Match Pictures | Matches: 2022 – 2023
Trivia
- KO: 12:30 Saturday; Sky Sports TV
- VAR: First domestic match for Celtic with VAR implemented. Absolute shambles, controversies and dodgy decisions on this day! See below
- VAR Referee was Stephen McLean whose brother played sevco & comes from a sevco family. Couldn’t make it up.
- Celtic have only been awarded one penalty in the Scottish Premiership since the beginning of April, their fourth goal in a 7-0 win over St Johnstone. In that time they’ve played 18 league games and scored 62 goals
- Celtic go 4pts in front & +13GD advantage in a crazy day that at one point saw Celtic seem to have lost/wiped out their at one point 5pt advantage going behind at Hearts! Sevco unexpectedly drew 1-1 against ten men Livingston at Ibrox, and were close to losing.
- Jota & Turnbull still out injured as is McGregor for long haul.
- Both sides in European group matches next week but both are way out for top two spots (albeit Celtic have a small chance still to drop into the Europa League in third).
- Hearts’ Shankland scores a hattrick but still on losing side! It was the first time a Hearts player had scored three times against Celtic since Willie Gibson in another 4-3 defeat in November 1976. It was the first time anyone had done so in domestic football since Frank McDougall’s four-goal salvo for Aberdeen in a 4-1 win in 1985.
- Pre-match Celtic wearing the new House of Tiro x Pride collection today
- To help with soaring energy costs this winter, SPFL allowing clubs to change kick-off times provided both clubs agree and there is no impact on live TV games. Matches starting earlier in the afternoon would avoid the use of floodlights and therefore save on energy bills.
- Reports: Moritz Jenz keen on making his season-long loan move from Lorient to Celtic permanent next summer.
- Uefa: Another fine for Celtic following 3-1 Champions League Group F loss to RB Leipzig in Germany earlier this month. Flares & pyrotechnics etc
- Easter Road sold out for match v St Johnstone after Hibs offered entry for £10/£5. 220 tickets donated by supporters for disadvantaged fans, too. Debut game for VAR in Scotland.
- Politics: PM Truss resigned after just 44 days! Liz Truss at PM questions “I’m a fighter, not a quitter”, 24 hours later: “I quit!”. FT.com: “Liz Truss has been forced to quit as UK prime minister, drawing to a dramatic close 44 days in office which saw her preside over an economic meltdown and catastrophic damage to the ruling Conservative party”. Conservative Party falls to their lowest level of support in British polling history:Labour 53%,Conservatives 14%
- Netherlands: Artificial turf to be banned in the Eredivisie (top tier league) by 2025! All clubs must play on natural grass. Calls by some for same in Scotland.
- SFA banned Kilmarnock & ex Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty for 10 matches after the striker was found guilty of using sectarian language.
- Aston Villa sack ex Sevco manager Stevie Gerrard as manager after poor form in league, less than 11 months in role. Even Brendan Rodgers is out living him (despite his Leicester being below Aston Villa and second bottom of the table).
- Cricket: T20 world cup, Ireland defeat two times world champions West Indies. Ireland progress but Scotland & West Indies out after loss in last game.
Summary
“I’m the least excited about VAR!”
Ange Postecoglou pre match
“I keep hearing opposition managers saying we get everything. The only penalties we’ve taken so far are at training.”
“A whole circus around VAR. Look mate I’d much prefer VAR wasn’t involved. A lot of standing about. I just wish they’d make decisions earlier”.
Ange Postecoglou post match
“Celtic had to beat two teams here today, they had to beat Hearts and they had to beat the VAR team…Some bizarre VAR decisions today.’
Ex-Celt John Hartson
“I think a lot of Celtic fans would have an issue with the incident just before half-time. It was James Forrest and Michael Smith. Steven McLean was the (VAR) referee. It looked like a penalty, and most people would say Michael Smith moved his hand toward the ball. Why did it take so long for the award of the Hearts penalty, when most people would say in real-time that it should have been a penalty? Then it took such a short space of time to rule out the Celtic one when that looked an absolute stonewaller?”
Chris Sutton
(JBCity of TheCelticWiki)
The craziest day of watching Celtic for a long while! VAR was quite a catastrophe and was brought on to be used on a few occasions, but most controversially NOT at the end of the first half when there was a clear definite handball in the box!
Celtic had TWO goals chopped off after VAR.
It took 5 mins to give hearts their penalty in the first half but one second not to give Celtic theirs! In the second half, Hearts second penalty was scored but went to VAR as their scorer was offside (scored from a rebound that penalty kick taker kicked on and another player scored) BUT penalty was awarded to be retaken as Celtic players said to ahve encroached into the box as did the Hearts player!
Referee just refused to make a decision when needed and waited on VAR sorting it. The ref and his 3 assistants only have a split second to see Celtic’s penalty claim, and it’s not like someone had time to watch it on a replay and make an un-biased decision! Shambles and very concerning. The Hearts player decided to knock the ball down with his arm and THEN he pulls it away and spins in behind his back in the WORST attempt to cover-up his cheating and the ref and the VAR team see NO PENALTY . .
Possibly the most pivotal match & weekend of the league season!
Greg Taylor the unlikely winning scorer in a mad mad day of football! “It was good feeling to score, a good three points most importantly.”
Incidents: 2 incidents called incorrect – negatively affect Celtic (chopped off goal, no penalty awarded) 1 incident correct – positively affect our opponents
@agentscotland: What a game, match of the season without a doubt so far. Some great goals, poor defending, controversial decisions, utterly captivating
0-1 Celtic, Forrest
1-1 Hearts, Shankland
2-1 Hearts, Shankland
2-2 Celtic, Giakoumakis
2-3 Celtic, Maeda
3-3 Hearts, Shankland
3-4 Celtic, Taylor
FT: Hearts 3-4 Celtic
Incidents:
- 1 stonewall penalty denied (definite unarguable handball),
- 1 goal chopped off for a foul that never was (Ralston goal),
- 1 goal chopped off for an offside that only VAR could have ruled offside at the margins (Abada); by eye would not likely have been called offside.
