| Match Pictures | Matches: 2019 – 2020 | 2019-20 Pictures |
Trivia
- Boxing Day/St Stephens' Day
- Match live on TV, rare one as match kicked off at 3pm.
- Celtic remain top by 5pts; Sevco second but have a game in hand. Sevco won 1-0 v M'well.
- Julien has a bad few minutes conceding a needless free kick late on and then the resultant kick was deflected off his head into the Celtic net.
- Criticisms from certain Celtic fans over some overdone reactions from one or two Celtic players (e.g. Boli)
- Another game Celtic should have won by far far more, but didn't. Tiredness? Been a long month.
- Next match (29th) is v Sevco, big one.
- Hearts are bottom of the league and look to be in deep trouble, relegation is a strong possibility. Hibs just beat them 2-0 today which doesn't matters for them.
- Ex-Celt Duncan Mackay sadly passed away. RIP Black armbands worn in his honour.
- Neil Lennon last night called on the SFA to investigate Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack over a twitter post made on the early hours of Boxing Day in which he claimed Kristoffer Ajer had feigned injury in the challenge by Sam Cosgrove last weekend that resulted in the Pittodrie striker receiving a straight red-card.
- Darts: history made with first women (Fallon Sherrock) to defeat a male in the world championships. Good on her, and good luck to her in next rounds.
- Reports: Increasing reports of Wanyama in January, and/or Ki! Unlikely on both. Celtic in advanced talks for a striker to sign in January.
- Finalised designs for Celtic Football Club's proposed full-size indoor training pitch have been submitted to Glasgow City Council for approval
- there are 6,500 children near Fir Park who are entitled to free school meals. Some don't get a meal when schools are closed for holidays. For those times, Motherwell provides hot food and physical activity free of charge. Much respect to them for that, a great humbling act.
Review
(w… of KDS forum)
A lot of folk saying "we're playing poorly".
I think that's harsh. We are dominating games, averaging 2+ goals per game, conceding very few etc…
Where we are underperforming, is we are converting very few promising attacking situations into goals. I've lost count of how many times (in that last 3 games vs Hearts, Aberdeen, St Mirren) that we've been in the final third and picked the wrong pass, overhit/underhit a pass, tried to beat one man too many, tried to walk the ball in, missed a sitter etc…
It becomes very very frustrating to watch when it happens a few games in a row. 5-0 in all three games wouldn't have flattered us so we must be playing "quite well" if that's the case.
We just need to start converting more attacking situations into goals.
Maybe we'll start on Sunday and take about 10 off of you know who!
Teams
St Mirren
- 1Hladky
- 8Flynn
- 2McGinnBooked at 85mins
- 5McLoughlin
- 3Waters
- 24MacPherson
- 7Magennis
- 16Foley
- 11Durmus· Substituted forAndreuat 65'minutes
· 19MoriasSubstituted forCookeat 82'minutes
- 9Obika
Substitutes
- 4McGinn
- 10Andreu
- 18Mullen
- 20Cooke
- 23Djorkaeff
- 26Lyness
- 41Jamieson
Goal
- MacPherson (89' minutes)
Celtic
- 67Forster
- 30Frimpong
- 2JullienBooked at 88mins
- 35Ajer
- 23Bolingoli-Mbombo
- 42McGregor
- 8Brown
- 17Christie
- 21Ntcham
- 49Forrest· Substituted forJohnstonat 69'minutes
· 22Edouard Substituted forGriffithsat 87'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Gordon
- 3Taylor
- 6Bitton
- 9Griffiths
- 13Bauer
- 18Rogic
- 19Johnston
Goals
· McGregor (22' minutes),
· Forrest (32' minutes)
Referee:
William Collum
Attendance:
6,797
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Forum
MOTM
- Voting Thread
- Result Thread
- Winner –
Stats
Home Team
St Mirren
Away Team
Celtic
Possession
Home 36%
Away 64%
Shots
Home 8
Away 17
Shots on Target
Home 4
Away 5
Corners
Home 3
Away 10
Fouls
Home 6
Away 8
Articles
Furious Celtic boss Neil Lennon wants SFA to investigate Aberdeen chairman 'lies'
Andrew Smith
Email
Published: 22:30 Thursday 26 December 2019
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/furious-celtic-boss-neil-lennon-wants-sfa-to-investigate-aberdeen-chairman-lies-1-5067044
Celtic manager Neil Lennon last night called on the SFA to investigate Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack over a twitter post made on the early hours of Boxing Day in which he claimed Kristoffer Ajer had feigned injury in the challenge by Sam Cosgrove last weekend that resulted in the Pittodrie striker receiving a straight red-card – a decision that was upheld on appeal.
