2020-08-02: Celtic 5-1 Hamilton Academical, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 20212022


Trivia

  • First league game of the season 2020/21.
  • KO: 4.30pm on Sunday
  • Celtic going for ten in a row. Celtic still to complete treble from last season, Scottish Cup final in December for last season. Celtic hoping to complete fourth treble in a row and go for fifth treble in a row this season!
  • Flag raise by no major ceremony as such due to Covid-19, flag raised on top of stadium no person to raise it as such. The 2019/20 Champions flag was hoisted in an empty Celtic Park whilst Scott Brown carried the trophy onto the park, the flag was already raised above the North Stand and a video emerged of one of Celtic’s club staff raising the league flag.
  • Five subs allowed in games for this season.
  • Knee taken in respect of BLM movement.
  • First league game since COVID-19 lockdown
  • No Supporters at the ground due to lockdown
  • Celtic top of league; Sevco (1-0 away to Aberdeen). Dundee Utd back & Hearts relegated for new season.
  • Hat-trick for Edouard; Klimala scores great goal off the bench, Frimpong also scores.
  • First new season for Sky TV who have full rights to all the games (was shared with BT in recent seasons).
  • Season-tickets sold out. Acc to the club, figures hit record numbers for sales.
  • Celtic to go through qualifiers for Champions League soon.
  • BBC Sportscene returns with highlights and gets new Saturday early evening slot.
  • World in grip of Coronavirus pandemic – Easedown in practice but still tough environment.
  • Scottish Government announce supporters set to be allowed back into football stadia from September 14.
  • Ex-Celt Liam Burt appears set to move to the English Championship with Yorkshire side Barnsley being reported as favourites. Burt signed from Rangers last year after making 3 first team appearances but has failed to make his first team debut for Celtic.
  • dsonne Edouard took to Twitter to hit back at former Celtic favourite Frank McAvennie after he accused the young French star of looking “disinterested” in pre-season. Daft nonsense from McAvennie.
  • Lennon states club must do all to ensure to keep Edoaurd.
  • Ex-Celt Tierney helps steer Arsenal to FA Cup title the day before this game. Congrats to him.
  • Nobel Laureate and former SDLP Leader John Hume passed away last night. We all live in the Ireland he imagined – at peace and free to decide our own destiny.
  • Transfers:
  • Window extended to October
  • Vasilis Barkas has signed for Celtic, but didn’t start today
  • Celtic youngster Ross Doohan signed on loan for Ross County and will compete with Ross Laidlaw & Ross Munro for the goalkeeping role, see: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EeaDjNiWoAEjwV2?format=jpg&name=small

Summary

Neil Lennon: “Odsonne Edouard ‘one of best strikers I’ve ever worked with says Celtic’s Neil Lennon”

Fatboab of KDS:

Very impressive performance  going forward. Frimpong was superb first half, Forrest took over in the second. Taylor had two excellent assists. Eddy clearly out of form in Pre Season ( copyright hunners on here) turns up when the real stuff stars and is unplayable. Christie and Moi drifted in and out effectively. Domestically we will destroy teams , but hoping the new keeper sorts out the hesitancy at the back. Can’t go giving the Hun half a dozen corners and not getting hurt.

All in all a very pleasing opener.

@AgentScotland on Twitter

Very good win for Celtic with a few good performances, McGregor the orchastrator, Taylor was very good as was Christie, Edouard was as deadly as ever and still has gears to go, Forrest with an obligatory assist, defence could do a lot better dealing with crosses into the box.

@ArseneP on Twitter

For all the good stuff we’ve seen going forward, it’s obvious the defence isn’t as ready. Partly down to Hamilton’s approach, but too many easy chances given up and a lot of scrappy challenges falling the wrong way. Understandable after the lay off, plenty to be encouraged about.