- Game delayed as often as possible (around 10 minutes),
- It took the referees around 5 mins to rule for a Hearts penalty but the Celtic non-penalty was over-ruled in seconds without much of a review (some have even bizarrely analysed the Celtic non-penalty incident and claimed it shouldn’t have been given!),
- Another Hearts penalty was scored but retaken after VAR review as player from rebound was offside but apparently some encroachment into the box,
- Around 5-6 VAR stoppages, most against Celtic.
- Utter Incompetence or Clear & Outrageous Bias
- We have Amateurs/Supporter’s refereeing the professional game
ANYONE BUT CELTIC
(El salto of KDS forum)
Great win in the end, but it really was harder than it should have been, even taking VAR out of the equation. Ange got the team wrong, the two full backs were not at their best and Jenz looked nervous all game. On Bernabei’s side, Maeda wasn’t playing well either, although fair play to him, he improved second half and got a valuable goal.
For me, Hatate was head and shoulders above anyone as our best performer, CCV was solid again, but Mooy blew hot and cold and Matty seemed lost at times. GG it seems is simply not allowed to compete for a ball, every time he does, he’s penalised, yet gets nothing when he is clearly manhandled or fouled. We were much better when changes were made, Taylor and Abada played a big part in the win.
I was watching on the worst stream imaginable, that kept cutting out at vital times, it was torture, and it seemed every time it rebooted we were on the wrong end of a VAR decision. Ralston’s goal would have stood in any other League, and as for the penalty for hand ball, ffs if the ref can’t see that in normal time, never mind after a supposed VAR check, he should chuck it. Blatant cheating, no other explanation.
I think there were 5 or 6 VAR stoppages, we were on the wrong end of 5 of them. The only one that favoured us was the encroachment at the penalty, but they scored the retake anyway. We were on the wrong end of two penalties, probably right decisions, two disallowed goals, one which should have stood, the other they haven’t proved was off, and a penalty that even the offending player knew was a stonewaller.
As for Hearts, today is proof in point that they have two levels of performance, one for us, the other for their Glasgow cousins, there are far too many ex huns in their ranks, its blatantly obvious.
On to Tuesday, need to play our strongest eleven, and tighten up the defence somewhat.
My feelings right now are a mix of happiness at the result, but anger at what will be the state of things to come for Celtic with the onset of VAR in Scotland.
(Italiabhoy of KDS forum)
Great game and a tremendous win.
Overall, it was a disjointed performance by us. We looked great in flashes, but seemed to sit back after we scored the first, instead of going for the jugular. If Ralston’s “goal” had stood I suspect we’d have had a much more comfortable afternoon.
Apart from CCV, our starting back four were poor. Bernabei in particular had a nightmare – far too slow and hesitant. In the middle, Mooy was also quite slow and that was a dreadful miss which thankfully didn’t cost us. O’Riley was ok, Hatate was our best player I thought.
Up front GG is a diamond, but although it was lovely to see Maeda score, as well as Forrest, neither had good games and Abada and Haksa look to be better options on the wings.
VAR: I’m afraid a lot of fears were confirmed today and although Ange was jokey at the end I reckon he was flamin’ furious, mate. Two big calls went against us: firstly, the inexplicable decision to disallow Ralston’s header, compounded by Walsh blowing for a free kick before the ball hit the net. Secondly, the decision not to award a penalty for a clear hand ball by Smith. The speed with which this was decided sugggests VAR did not properly examine it. I think the club will be looking for an explanation on what was going on here.
No complaints with either of their penalties.
Finally, in England SkySports show VAR “lines” immediately when there is a potential offside. This way the viewer can see if the call is correct or not. We didn’t get that on the final Abada call, so only Steven McLean and the linesman knows if that was a correct call. That defeats the purpose of VAR on the only aspect of the game you can say it should definitely improve – whether a player is onside or offside.
Twitter:
@harrybradycu: Biggest lesson from today is that s***e refs are still s***e no matter how much technology they get.
@aburningpride: It’s not VAR that’s the problem. VAR done it’s job. Showed the pictures clearly. Steven McLean looked at them, ignored them, and gave the decisions against Celtic anyway. Honest mistakes theory has been blown out the water today. It’s blatant cheating.
Teams
Celtic:
Formation 4-3-3
- 1 Hart
- 56 Ralston
- 20 Carter-Vickers
- 6 Jenz Booked at 41mins
- 25 Bernabei Substituted for Taylor at 66′minutes
- 13 Mooy
- 33 O’Riley
- 41 Hatate Substituted for Abildgaard at 90+2′minutes
- 49 Forrest Substituted for Abada at 66′minutes
- 7 Giakoumakis
- 38 Maeda Substituted for Haksabanovic at 66′minutes
Substitutes
- 3 Taylor
- 8 Furuhashi
- 9 Haksabanovic
- 11 Abada
- 16 McCarthy
- 28 Abildgaard
- 30 Ideguchi
- 31 Siegrist
- 88 Juranovic
Goals:
- Forrest (14′ minutes),
- Giakoumakis (55′ minutes),
- Maeda (59′ minutes),
- Taylor (76′ minutes)
Assists:
- Mooy (55′ minutes)
Hearts
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1 Gordon
- 2 Smith Substituted for Halliday at 84′minutes
- 21 Sibbick Booked at 55mins
- 3 Kingsley
- 19 Cochrane
- 14 Devlin
- 30 Ginnelly Substituted for Forrest at 69′minutes
- 8 Kiomourtzoglou Substituted for Smith at 85′minutes Booked at 90mins
- 77 Snodgrass
- 18 McKay
- 29 Humphrys Substituted for Shankland at 39′minutes
Substitutes
- 7 Grant
- 9 Shankland
- 13 Stewart
- 16 Halliday
- 17 Forrest
- 20 Neilson
- 22 Henderson
- 27 Smith
- 28 Clark
Goals:
- Shankland (45’+3 minutes pen, 47′ minutes, 65′ minutes pen)
Assists:
- Ginnelly (47′ minutes)
VAR Referee: Steven McLean
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
Stats
Celtic
- Possession
- Home37%
- Away63%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away7
- Corners
- Home3
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away15
Articles
How VAR, Hearts and Celtic combined to create a chaotic yet compelling spectacle at Tynecastle
James Forrest ushered in what he hopes will be a second century of goals for his beloved Celtic before even this significant moment was rendered a mere detail as a new VAR era in Scottish football erupted in organised chaos.
