substituted for Ogboe at 77'minutes

Articles

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Stats

Home Team
Celtic
Away Team
Hamilton

Possession
Home67%
Away33%

Shots
Home22
Away9

Shots on Target
Home5
Away5

Corners
Home7
Away2

Fouls
Home10
Away9

Articles

Celtic 2-1 Hamilton Accies: Scott Brown scores injury-time winner as Hoops capitalise on Rangers' slip-up

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-2-1-hamilton-accies-scott-brown-scores-injury-time-winner-as-hoops-capitalise-on-rangers-slip-up-1-5057281Andrew Smith
Email
Published: 22:47

All cup final talk was supposed to be off the agenda for Celtic. Yet the wild celebrations which followed the most dramatic of endings at Parkhead were as uproarious as any that would accompany the winning of silverware.

A 92nd-minute Scott Brown winner moments after Hamilton had carved out a far-from-implausible equaliser through Marios Ogkmpoe – coupled with Rangers’ surrender of a two-goal lead at Pittodrie – sparked jubilation.

This was supposed to be a regulation league encounter for a team who had won their previous 10 games in all competitions in dazzling fashion.

But until man-on-a-missionBrown pounced on to a ball 30 yards from goal, dropped his shoulder and drifted past three men before steering a pinpoint effort into the far corner, there was little dazzle about an off-colour Celtic.

Their inability to put away an obdurate and, at times, enterprising Hamilton had only an instant before caused the colour to drain from the home faithful.

An Alexander Gogic throw-in found its way to Ogkmpoe eight yards out on the right and the striker’s aim was true as he poked the ball past Celtic keeper Fraser

Forster.

What happened next to give Celtic a two-point advantage at the top of the Premiership over an Ibrox side they will meet at Hampden on Sunday meant Celtic’s least impressive performance in two months was their most productive.

Whatever had been said, the line-up fielded by home manager Neil Lennon showed that the Betfred Cup final was firmly in his thoughts.

Against an opponent without a league win in two-and-a-half months, it wasn’t a second string but rather a one-and-a-half string.

Of the 10 outfield players, only half could consider themselves guaranteed starters at Hampden on Sunday: Ryan Christie, James Forrest, Callum McGregor, Scott Brown and Kristoffer Ajer.

Lennon would insist that circumstances outwith the first Old Firm final for his club in eight years impacted on his selection. And it is true that injuries to Odsonne Eduoard, Boli Bolingoli, Mohamed Elyounoussi and Jonny Hayes would have necessitated giving fringe players game time, regardless of when the Hamilton encounter fell.

Nir Bitton filling in for the rested, and benched, Christopher Jullien and Mauritz Bauer deployed at right-back in place of Jeremie Frimpong could only be viewed through the prism of the final.

The performance by this unfamiliar-looking line-up was, er, unfamiliar to those accustomed to Celtic’s sparkling displays during their 10-game unbeaten run.

In part, that must be attributed to the firmness and flexibility of Brian Rice’s Hamilton side, who belied their lowly status – only a point off the bottom ahead of last night’s game – by giving Celtic more moments of concern than French cup winners Rennes at the same venue the previous week.

That resilience was all the more impressive since they conceded an early goal. The suggestion that Christie has become the champions most integral performer had been much discussed online this week.

The attacker is certainly their most invaluable in the vicinty of the opposition goal as he again demonstrated when he was on-hand to bash in a loose ball from close range after keeper Luke Southwood had beat out a Lewis Morgan drive from wide on the left.

That 13th-minute strike was the Highlander’s 16th at club level this season, putting him two ahead of Eduoard.

Hamilton’s response was to grow in confidence and counter-attack with menace. The impressive Lewis Smith galloped 60 yards to put him in dangerous territory that so many recent Celtic opponents have struggled to find.

As Rangers seemed to be on their way to a victory at Pittodrie which would have dislodged Celtic at the top of the table, the home support’s discomfort grew when Fraser Forster elected to kick away a Scott McMann cross that flashed towards his near post.

Celtic did have opportunities – Oliver Ntcham guided the ball wide with the net gaping – but they never had a firm grip of proceedings in the opening period.

That remained true even when substitute Mikey Johnston hit the post midway through the second half – after Forster had to claw away a Sam Stubbs header in desperate fashion.

Other openings were squandered but, ultimately, Brown’s brillance ensured it was not costly.

BBC

By Jonathan Sutherland

BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

From the section Scottish Premiership

Highlights: Celtic 2-1 Hamilton

Celtic have moved two points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership – but only after Scott Brown struck in stoppage-time to snatch victory against Hamilton Academical.