@LouiseCeltic on Twitter

Great performance from Celtic in our opening game. – Edouard was fantastic – Frimpong so happy and confident on the ball – Klimala great goal growing in confidence – Andy Walker’s a fanny


Teams

Celtic

29Bain

30Frimpong Substituted forElhamedat 86’minutes

2Jullien

35Ajer

3TaylorBooked at 85mins

8Brown

42McGregor

49Forrest

17Christie Substituted forDembeleat 86’minutes

27Elyounoussi Substituted forNtchamat 70’minutes

22Edouard Substituted for Klimalaat 86’minutes

Substitutes

1Barkas

6Bitton

11Klimala

12Soro

18Rogic

21Ntcham

23Bolingoli-Mbombo

44Elhamed

77Dembele

Goals

Edouard (20′ minutes, 49′ minutes, 53′ minutes),

Frimpong (31′ minutes),

Klimala (90′ minutes)

Hamilton

23Fulton

2Odoffin Substituted forMcKennaat 71’minutes

6Hamilton

12Want

3McMann

11Smith

34Callachan Booked at 36mins Substituted for Trafford at 71’minutes

8MartinBooked at 17mins

15Hughes Substituted for Ogkmpoe at 42’minutes Booked at 55mins

20Moyo

19Winter

Substitutes

4McKenna

9Ogkmpoe

14Trafford

16Fjørtoft

18Mimnaugh

21Munro

22Gourlay

32Smith

36Owolabi

Referee:

William Collum

Goals

Martin (34′ minutes)

Ref: Willie Collum

Att: None


Articles

  • Match Report (see below)

Pictures


Match Links


Stats

CelticAway TeamHamilton

Possession

Home81%

Away19%

Shots

Home25

Away7

Shots on Target

Home15

Away2

Corners

Home11

Away8

Fouls

Home9

Away8


Articles

Celtic 5 – 1 Hamilton: Ruthless champions start as they mean to continue

Edouard underlines his worth with clinical hat-trick to overcome enterprising Accies

By Stephen Halliday

Sunday, 2nd August 2020, 8:13 pm

4

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-5-1-hamilton-ruthless-champions-start-they-mean-continue-2930958

In a league campaign when their objective is clear and obvious, a statement of intent is perhaps superfluous from Celtic’s perspective.

But the Scottish champions delivered one nonetheless as they opened their quest for the fabled ten-in-a-row with a vibrant performance and comprehensive victory over Hamilton Accies.

Celtic: Get the latest team news, match previews and reports

A predatory hat-trick by Scotland’s reigning Player of the Year Odsonne Edouard, back in the groove on day one, was garnished by goals from eye-catching teenager Jeremie Frimpong and substitute Patryk Klimala as Celtic wasted no time in assuming their accustomed position at the top of the Premiership.

The final scoreline would feel a little harsh from Hamilton’s viewpoint, given the nature of their own display which was both enterprising and robustly competitive.

But Celtic’s superior quality, as it has so relentlessly in domestic competition in recent years, held sway yet again.

The atmosphere was unavoidably surreal and subdued, despite Celtic’s best efforts to bring a sense of occasion to their ninth consecutive title flag-unfurling seasonal home
opener.

But if the pre-match fireworks appeared out of place, there was much to admire about the pace and intensity of the football which
followed.

Credit was due to both sides for that, even if Celtic were unsurprisingly dominant in terms of possession and ultimately more than convincing winners. Accies, who used a 4-4-2 formation, were prepared to adopt an adventurous approach whenever possible and contributed significantly to an absorbing contest.

After surviving a couple of early scares, when their defending at corners left much to be desired as Christopher Jullien and Kristoffer Ajer both came close for Celtic, the visitors steadied themselves and began to ask questions at the other end.

After Jullien conceded possession cheaply, Andy Winter’s fine curling shot from the edge of the penalty area forced Scott Bain into a good save high to his left. It was a confidence-boosting early touch for the Celtic goalkeeper, retaining his place with new £4.5 million signing Vasilis Barkas having to settle for a place on the bench.

Accies came close again when Hakeem Odoffin stretched the Celtic defence with a surging run down the right, his cross finding David Moyo whose flashing header went wide of Bain’s right-hand post.

Celtic responded by stepping up the tempo with Accies goalkeeper Ryan Fulton doing well to keep out a shot by James Forrest low to his right, before looking on in relief as Jullien’s shot from a Ryan Christie corner thumped off his left-hand post.