By Alan Pattullo
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/how-var-hearts-and-celtic-combined-to-create-a-chaotic-yet-compelling-spectacle-at-tynecastle-3890252
This is what Scottish football has signed up for. After this, some might well say, bring it on. Others might contend that this admittedly captivating spectacle played right into the hands of those who dreaded the innovation being implemented in Scotland, especially after 150 years of getting by happily enough without it. When once it was the hope that killed you, now it’s the waiting.
There’s no denying it was dramatic though this was not solely VAR’s doing. A football match did manage to break out here as well – an utterly compelling one.
Lawrence Shankland came on after 39 minutes, scored a twenty-minute hat-trick and yet somehow still marched down the tunnel at the end with the match ball while wearing a frown.
After VAR intervention, referee Nick Walsh awards a penalty for a foul in the box by Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers on Hearts’ Cammy Devlin. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)
After VAR intervention, referee Nick Walsh awards a penalty for a foul in the box by Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers on Hearts’ Cammy Devlin. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)
Applause rang out from all four stands as the fans showed their appreciation for the players’ efforts. Are you not entertained? Well, yes. But the new system was not the primary reason. Old fashioned football, complete with defensive lapses and opportunistic finishing, was the winner here. And even with VAR, there were strange refereeing decisions to argue about. Referee Nick Walsh was not invited to head to the monitor when the ball clearly struck Hearts defender Michael Smith’s arm shortly before half time.
But VAR was not why the home team went ahead two minutes into the second half after Shankland’s near-post flick and nor was it why Hearts had managed to throw away this gleefully attained lead within a dozen minutes, as first Georgios Giakoumakis and then Daizen Maeda took advantage of poor home defending to put the visitors 3-2 in front.
Giakoumakis escaped the attentions of Robert Snodgrass to head home Aaron Mooy’s corner while Maeda slid in after following-up Mooy’s saved shot. We hadn’t even reached the hour mark.
It was hard to keep up at times, no more so than when Hearts were awarded a penalty after a VAR check and then, when Joe Hart saved Shankland’s effort before then being beaten by Josh Ginnelly from the rebound, were ordered to retake it after another check. Shankland accepted the opportunity to secure his hat-trick this time. The drama was not yet over. Far from it.
Substitute Greg Taylor was the unlikely source of the winning goal. Another substitute, Liel Abada, saw his shot strike off a Hearts defender and land invitingly at the feet of the left back, who swept home having been quicker to react than Smith. That, with 76 minutes played, was the end of the scoring but not the intrigue as Hearts desperately fought to secure at least something for all their efforts.
In the end, though, Celtic came closer to stretching their lead and scoring a decisive fifth. Abada miskicked in front of goal and then had a goal chopped off for offside. When Walsh finally blew the final whistle more than two hours after kick-off, with the VAR breaks having helped turn the game into the kind of flawed epic that Michael Cimono would have been proud to direct. It’s just as well it was an early kick-off. There was a lot to process.
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou had indicated his coolness towards the supposed refereeing aid on the eve of the game when he said he “couldn’t get excited” by its introduction. He was less ambivalent when it came to his feelings here.
He sarcastically clapped the officials, including those in the VAR HQ in a Glasgow suburb, when Celtic’s claim for a penalty was not treated to a second viewing after a Forrest flick had struck Smith’s arm.
His ire was increased due to the decision to review a penalty claim for Hearts and the length of time taken to do so after Walsh initially waved play on when Cameron Carter-Vickers’ upended Cammy Devlin in the opposite box. To be fair, it had seemed an obvious penalty even with the naked eye.
Shankland, meanwhile, had reason to hail VAR. It gifted him a hat-trick when Steven MacLean and David McGeachie, the VAR officials, proved pernickety in the extreme when noticing Ginnelly encroaching before tucking in the striker’s saved penalty.
Shankland was handed a second chance to convert, this time sending Hart the wrong way to join the exclusive club of those who have scored a league hat-trick against Celtic. He is the first Hearts player to do so since Willie Gibson in 1976. Somehow neither player finished on the winning side. Gibson’s Hearts also lost 4-3.
The reason Shankland was on the park was because of yet another injury for the home side, Stephen Humphrys limped off after sustaining a knock and having looked in the mood. His side were already trailing when he headed off – Forrest headed home after Anthony Ralston’s cross had squirted up off Orestis Kiomourtzoglou to present the winger with an easy chance to make it 101 goals for Celtic.
Shankland could do little more than come on and add three more to his own tally for Hearts. The first was with his first touch after Devlin had been upended in the box. The referee was advised to take another look on the monitor after being initially unmoved by the appeal. Shankland sent his penalty straight down the middle with his first touch since coming on.
Tynecastle was in ferment when he scored again just after the interval after getting to Ginnelly’s cross before Carter-Vickers. Then merry hell really did break loose.
At the end of it all the outcome was as many might have predicted as Celtic found a way to win and Hearts, perhaps just as unsurprisingly given their recent troubles, found a way to lose.
Hearts boss Robbie Neilson expresses concerns over VAR ‘discrepancies’ in 4-3 defeat to Celtic
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/hearts-boss-robbie-neilson-expresses-concerns-over-var-discrepancies-in-4-3-defeat-to-celtic-3890233
Robbie Neilson fears VAR may become more of a “hindrance than a help” after experiencing it for the first time during his side’s 4-3 defeat to Celtic at Tynecastle Park.