With Rangers spurning a two-goal lead at Aberdeen, Neil Lennon's side looked poised to take advantage after leading for much of the game through Ryan Christie's 17th of the season.

However, Marios Ogkmpoe's 90th-minute strike looked like claiming a point for Hamilton, only for captain Brown's goal to secure an 11th consecutive win.

It means Celtic go into Sunday's League Cup final against Rangers having nudged ahead of their city rivals.

Brian Rice's Hamilton, meanwhile, are left with no reward for a doughty display and drop to 10th, after a ninth game without a win.

Lennon hails 'modern-day great' Brown
Reaction & as it happened

Brown answers call when Celtic need him most

This initially had the feel of a dress rehearsal for two completely different shows.

Celtic were warming up for the main event on Sunday – the League Cup final against Rangers. Yes, three points were vital, but a routine victory was certainly expected by the home faithful.

Hamilton have a big game at the weekend too, but for very different reasons. The kitchen-sink drama of a bottom of the table Saturday showdown with St Mirren perhaps the more meaningful tussle for Rice's side – and a far more realistic prospect in terms of securing valuable points.

A stout defence was required of Hamilton at the home of the champions, but it would be breached in the 13th minute.

Lewis Morgan, again deployed as a striker with Odsonne Edouard again omitted and Leigh Griffiths on the bench, fired in a shot which Hamilton goalkeeper Luke Southwood could only parry. In like a shot was the in-form Christie to eagerly net his fourth in three games.

As usual, Celtic dominated on their home patch, with Hamilton restricted to the most minimal of forays upfield. When Mickel Miller did get into a rare shooting position he could only rattle the seats in Row Z.

Celtic were not making a deluge of chances. James Forrest curled in an effort which looked like it was destined for the net, but it sailed just wide. Minutes later Olivier Ntcham should have made it 2-0 after a defensive mistake in the Hamilton six-yard box, but he skewed his shot the wrong side of a post.

There was a lively to the start of the second half as twice Hamilton would go close. First Lewis Smith loped through on goal and got a shot away that flew low and just wide.

Then an even bigger opportunity for the away side. Miller lofted a free-kick into the box and Sam Stubbs got his header on target only for Fraser Forster to claw the ball to safety via a post, with some of the Accies players appealing that the ball had crossed the line.

The atmosphere had changed inside Celtic Park, perhaps due to news filtering through that Rangers were at risk of dropping points at Aberdeen.

The league leaders continued to threaten, mainly through Morgan and Christie, but Kris Ajer should have done better with a header from just four yards out, the ball flying high over the crossbar.

Hamilton had failed to get a shot on target in their previous match away at Livingston. It would take them 66 minutes into this game to make sure there was no repeat of that stat, Scott Martin's effort from 20 yards was comfortably gathered by Forster.
Christie graphic

Mikey Johnston entered the fray and it would not take him long to make his presence known, scampering onto a loose ball in the penalty area before planting a shot which came flush back off an upright. Then more carnage in the visitors' box as substitute Griffiths arrowed a low shot towards goal only for Aaron McGowan to clear off the line.

There was a nervous edge to this game for Celtic in the latter stages as Hamilton remained a threat, with Forster having to tip over a deflected effort, then save from George Oakley. But that did little to ease the nervy atmosphere among the home support as the visitors sensed there might be something in this for them.

And so it would transpire in a hugely dramatic finale. First Celtic failed to deal with a ball into the box in the 90th minute and substitute Ogkmpoe swivelled to fire the ball into the back of the net.

The goal stunned Celtic momentarily but their captain would galvanise his shell-shocked troops in the nick of time. Brown gathered the ball on the edge of the box before striding towards goal and firing in a low, diagonal shot which left Southwood with no chance as the stadium erupted in joy.
Man of the match – Scott Brown

It was going to be Christie – another goal and again the main spark that lights up Celtic for the most part as an attacking threat.

But when the chips were down, it was Brown who showed the true mark of a captain as he rode to the rescue with a dramatic and vital winner in injury time.
'That's why Celtic are champions' – reaction
Brown is 'modern-day Celtic great' – Lennon

Celtic manager Neil Lennon: "I think subconsciously they [the players] are thinking about Sunday. We've got through the game all but by the skin of our teeth, but I thought overall we deserved to win the game."

Hamilton head coach Brian Rice: "We needed a wee rub of the green, and we didn't get it tonight, but I'm so proud of what the lads put in. Celtic are champions for a reason and that's why."