READ MORE – Rangers want to sign Olivier Giroud, Hearts eye loan for Liam Lindsay, French side want Celtic star, Neil Lennon speaks out on transfer targets, Stubbs reveals Hibs snub – Scottish Premiership Rumour Mill
Speaking yesterday about the tweet before and after his side’s 2-1 win away to St Mirren, Lennon railed against the intervention of Cormack, labelling it “embarrassing and disgraceful”, and branding the US-based software entrepreneur a “liar”. Asked if the allegations demanded review by the footballing governing body – Cormack also making reference to Leigh Griffiths “lunging” at Lewis Ferguson’s “keen with two feet in the air”, the Celtic manager was unequivocal. “Yes. I do. It’s totally irresponsible and not factually correct,” Lennon said. “In my view he [Cormack] is telling lies.”
Celtic manager Neil Lennon. Picture: SNS
Celtic manager Neil Lennon. Picture: SNS
The feud between the clubs has simmered throughout the Christmas week following the Cosgrove dismissal that Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes said resulted in Ajer “grinning and winking” at his opponent as he lay on the ground after dropping dramatically when the forward steamed in with both feet off the ground to knock the ball away from the Norwegian.
Lennon responded to that by saying McInnes should concentrate on his own players, and took a similar hardline over Cormack’s tweet.
Posted at 2am, Cormack wrote; “Law = fairness & consistency. Sam will take his ban but the compliance officer has a duty to review Ajer feigning injury with his triple salvo and miraculous recovery after Sam gets the red. Griffiths lunges into Ferguson’s knee with both feet in the air. Fairness for ALL please!”
Lennon said such claims could not be allowed to go unchallenged. “I’m not happy. It’s embarrassing for him to basically lie about my player’s actions,” he said. “Kris was the victim and did nothing wrong. He’s a model professional, an outstanding professional. For a chairman or owner to come out and say something like that, we’re not tolerating it. We’re not happy about it.
“I wasn’t aware of the timing [of the tweet] . I saw it and it made me very angry because we’ve been very balanced about things. For him to come out and attack one of my players like that…Kris of all people. He’s a model pro. It’s naïve to say the least.”
Lennon was more relaxed about the events at The Simple Digital Arena, where goals from Callum McGregor and James Forrest allowed his team to retain their five-point lead over a Rangers they will host on Sunday in the final game before the winter shutdown. The Celtic manager took particular relish in the display of Odsonne Edouard, whose efforts set up the goals that allowed the Scottish champions to survive a late rally from St Mirren, who netted through a deflected free-kick from Cammy MacPherson.
It was not lost on Lennon that Edouard will ensure Celtic are a different proposition from the team that struggled without him for 59 minutes of the Betfrted Cup final against Steven Gerrard’s men three weeks ago.
“He’s an outstanding centre-forward. I’m pretty much sure he’ll start on Sunday and he makes us better,” Lennon said. “He’s a threat and I like his physicality. I like his pace – he comes to life in the final third and he’s such a clever player. His ball for Jamesy [Forrest] was sublime, the timing and weight was perfect. His all round game is very good and he gives the team a lot of confidence when he plays.”
St Mirren 1 – 2 Celtic: First-half double keeps Celtic five points clear
Andrew Smith
Email
Published: 17:28 Thursday 26 December 2019
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/st-mirren-1-2-celtic-first-half-double-keeps-celtic-five-points-clear-1-5067021There was a fits and starts element to Celtic as they prevailed over St Mirren in Paisley.