By Matthew Elder
0 Comment
The video assistant referee came to his side’s benefit late in the first-half when on-pitch official Nick Walsh failed to award a spot-kick after Cammy Devlin had been felled by Cameron Carter-Vickers in the box.
After several minutes delay, Walsh was summoned to the pitch-side monitor and subsquently changed his mind, but Neilson suggested the official may have been hedging his bets on a VAR review rather than giving a “stone-waller” in the first place.
There were also several hold-ups throughout a chaotic match as all seven goals were double-checked, as well as two disallowed Celtic goals, and a second Hearts penalty, which Walsh did award on the pitch at the first time of asking for a Moritz Jenz foul on Devlin.
“There is a lot of ironing out to do,” Neilson said. “Today we got the novelty of it and that kept everybody onside.
“But I think if we are going to have that in a month, three months to six months’ time it’s going to become more of a hindrance than a help.
“There were discrepancies between either half. The first penalty doesn’t get given and goes to VAR. The second one does get given.
“My worry is it takes the decision-making process, that strength to make the decision, away from the referees.
“The first one, everyone in the stadium can see it’s a penalty.
“The referees are getting used to it too. Was Nick waiting for VAR to confirm it to him? I don’t know.
“To me it’s a stone-waller. We shouldn’t have to wait five or six minutes to get that decision.
“Hopefully it gets ironed out. My understanding is he was ‘unsure’. I don’t know what that means…”
Hearts became the first Scottish side in almost a year to score three times against Celtic thanks to a hat-trick from substitute Lawrence Shankland. Neilson was pleased with his team’s level of performance, if not the defending that led to the loss of four goals to James Forrest, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Daizen Maeda and Greg Taylor.
“Disappointed,” he reflected. “We scored three goals at home and had more opportunities but ended up taking nothing from the game.
“We get a pat on the back but ultimately nothing from the game. The goals we lost were no great goals to lose.
“First one, a deflection flicks up and then there’s a free header at the corner.
“Third one is two rebounds we should be reacting to a lot quicker. We need to defend better.”
Ange Postecoglou questions Celtic’s lack of penalties as he hits out at VAR ‘theatre’ after win over Hearts
Ange Postecoglou hit out at the VAR “theatre” and pointed to Celtic’s lack of penalty awards this season after a controversial decision went against his side in the 4-3 win over Hearts at Tynecastle Park.
By Matthew Elder
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/ange-postecoglou-questions-celtics-lack-of-penalties-as-he-hits-out-at-var-theatre-after-win-over-hearts-3890192
The assistant video referee technology made its cinch Premiership debut this weekend and was used to award Hearts a penalty late in the first-half after Cameron Carter-Vickers caught Cammy Devlin in the box.
Referee Nick Walsh initially waved away the claims, but after several minutes delay, he overturned his decision and awarded a spot-kick after being summoned to the pitchside monitor, which Lawrence Shankland converted to level the score at 1-1.
Just moments later, a VAR check on a handball against Michael Smith in the Hearts box that Walsh also waved away was over in a flash as the on-pitch official was quickly advised that no second look was required.
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou can’t believe his side haven’t been given a penalty during the 4-3 win over Hearts. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou can’t believe his side haven’t been given a penalty during the 4-3 win over Hearts. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Postecoglou said: “As I said before the game it is here and it should be here and every other league has it but I don’t like the whole theatre around it and there is too much emphasis on it and it takes too long to make a decision.
“Obviously it is going to have teething problems and it is going to take a while for them to streamloine that process and I do not like the standing about. I just think we are here to watdh the football and not to wait for people to make decisions around things. “Look I thought we had a clear cut handball and penalty but apparently that’s not good enough – what do I know? We haven’t had a penalty all year and I keep hearing opposition managers saying we get everything. The only penalties we have taken so far this season have been in training.”
Postecoglou normally prides himself on his lack of reaction towards match officials and their decisions but the Australian was seen sarcastically applauding after Smith’s handball went unpunished.
“Like I said it is the whole theatre around it all,” he said. “People assume that everything is going to be clear cut and I look forward to fellow managers accepting the fact that VAR is not going to be clear cut. That is the problem with it people think it is going to clear everything up. It won’t. There are still human beings involved in the process. I get it. I am probably a lone voice in terms of how I like it used. I just want minimal interference with minimal time because it is no secret that out football is based around playing the having the ball and playing the game for as long as possible. Standing around and waiting for stuff is not great but it is what it is.”