As Brian Rice’s men tried to get themselves back on the front foot, they were caught out by a magnificent counter-attacking move by Celtic as the hosts took a 20th-minute lead. The rapid break, involving Frimpong and Mohamed Elyounoussi, culminated with a low cross from the left by Greg Taylor which was touched home from close range by Edouard.

Accies were undaunted and threatened again two minutes later, forcing a corner from which Shaun Want headed just over the bar.

Celtic seemed to take an iron grip of the contest when they doubled their lead in the 31st minute. Again, Taylor was the provider with a low cross from the left which caught the visitors’ defence flat-footed once more. This time it was Frimpong who took advantage, unmarked at the back post to stab the ball home.

It was a goal which might easily have knocked the stuffing out of Hamilton but they dragged themselves back into contention when they pulled a goal back three minutes later.

There was an element of good fortune to Scott Martin’s strike, which deflected off both Jullien and Callum McGregor before wrong-footing Bain and nestling in the corner of the net, but Accies could claim to have earned their luck. But that was where it ran out as Celtic moved through the gears at the start of the second half to eliminate any hint of a comeback by the underdogs.

Four minutes after the break, Forrest thrust his way down the right and his cutback was guided beyond Fulton’s right hand by a sweet right-foot finish by Edouard.

Accies barely had time to react before they found themselves 4-1 down as Edouard completed his second hat-trick in a Celtic shirt, this time poking a left-foot shot beyond Fulton who had parried an effort by Ryan Christie.

The French striker’s value to Celtic is obvious and it is no surprise manager Neil Lennon is bracing himself for interest in his club’s prize asset before the extended transfer window closes in October.

Edouard was replaced by Klimala in the closing stages and the Polish striker sealed a satisfying afternoon for Celtic when he scored his first competitive goal for the club, latching on to Jullien’s through ball and sliding a precise right-foot finish beyond Fulton in the 90th minute.

Klimala, recruited for £3.5 million in January, may yet prove an able back-up for Edouard. But the evidence of Sunday afternoon at Celtic Park is that their top scorer looks
irreplaceable.

BBC

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53541535

By Thomas Duncan

BBC Scotland

1 hour ago From the section Scottish Premiership

Highlights: Celtic 5-1 Hamilton

Celtic keeping striker Odsonne Edouard is “pivotal” if they are to realise their ambitions this season, says manager Neil Lennon.

Edouard scored a hat-trick as Celtic began their quest for a 10th title in a row with a 5-1 home win over Hamilton.

He tapped in from two crosses, and then pounced on a rebound for his third – as the champions responded to Rangers’ 1-0 win at Aberdeen on Saturday in style.

“We don’t want him to go anywhere,” Lennon said of Frenchman Edouard.

“That’s what’s pleased me over the last 12 to 18 months – his goal return as well as all the other things he brings to the game.

“He’s scoring a lot of goals now and it’s fantastic to see. He would be the first to say it was a real team effort.”

Edouard converted Greg Taylor’s cross before the Scotland left-back laid on a tap-in for right-back Jeremie Frimpong.

Scott Martin’s deflected strike gave Hamilton hope, but Edouard added two more from close range after the break, getting on the end of James Forrest’s cross and then side-footing in after Ryan Christie’s shot was saved.

‘Celtic caught in twin Edouard emotions after striker showcases class again’

How did the players rate?

Reaction & as it happened

But on the day they unfurled the Premiership flag to celebrate their ninth title in a row – complete with fireworks in the empty stands – Neil Lennon’s side looked vulnerable early on.

Andy Winter tested Scott Bain from distance and David Moyo glanced a header just wide as Hamilton impressed.

Martin’s shot – deflected in off Christopher Jullien – was no less than they deserved as they went in 2-1 down at half-time.

But thereafter, Celtic looked imperious, with substitute Patryk Klimala adding to Edouard’s goals as he got on the end of a defence-splitting pass from Jullien to slide his first goal for the club past Ryan Fulton.

Man of the match – Odsonne Edouard

Odsonne Edouard

None of Edouard’s goals were difficult or spectacular finishes, but the Frenchman’s movement and vision put him in the right place regularly. Celtic will be desperate to keep him for this season, even if he may not be in Scotland for much longer than that

What did we learn?