READ MORE – Rangers want to sign Olivier Giroud, Hearts eye loan for Liam Lindsay, French side want Celtic star, Neil Lennon speaks out on transfer targets, Stubbs reveals Hibs snub – Scottish Premiership Rumour Mill
Callum McGregor celebrates opening the scoring for Celtic. Picture: SNS
Callum McGregor celebrates opening the scoring for Celtic. Picture: SNS
Yet in Odsonne Edouard, the Scottish champions also had the necessary finesse and the startling. Traits that made certain of an 11th straight league win that sets them up for Sunday’s derby hosting of title rivals Rangers. And qualities that will be to the fore then that they sorely missed in the 59 minutes they played without their half-fit talisman as they scraped through against Steven Gerrard’s men in the Betfred Cup final three weeks ago.
The French striker doesn’t need goals to galvanise Neil Lennon’s men. The 21-year-old is so complete as a frontline focal point, his very presence is an assurance of promptings and purpose that draws decisive net-bulging moments from others. Yesterday, this was was demonstrated in his laying the groundwork for the first-half strikes from Callum McGregor and James Forrest. His contributions were deascribed as “sublime” by his manager, who delighted the player’s “vision” and “deceptively quck feet”.
Establishing a two-goal lead in little more than half an hour, the visitors could not add to their advantage despite a host of chances – Vaclav Hlacky thwarting several openings, before a wrong offside call denied Edouard himself – and had hairy moments before Cammy MacPherson netted with a 25-yard free-kick that deflected off the Celtic wall to wrong-foot Fraser Forster.
There was little concern in the Premiership leaders’ camp over their raggedly end, Christopher Jullien loose to allow Jon Obika to fashion an opening he should have converted before a wild swipe produced the set-piece that an industrious St Mirren made count. Too late, though, to avoid a first defeat in four outings.
And the quiet confidence from Celtic over their prospects for establishing an eight-point league lead over Rangers when their adversaries travel to Glasgow’s east end patently revolves around having a fully-fit Edouard again for such a confrontation.
It was certainly the way that McGregor was willing to read the situation. The midfielder netted for the first time in two months after the striker had driven through the home backline before the ball sat up for him. Assisted by Paul McGinn and the St Mirren keeper seeming to hesitate in dealing with it, the Scotland international had an effort off the upright that he tucked away on the rebound.
A 22nd minute lead was doubled 10 minutes later with Edouard the supremer architect. The ball played out to him on the left by Forrest, he sashayed into his opponents’ half before his timing and weight of pass was immaculate to allow the Celtic winger to round Hlacky witth delicate balance before firing the ball high into the net.
“He’s an incredible player and the forefront of our attack,” McGregor enthused of Edouard. “He’s such a platform for the team, he can hold things in, link up. He’s a big scorer for us so to have him fit and starting will be a boost.
“We try to join in, he links the play and played a great pass for Jamesy {Forrest] with great awareness. He’s much more than a scorer – he’s creative, can hold the ball, come short. He’s terrific.”
Not least on major occasions, as his record of five goals in 13 appearances against Rangers illustrates. “He’s shown that in Europe, these games and cup finals. He’s always been the go-to man. We are just desperate to keep him fit.”
Yet, McGregor was dismissive of the notion that Celtic will be desperate to produce a better display in Sunday’s derby than they could conjure up in clinging to their remarkable trophy-winning sequence by their fingertips at Hampden earlier this month.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon. Picture: SNS
Neil Lennon blasts 'absolutely disgraceful' comments made by Aberdeen chairman
“To win cup finals you can win them well, can dig in and win them. It showed another side to our squad,” he said. “To go ten trophies in a row is incredible. We haven’t played well in other games before. I’d much prefer to have won it than have played well. So mentally it was a good boost.
“I don’t think there’s extra pressure. Both teams are under pressure to win, that comes with the derbies. We just need to try to make sure we’ve won it.”
By Martin Watt
BBC Scotland
From the section Scottish Premiership
Highlights: St Mirren 1-2 Celtic
Celtic head into Sunday's Old Firm derby five points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership after a comfortable victory at St Mirren.