Celtic player ratings: Only one defender with pass marks as two stand-outs score 8s in 4-3 win over Hearts
Celtic edged Hearts in a seven-goal thriller at Tynecastle Park to cement their position at the top of the Scottish Premiership. Here is how the Celtic players rated …
By Matthew Elder
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-player-ratings-only-one-defender-with-pass-marks-as-two-stand-outs-score-8s-in-4-3-win-over-hearts-3890160
Joe Hart – not at fault for any of the goals conceded. Made two good early saves from McKay and Snodgrass, he also got down well to deny one of the three penalties taken by Lawrence Shankland. 7
Anthony Ralston – Celtic’s best defender on the day snuffed out the threat of Barrie McKay. Also set up his side’s opener with terrific run and cut-back for James Forrest to head home and was a constant outlet down the right. 8
Alexandro Bernabei – Early mix up with Daizen Maeda at a throw-in set the tone as he lost his individual battle with Hearts winger Josh Ginnelly before being hooked for Greg Taylor on 65 minutes. 5
Celtic’s Greg Taylor celebrates at full time after scoring the winner in the 4-3 victory over Hearts at Tynecastle Park. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Celtic’s Greg Taylor celebrates at full time after scoring the winner in the 4-3 victory over Hearts at Tynecastle Park. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Cameron Carter-Vickers – normally so composed and commanding, the US international mistimed a lunge on Cammy Devlin that was picked up by VAR to hand Hearts their first penalty, and he also lost Shankland inside the six-yard box as Celtic fell behind at the start of the second half. 5
Mortiz Jenz – never looked fully comfortable. A few nervy passes out from the back early on which were cut out, then a mistimed challenge on Cammy Devlin in the box in the second half allowed Hearts a way back into the game. 5
Matt O’Riley – flawless in possession at the base of the Celtic midfield as he provided the link between defence and attack. Continues to deputise in the role for injured captain Callum McGregor with distinction. 7
Reo Hatate – a creative force for Celtic throughout with driving forward runs and incisive passing. Japan must be well endowed for attacking midfielders if they are considering leaving the 24-year-old out of their World Cup squad. 8
Aaron Mooy – guilty of a horrendous miss in the second half, firing wide when through on goal, but played well otherwise. Always available to receive a forward pass as he picked up good positions in the final third and was involved in many of Celtic’s best attacks. 7
James Forrest – helped create and finish off a terrific move for Celtic’s opener with a rare headed goal. Had a quiet game otherwise but Celtic have now won their last 39 Premiership maches when he’s scored. 6
Giorgos Giakoumakis – largely quiet but made his presence count from an Aaron Mooy corner to level score at 2-2. Now 19 goals in 20 starts for Greek striker. Simply does what he’s paid to do. 7
Daizen Maeda – didn’t do enough in the first half but upped his threat level considerably after the break. Clever flick set up Mooy chance, then put Celtic 3-2 ahead with lightning quick burst to get ahead of Hearts defender Michael Smith and nod home the rebound. 7
Greg Taylor (on 66) – not only did he help stabilise the Celtic defence he popped up the crucial winner after being rewarded for a determined run into the box. Showed why he is still ahead of Alexandro Bernabei as the club’s number one left-back. 7
Saed Haksabanovic (on 66) – the quieter of the three Celtic subs but played his part in seeing out the win. 6
Liel Abada (on 66) – always seems to have an impact in final third and did so again despite late introduction with an assist on the Celtic winner. Also had the ball in the net late on but was ruled out for offside. 6
Oliver Abildgaard (on 90+2) – n/a.
HEARTS 3 CELTIC 4: A FIRST FOR MATCHWINNER TAYLOR ON A DAY OF VAR CONTROVERSY
HEARTS 3 CELTIC 4: A FIRST FOR MATCHWINNER TAYLOR ON A DAY OF VAR CONTROVERSY
0
By CQN Magazine on 22nd October 2022 Match Report
HEARTS 3 CELTIC 4
GREG TAYLOR was the unlikely hero in this rollicking seven-goal thriller at Tynecastle where Celtic had to overcome VAR as well as Hearts to gain three points.
On a day of contentious decisions – none of them favouring the visitors – it was down to the left-back to nudge in the winner in the 76th minute.
The game had see-sawed one way and another, but the Hoops prevailed and won with goals from James Forrest, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Daizen Maeda and Taylor.
Well, you have to give the defender a round of applause for his timing. His winner was his first Premiership goal for the club since he joined from Kilmarnock in September 2019.
SLIDE IN TIME…Greg Taylor gets in front of Michael Smith to knock the ball wide of Craig Gordon for Celtic’s deserved winner at Tynecastle.
The first-half was laced with controversy with Celtic losing out TWICE to VAR in highly dubious penalty-kick decisions.
The Hoops were leading with a close-range header from James Forrest in the 14th minute, but didn’t build on their advantage with a rather puzzling performance in the capital.
However, despite some sloppy passing from the champions, they were still heading in at the interval with a one-goal lead until the dreaded VAR struck.
Cammy Devlin and Cameron Carter-Vickers went for a loose ball in the 18-yard box after the visitors had yet again failed to clear properly and positively.
Referee Nick Walsh, who had already made at least one decision that had bewildered the champions, waved play on, obviously satisfied the clash was accidental.
YIPPEE…Greg Taylor races away in triumph after his well-timed first league goal for the Hoops.
New technology came into play, however, and, after a delay of a minute or so, the match official was advised by colleague Steven McLean to check the touchline monitor.
No-one of a Celtic persuasion was one bit surprised when the whistler came back onto the pitch and pointed to the penalty spot.
The visitors had a case for a studs-up challenge from Devlin, but that meant little as the spot-kick was awarded in stoppage-time and substitute Lawrence Shankland gleefully accepted the gift and bashed the ball straight down the middle of the goal as Joe Hart took off for his right.
The Parkhead men were still simmering when they were denied a stonewaller only moments later when Michael Smith clearly stopped a Forrest cross with an outstetched left arm.
VAR did a quickfire check and, astoundingly, no anticipated penalty-kick was awarded.
Ange Postecoglou looked more than just a little bemused on the touchline. He threw his hands up in dismay and disbelief. The Celtic boss will have to get used to some of the same throughout the campaign.
DISBELIEF…Ange Postecoglou cannot contain himself as Celtic are denied a blatant penalty-kick.
THAT’S OUR BHOY…Aaron Mooy and Giorgos Giakoumakis race after matchwinner Greg Taylor.
In fact, the Hoops had a solid claim for a goal in the 21st minute when Aaron Mooy sent over a free-kick from the right that was met squarely by the head of Anthony Ralston who sent the ball thundering past former team-mate Craig Gordon.
Maeda had been in an offside position when the Australian international sent over the deadball effort, but he was clearly not interfering with play.
Welsh pointed for a phantom free-kick to the home side – presumably for a coming together with Giakoumakis and a defender – and VAR, after having a look, agreed with the referee.
If that warranted a foul, then it might be expected Celtic would be awarded a penalty-kick at every corner-kick with players being pushed and jostled and shirts being held.
We can always dream.
NUMBER ONE…James Forrest heads in from close range.