Celtic looked incredibly slick in attack, with Edouard’s intelligent runs allowing him to capitalise on the pace, skill and invention of adventurous full-backs Frimpong and Taylor, plus Forrest, Ryan Christie and Mohamed Elyounoussi.

It is a frightening attacking unit that will put many teams to the sword this season, and rendered Hamilton’s positive start ultimately meaningless.

The only concern for Lennon will be the number of chances the visitors managed to create, especially in the first half.

But ultimately if they hit their stride in attack, teams will need to score a hatful against them to have any chance.

Klimala’s cameo and first competitive goal will also give the Celtic boss confidence in the depth of his forward options for the campaign ahead.

Hamilton, despite the scoreline, can take a huge amount from their performance.

Their line-up contained six academy graduates, and 18-year-old Winter up front performed admirably, while Hakeen Odoffin impressed at full-back following his arrival from Livingston.

Their season will not be defined by results away from home against the Old Firm.

What did they say?

‘Pivotal’ Celtic hold on to Edouard – Lennon

Celtic manager Neil Lennon: “I’m pleased with the second half; the first half was a bit passive. We got a great response second half.

“Considering it’s the first game in four or five months it’s a brilliant return. I think that stands them in good stead as we go on.”

Hamilton head coach Brian Rice: “I am disappointed to lose five goals, but Hamilton will not be judged in games against Celtic.

“We created a lot of chances and we scored as well, but you have to be clinical and you’ve got to keep the back door shut.”

Match ends, Celtic 5, Hamilton Academical 1.

90’+2′

Full Time

Second Half ends, Celtic 5, Hamilton Academical 1.

90′

Goal!

Goal! Celtic 5, Hamilton Academical 1. Patryk Klimala (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Christopher Jullien.

89′

Post update

Olivier Ntcham (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

89′

Post update

Foul by Charlie Trafford (Hamilton Academical).

88′

Post update

Attempt saved. Patryk Klimala (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Hatem Elhamed with a cross.

86′

Post update

Offside, Hamilton Academical. Jamie Hamilton tries a through ball, but David Moyo is caught offside.

86′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Hatem Elhamed replaces Jeremie Frimpong.

86′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Karamoko Dembele replaces Ryan Christie.

86′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Patryk Klimala replaces Odsonne Edouard.

85′

Booking

Greg Taylor (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

85′

Post update

Foul by Greg Taylor (Celtic).

85′

Post update

Lewis Smith (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

84′

Post update

Jeremie Frimpong (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

84′

Post update

Foul by Shaun Want (Hamilton Academical).

81′

Post update

Attempt saved. Christopher Jullien (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

81′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie Hamilton.

81′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Olivier Ntcham.

80′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie Hamilton.

77′

Post update

Attempt missed. David Moyo (Hamilton Academical) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Charlie Trafford.

76′

Post update

Corner, Hamilton Academical. Conceded by Olivier Ntcham.

76′

Post update

Corner, Hamilton Academical. Conceded by Christopher Jullien.

75′

Post update

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).

75′

Post update

Marios Ogkmpoe (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

74′

Post update

Offside, Hamilton Academical. Ryan Fulton tries a through ball, but Marios Ogkmpoe is caught offside.

73′

Post update

Attempt missed. Marios Ogkmpoe (Hamilton Academical) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Scott McMann with a cross following a corner.

73′

Post update

Corner, Hamilton Academical. Conceded by Christopher Jullien.

73′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Marios Ogkmpoe (Hamilton Academical) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Scott McMann.

71′

Substitution

Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Ciaran McKenna replaces Hakeem Odoffin.

71′

Substitution

Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Charlie Trafford replaces Ross Callachan.

70′

Substitution

Substitution, Celtic. Olivier Ntcham replaces Mohamed Elyounoussi.

70′

Post update

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).

70′

Post update

David Moyo (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

69′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ryan Fulton.

69′

Post update

Attempt saved. Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Kristoffer Ajer.

67′

Post update

Corner, Hamilton Academical. Conceded by Kristoffer Ajer.

64′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Callum McGregor (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is blocked.

64′

Post update

Attempt saved. Jeremie Frimpong (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by James Forrest.

59′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ryan Fulton.