Goals in a 10-minute first-half spell from Callum McGregor and James Forrest secured an 11th consecutive league win for Neil Lennon's men.
Cammy MacPherson netted a late reply but Celtic maintained their advantage over Rangers, having played a game more, while St Mirren's first defeat in four matches drops them to 10th, four points clear of bottom club Hearts.
The hosts were indebted to goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky for keeping the score down with several impressive saves before grabbing a consolation their perseverance merited.
Reaction & as it happened
Celtic quality shines through
With Celtic having narrowly avoided a shock slip-up at home to Hamilton prior to the last Old firm derby, Lennon was at pains to avoid the looming visit of Rangers clouding his players' thoughts here.
They were never given a moment's peace by a St Mirren side full of endeavour but the gulf of quality proved telling.
The Paisley club have gone just shy of a decade since their last league win over Celtic, and even a goal had proved beyond them in the sides' last five top-flight meetings until MacPherson's deflected free-kick ended that trend.
Jim Goodwin's men hassled, harried and looked sprightly going forward in the opening stages. But just as they began to dare to believe, their hopes were crushed by two quick goals that left the outcome in little doubt.
Celtic's threat had been restricted to plonking the ball on to the head of Kris Ajer at set-pieces before Odsonne Edouard went on the gallop to help fashion a breakthough.
The French striker raced ominously into the box before his heavy touch gave St Mirren the chance to mop up. Instead, they made a mess of it as Paul McGinn and goalkeeper Hladky left the ball to each other, McGregor nipped in and hit the post before tapping in the rebound.
If the first goal was a calamity from St Mirren, the second was a counter-attack of sheer quality from Celtic, who wore black armbands in memory of former captain Duncan MacKay, who has died at age 82.
Edouard beat the offside trap as he raced from inside his own half on to Forrest's pass, before playing in the Scotland winner on the edge of the box. There was still work to do as Forrest rounded Hladky and finished smartly for his first goal in eight matches and 14th of the season.
Saints stat
Forrest almost sniffed out a third early in the second half, with Hladky superbly denying him and Jeremie Frimpong in quick succession.
The Czech goalkeeper showed why he has attracted interest from the likes of Houston Dynamo with a showreel performance that also saw Boli Bolingoli and Ntcham foiled.
Edouard had a goal ruled out in a tight offside call as St Mirren continued to ride their luck. But the hosts kept striving for a goal and their improved second-half performance saw Ryan Flynn sidefoot a glorious chance wide from six yards before Jon Obika pounced on slackness from Christopher Jullien to bring a save from Fraser Forster.
They finally got their reward with MacPherson's free-kick in the final minute and although Goodwin's men slip a place in the table, defeat for the bottom two means no real damage is done.
Celtic, meanwhile, go into the second Old Firm derby of the Premiership season in high spirits and guaranteed to end 2019 in top spot.
Man of the Match – Odsonne Edouard
BBC Scotland's Jonathan Sutherland at the Simple Digital Arena
Celtic's main man up front didn't get on the scoresheet but was at the heart of all things dangerous for the champions.
The French Under-21 striker cuts a languid figure at times but it is deceptive as he has that extra gear and touch of quality that can make all the difference in the final third.
Rarely at full throttle, he did what was required to help give Celtic the advantage here as he limbered up for the huge showdown with Rangers.
'Frustrating to lose cheap goals' – reaction
Elyounoussi & Elhamed out for Old Firm game – Lennon
St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin: "The manner of the goals we lost is more frustrating than anything else. We had good possession on both occasions and gave it away really cheaply. Celtic really hurt us.
"We asked for a reaction and we got it. For large spells in the second half I thought we were the better team, but the goal came too late for us."
Celtic manager Neil Lennon: "It should have been more comprehensive. Our play at times on the counter-attack was spectacular.
"We had chances to put the game beyond St Mirren and their goalkeeper made some fantastic saves. The overriding emotion is satisfaction with the way we're playing and the wins keep coming."