NUMBER TWO…Giorgos Giakoumakis makes it 2-2.
NUMBER THREE…Daizen Maeda puts Celtic back in front.
NUMBER FOUR…Greg Taylor prods the ball behind Craig Gordon for the winner.
One man who was in dreamland early on was Forrest who was on target for his 101st Hoops goal after last week’s hat-trick heroics against Hibs.
He actually started the move with a touch to Mooy who passed to Reo Hatate on the right. He knocked it in front of the rampaging Ralston and he fired in a superb low ball to the near post.
It created panic in the home rearguard and spun up off a defender and Gordon to Forrest who nodded in from just about under the bar.
Then came the VAR interruptions that we have to hope will not become the norm throughout the season.
The home side took the lead two minutes after the turnaround when Bernabei, struggling to deal with the pace of the contest, allowed Josh Ginnelly too much time to swing over a cross from the right.
Shankland was in front of Carter-Vickers at the near post to whip the ball past the static Hart. Offside? VAR had a look and decided the big toe of Bernabei must have played on the Hearts forward.
Five minutes later, Mooy blew the chance of an equaliser with only Gordon to beat after some good lead-up work from Hatate and Maeda.
Unbelievably, the Aussie fired wide from 10 yards. No wonder he looked distraught after a truly awful miss.
However, he helped to make amends in the 55th minute when he curled over a left-wing corner-kick and Giakoumakis arrived with perfect timing to send a header swirling low past Gordon at his left-hand post.
And four minutes later, the Hoops restored their advantage when Mooy sizzled in a low shot from the edge of the box that was pushed away by Gordon. Maeda pounced on the rebound to wallop a shot into the roof of the net.
Amazingly, Hearts were awarded a second penalty-kick in the 61st minute and, in truth, there could be no argument after Jenz, who had looked uncomfortable throughout the afternoon, knocked over Alex Cochrane with an awkward challenge.
VAR still checked the incident, but Shankland waited patiently with the ball on the spot as we all knew the inevitable outcome of the decsion from McLean and Co.
The striker aimed low to Hart’s right-hand post on this occasion, but the keeper got down swiftly to block the effort. It eventually spun to Ginnelly who knocked it over the line.
He looked clearly offside, but before there was the possibility of the goal being disallowed, VAR awarded a retake because of players encroaching in the box before the original kick.
Shankland breathed a sigh of relief at a second chance and this time he buried it in the corner as Hart went the wrong way.
HOOP HOOP HOORAY…delighted Celtic players engulf unlikely goal hero Greg Taylor.
In the 66h minute, Postecoglou made a flurry of substitutions with Sead Haksabanovic, Liel Abada and Greg Taylor coming on for Meada, Forrest and Bernabei.
Ten minutes later, the final goal in a topsy-turvy encounter was thankfully supplied by Taylor and it was a deserved points-clincher for Postecoglou’s men who refused to accept anything less than a victory.
Hatate, Mooy and Abada were all involved in the build-up before the winger’s deflected shot found the left-back lurking at the back post.
Displaying the killer instincts of a seasoned goalscorer, Taylor slid in to get his foot to the rebound and send it welcomingly into the back of the net.
Oliver Abildgaard came in for Hatate in the second minute of stoppage-time as Postecoglou shut up shop.
Right at the end, Haksabanovic sent Abada clear and the Israeli winger raced down on Gordon before slipping under him.
Goal? It was a tight decision and VAR was called in. No goal. No surprise.
Story of Celtic’s day when they overcame determined opponents – and new technology – to pick up three crucial points.
TEAM: Hart; Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Jenz, Bernabei (sub: Taylor 66); Mooy, O’Riley, Hatate (sub: Abildgaard 92); Forrest (sub: Abada 66), Giakoumakis, Maeda (sub: Haksabanovic 66).
Hearts 3 Celtic 4 – Champions overcome Hearts, Walsh and VAR frauds
By David Potter 22 October, 2022 1 Comment
Hearts 3 Celtic 4 – Champions overcome Hearts, Walsh and VAR frauds
22nd October 2022. Greg Taylor scores the wiining goal during the cinch Premiership match at Tynecastle. Photo Neil Hanna / Sportimage
It is a shame that such a game as this one – a credit to both teams, incidentally – has to be dominated by VAR. One really can only range oneself with Ange Postacoglou and John Hartson to complain about things, but then you can only shrug your shoulders and say that it is what it is.
Robbie Neilson, the Manager of Hearts made a very perceptive point when he said that the presence of VAR discourages the referee from making a decision, lest he is immediately made a fool of.
At the risk of sounding old fashioned, I really think we have to allow referees to make decisions. Apart from anything else, how long is a football match going to last now?
But let’s talk about the game. A splendid three points for Celtic at a difficult ground in front of a nasty crowd who weren’t even very good at giving the ball back when it went out of play (Albert Kidd still hurts, I’m afraid).
The anti-social stuff did not really extend to the Hearts players, I am glad to say, for it was a clean and sporting game, and really, if one hadn’t been quite so tense, very enjoyable.
It proved once again that Celtic have character and the ability to fight back even when they do not get the breaks. There is a cohesiveness about the team that is really very noticeable and also very attractive with some really good passing moves.
We took all four goals well – what a wonderful Billy McNeill type header from Giakoumakis! – and really should have scored more with Aaron Mooy in particular a sinner, but then again he knows that more than anyone!
The defence had its moment of weakness, and we will really have to make a point of NOT tackling anyone in the box in circumstances where a penalty might be awarded by the whim of VAR.
VAR was possibly right in both cases, but there was certainly an element of doubt in the first one. On the other hand, although I have seen some crazy handball decisions given, Celtic were surely disgracefully denied a clear stonewaller of a penalty at the end of the first half.
Daizen Maeda left celebrates with Celtic s Reo Hatate after Celtic’s third goal of the game during the cinch Premiership match at Tynecastle on Saturday October 22, 2022. Photo Jane Barlow
Jock Stein said so long ago that the only way to get the better of ‘crazy’ refereeing decisions was to be so far ahead that it doesn’t really matter.