59′

Post update

Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ryan Christie.

58′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Shaun Want.

58′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

58′

Post update

Attempt blocked. James Forrest (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Christie.

55′

Booking

Marios Ogkmpoe (Hamilton Academical) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

55′

Post update

Callum McGregor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

55′

Post update

Foul by Marios Ogkmpoe (Hamilton Academical).

53′

Goal!

Goal! Celtic 4, Hamilton Academical 1. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner.

53′

Post update

Attempt saved. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mohamed Elyounoussi.

50′

Post update

Foul by Odsonne Edouard (Celtic).

50′

Post update

Jamie Hamilton (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

49′

Goal!

Goal! Celtic 3, Hamilton Academical 1. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by James Forrest with a cross.

48′

Post update

Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).

48′

Post update

Hakeem Odoffin (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Second Half

Second Half begins Celtic 2, Hamilton Academical 1.

45’+1′

Half Time

First Half ends, Celtic 2, Hamilton Academical 1.

45’+1′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Christopher Jullien (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.

45’+1′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Christopher Jullien (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Christie with a cross.

45’+1′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Hakeem Odoffin.

45′

Post update

Greg Taylor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

45′

Post update

Foul by Lewis Smith (Hamilton Academical).

45′

Post update

Attempt saved. Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

42′

Substitution

Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Marios Ogkmpoe replaces Ronan Hughes because of an injury.

40′

Post update

Foul by Jeremie Frimpong (Celtic).

40′

Post update

Scott Martin (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

37′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by David Moyo.

37′

Post update

Attempt blocked. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

36′

Booking

Ross Callachan (Hamilton Academical) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

36′

Post update

Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

36′

Post update

Foul by Ross Callachan (Hamilton Academical).

35′

Post update

Attempt missed. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Callum McGregor.

34′

Goal!

Goal! Celtic 2, Hamilton Academical 1. Scott Martin (Hamilton Academical) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner following a set piece situation.

33′

Post update

Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).

33′

Post update

David Moyo (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick on the left wing.

32′

Post update

Corner, Hamilton Academical. Conceded by Christopher Jullien.

31′

Goal!

Goal! Celtic 2, Hamilton Academical 0. Jeremie Frimpong (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Greg Taylor with a cross.

29′

Post update

Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

29′

Post update

Foul by Ross Callachan (Hamilton Academical).

23′

Post update

Attempt missed. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Jeremie Frimpong with a cross.

22′

Post update

Attempt missed. Shaun Want (Hamilton Academical) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Scott McMann with a cross following a corner.

21′

Post update

Corner, Hamilton Academical. Conceded by Scott Brown.

20′

Goal!

Goal! Celtic 1, Hamilton Academical 0. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Greg Taylor with a cross.

19′

Post update

Christopher Jullien (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

19′

Post update

Foul by David Moyo (Hamilton Academical).

17′

Booking

Scott Martin (Hamilton Academical) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

17′

Post update

Jeremie Frimpong (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

17′

Post update

Foul by Scott Martin (Hamilton Academical).

16′

Post update

Corner, Hamilton Academical. Conceded by Christopher Jullien.

15′

Post update

Foul by Greg Taylor (Celtic).

15′

Post update

David Moyo (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

14′

Post update

Christopher Jullien (Celtic) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by Ryan Christie with a cross following a corner.

13′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ryan Fulton.

13′

Post update

Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mohamed Elyounoussi.

11′

Post update

Attempt missed. David Moyo (Hamilton Academical) header from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Hakeem Odoffin with a cross.

10′

Post update

Foul by Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic).

10′

Post update

Ross Callachan (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

9′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Scott McMann.

8′

Post update

Corner, Hamilton Academical. Conceded by Scott Bain.

7′

Post update

Attempt saved. Andy Winter (Hamilton Academical) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Scott Martin.

4′

Post update

Attempt missed. Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Ryan Christie with a cross following a corner.

3′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Hakeem Odoffin.

2′

Post update

Attempt saved. Christopher Jullien (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ryan Christie with a cross.

2′

Post update

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie Hamilton.

Kick Off

First Half begins.

Posted at 17:30 2 Aug17:30 2 Aug

Post update

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.