His words all these years ago are even more true now in the days of VAR. Is there an appropriate word for the collection of all those who make the decisions? A junta? A cabal? Or even a lodge, perhaps?
Greg Taylor of Celtic scores Celtic’s winning goal during the cinch Premiership match at Tynecastle. Photo Neil Hanna / Sportimage
Anyway, we will just have to live with it. Let it not detract from the fact that it was a great game and a great performance by Celtic. Shakhtar Donetsk come to town on Tuesday and then we go to Livi on Sunday. Bring ’em on!
David Potter
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63267090
By Thomas DuncanBBC Scotland
Last updated on
20 minutes ago20 minutes ago.From the section Scottish Premiership
Hearts v Celtic
Greg Taylor forced in the winner in an epic contest
Leaders Celtic eventually triumphed over a depleted Hearts in a gripping Scottish Premiership match at a heaving Tynecastle where VAR took centre stage.
Two goals from Lawrence Shankland – one from the spot after Scottish football’s first on-field review – had Hearts ahead following James Forrest’s opener.
Giorgos Giakoumakis and Daizen Maeda turned the game back in Celtic’s favour and, although Shankland completed his hat-trick from the spot after a VAR-influenced retake, Greg Taylor slid in to grab the winner for the champions.
At full-time it was sheer relief for Celtic, who were pushed all the way throughout the 90 minutes, as Ange Postecoglou’s side end the day four points clear of Rangers, who were held at home by Livingston.
“It was a cracking game with a bit of everything,” Postecoglou said. “There was a lot going on out there – it would have been easy to resign ourselves and think it wasn’t our day – but once again, they found a way.”
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Reaction & as it happened
Hearts stay seventh but produced their best performance of the season as, despite missing a clutch of defenders, they went toe-to-toe with the league leaders, who had scored 10 times in their past two games.
They were unfortunate to fall behind when Tony Ralston’s cross was deflected into the path of Forrest to head home his fourth goal in two matches, after Barrie McKay and Robert Snodgrass had passed up good chances.
But Hearts did haul themselves level before the break. Cameron Carter-Vickers brought down Cammy Devlin in the box and, after being sent to the monitor to review the tackle, referee Nick Walsh overturned his original decision and awarded a penalty.
Substitute Shankland drilled the ball into the net, and did so again a minute after the restart after Josh Ginnelly got the better of Alexandro Bernabei to flash a brilliant ball across the six-yard box.
Celtic boss Postecoglou was bemused by the decision not to award his side a spot-kick for Michael Smith’s handball in the box at 1-1, but after falling behind his side upped the tempo.
Giakoumakis escaped the clutches of several Hearts players to head in from Aaron Mooy’s corner, and then Maeda reacted quickest when the Australian’s shot was parried out by goalkeeper Craig Gordon.
The drama was far from finished, though. Devlin was once again racing into the Celtic box when Moritz Jenz – who a avoided a second yellow card – clattered him in attempting to clear the ball, and this time Walsh gave the penalty immediately.
Shankland’s penalty was saved by Joe Hart, but Ginnelly was able to turn the rebound home for what he thought was the equaliser.
But a VAR check found that Ginnelly and two Celtic players had encroached, which meant Shankland was forced to retake, and this time he beat Hart to haul Hearts level at 3-3.
All of that came in a pulsating first 65 minutes, as both sides slugged it out for the final quarter of a fantastic contest.
But it was Celtic who found the crucial moment. Mooy was involved again for the visitors, as his pass found Liel Abada, whose deflected cross fell for a lunging Taylor to net the winner.
There was barely time to draw breath in the final 20 minutes, but Celtic were able to see out victory as they showed fantastic perseverance for the second time in a fortnight.
“I don’t get all that ‘well done, pat on the back, you did well’,” said Neilson. “We didn’t take any points. We want to be winning these games. We had Celtic rattled. We should have got ourselves over the line after scoring three goals.”
Player of the match – Cammy Devlin
Aaron Mooy and Cammy Devlin
Devlin was unlucky to be on the losing side. A colossal performance in midfield.
Brave Hearts fall short as Taylor shines – analysis
It is hard to analyse such a frenetic, and frankly ridiculous, 90 minutes. Hearts were magnificent, which was epitomised by Devlin’s fight and quality in midfield.
Missing their first-choice defence means they were always going to be vulnerable, and that’s now two clean sheets in 18 games this season, but they compensated by having a go. Losing Stephen Humphrys to injury is another blow, though.
As for Celtic, they showed guts to come back amid the drama. Taylor deserves a special mention after coming off the bench to replace the struggling Bernabei.
He roared forward, demanded the ball and ended up scoring the winner. He has been fantastic this season. Another of Scotland’s collection of excellent left-backs.
What they said
Hearts manager Robbie Neilson: “I was proud of the players but massively disappointed with the outcome. Celtic didn’t need to work hard for their goals. We defended brilliantly but gave away four slack goals.
“There were some positives, some negatives with VAR. There’s work to be done to get it ironed out. The first penalty is a stonewaller and doesn’t get given and we play for three, four minutes. We all know it’s a penalty.”
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou: “I know VAR is there for the big decisions but you’d think they’d get to them a bit earlier. I thought we had a clear handball, but what do I know? You just let it go.
“There’s a lot of standing about, a lot of theatre. I’m not a fan of it. If that’s the kind of drama you want, there’s probably a good movie playing at the cinema tomorrow. You can sit down, get your popcorn and watch it. I like to watch football.”
What’s next?
Celtic host Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday (20:00 BST) before visiting Livingston in the league next Sunday. Hearts face RFS in the Conference League at Tynecastle (20:00) and then travel to Ross County on Sunday.
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Match ends, Heart of Midlothian 3, Celtic 4.
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Heart of Midlothian 3, Celtic 4.
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Post update
Offside, Celtic. Joe Hart tries a through ball, but Liel Abada is caught offside.
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Booking
Connor Smith (Heart of Midlothian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Liel Abada (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Connor Smith (Heart of Midlothian).
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Offside, Celtic. Sead Haksabanovic tries a through ball, but Liel Abada is caught offside.
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Foul by Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic).
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Alex Cochrane (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic).
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Stephen Kingsley (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Oliver Abildgaard replaces Reo Hatate.
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Foul by Matt O’Riley (Celtic).
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Connor Smith (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic).
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Cameron Devlin (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Post update
Attempt saved. Liel Abada (Celtic) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sead Haksabanovic.
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Craig Gordon.
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Post update
Attempt blocked. Alan Forrest (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Substitution
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Connor Smith replaces Orestis Kiomourtzoglou.
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Substitution
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Andrew Halliday replaces Michael Smith because of an injury.
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Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Barrie McKay.
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Attempt missed. Alex Cochrane (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.
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Goal!
Goal! Heart of Midlothian 3, Celtic 4. Greg Taylor (Celtic) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner.
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Post update
Attempt blocked. Liel Abada (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Aaron Mooy.
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Aaron Mooy (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Orestis Kiomourtzoglou (Heart of Midlothian).
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Foul by Liel Abada (Celtic).
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Stephen Kingsley (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Aaron Mooy (Celtic).
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Cameron Devlin (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Anthony Ralston (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Foul by Robert Snodgrass (Heart of Midlothian).
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Substitution
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Alan Forrest replaces Josh Ginnelly because of an injury.
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Attempt missed. Reo Hatate (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Aaron Mooy.
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Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Sead Haksabanovic replaces Daizen Maeda.
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Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Liel Abada replaces James Forrest.
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Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Greg Taylor replaces Alexander Bernabei.
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Goal! Heart of Midlothian 3, Celtic 3. Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
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VAR Decision: No Goal Heart of Midlothian 2-3 Celtic.
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GOAL OVERTURNED BY VAR: Josh Ginnelly (Heart of Midlothian) scores but the goal is ruled out after a VAR review.
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Penalty conceded by Moritz Jenz (Celtic) after a foul in the penalty area.
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Penalty Heart of Midlothian. Cameron Devlin draws a foul in the penalty area.
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Goal!
Goal! Heart of Midlothian 2, Celtic 3. Daizen Maeda (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal.
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Attempt saved. Aaron Mooy (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Reo Hatate.
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Foul by Aaron Mooy (Celtic).
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Stephen Kingsley (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Michael Smith.
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Goal!
Goal! Heart of Midlothian 2, Celtic 2. Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Aaron Mooy with a cross following a corner.
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Booking
Toby Sibbick (Heart of Midlothian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Stephen Kingsley.
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Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Daizen Maeda.
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Offside, Celtic. Cameron Carter-Vickers tries a through ball, but Giorgos Giakoumakis is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Cameron Devlin (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
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Attempt missed. Aaron Mooy (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Daizen Maeda.
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Foul by Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic).
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Orestis Kiomourtzoglou (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Goal!
Goal! Heart of Midlothian 2, Celtic 1. Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Josh Ginnelly with a cross.
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Second Half
Second Half begins Heart of Midlothian 1, Celtic 1.
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Half Time
First Half ends, Heart of Midlothian 1, Celtic 1.
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Post update
Moritz Jenz (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian).
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Goal! Heart of Midlothian 1, Celtic 1. Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the high centre of the goal.
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VAR Decision: Penalty Heart of Midlothian.
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Penalty conceded by Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic) after a foul in the penalty area.
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Penalty Heart of Midlothian. Cameron Devlin draws a foul in the penalty area.
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Foul by Matt O’Riley (Celtic).
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Josh Ginnelly (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Attempt missed. Orestis Kiomourtzoglou (Heart of Midlothian) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Robert Snodgrass with a cross following a set piece situation.
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Booking
Moritz Jenz (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Post update
Foul by Moritz Jenz (Celtic).
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Josh Ginnelly (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Substitution
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Lawrence Shankland replaces Stephen Humphrys because of an injury.
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Barrie McKay.
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Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Michael Smith.
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Attempt saved. Stephen Humphrys (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Orestis Kiomourtzoglou.
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Foul by Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic).
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Stephen Kingsley (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Alexander Bernabei (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Josh Ginnelly (Heart of Midlothian).
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Moritz Jenz (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Foul by Cameron Devlin (Heart of Midlothian).
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Attempt missed. Stephen Kingsley (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Robert Snodgrass following a corner.
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Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Moritz Jenz.
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Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Anthony Ralston.
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Offside, Celtic. Cameron Carter-Vickers tries a through ball, but Giorgos Giakoumakis is caught offside.
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Foul by Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic).
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Orestis Kiomourtzoglou (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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James Forrest (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Alex Cochrane (Heart of Midlothian).
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Post update
Attempt blocked. Michael Smith (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Post update
Attempt missed. Stephen Kingsley (Heart of Midlothian) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
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Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Moritz Jenz.
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Attempt blocked. Stephen Humphrys (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Michael Smith.
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Goal!
Goal! Heart of Midlothian 0, Celtic 1. James Forrest (Celtic) header from very close range to the bottom right corner.
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Post update
Attempt saved. Robert Snodgrass (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Post update
Attempt blocked. Stephen Humphrys (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Orestis Kiomourtzoglou.
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Post update
Foul by Daizen Maeda (Celtic).
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Cameron Devlin (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Attempt missed. Daizen Maeda (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Aaron Mooy.
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Attempt saved. Barrie McKay (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Stephen Humphrys.
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Giorgos Giakoumakis (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Robert Snodgrass (Heart of Midlothian).
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Moritz Jenz (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Stephen Humphrys (Heart of Midlothian).
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Kick Off
First Half begins.
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Lineups are announced and players are warming up.