Glasgow Celtic

[balo]

A home win here was expected, not looking good at the moment.

[salty]

Another very poor display last night. They have become boring and predictable in so many games. I would be worried if they went a goal behind in any of the upcoming games.

[salty]

http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/derision-hiding-wanting-to-win-the-league/

[salty]

Celtic 3 Morton 0

A comfortable win over Morton and a bit more like the real Celtic but anything else would have been a huge cause for concern. 3 first half goals from Griffiths, Mackay-Steven and McGregor meant the game was in safe keeping by HT. Morton were still able to cause moments of concern to Celtic. Better from Celtic but still many areas of concern...

Celtic have been drawn against The New Rangers in the semi final. A very easy win last season in the LC Semi but they are now playing far better and we are not playing anything like as good as we were then. I anticipate a very difficult game and it is essential the real Celtic turn up. They have not on many occasions this season and that is what would worry me.

[salty]

Partick Thistle 1 Celtic 2

With Aberdeen winning a few hours later this was an important win in the Glasgow derby. Celtic had most of the possession but were unable to breakthrough with the Thistle goalie making some good saves. The breakthrough came just before half time. Good work by Tierney set up Mackay-Steven who got to the by line and though off balance centered. Griffiths under pressure controlled well and fired home from close range with the keeper unable to keep it out. 10 minutes after half time Mackay-Steven set up McGregor in space. He galloped goalwards feinted to square the ball and drove it in from a tightish angle. It was a reward for an industrius performance in which he outshone Bitton and a poor Brown in the middle of the park. Celtic wasted a few chances and with 5 minutes to go conceded a penalty converted by Welsh. It was very silly by Sviatchenko who was beaten on the outside but with no immediate danger had a slight pull at the attacker. It meant the closing stages were anxious but Celtic saw it through.

[CelticBhoy]

Firhill's pitch was shocking.

More sand than grass. Awful.

It's going to be interesting the next few weeks in the SPFL. Keep the reports coming, Salty old son.

[salty]

Kilmarnock 0 Celtic 1

Celtic got out of jail at Rugby Park with a winning goal in the 90 minute. It was a superb goal by Rogic who had come on as a sub with 10 minutes to go. Receiving from Lustig about 20 yds out he turned away from a defender and making space he unleashed a rocket which flew into the top corner in front of the Celtic support to set off huge celebrations. Looking set to drop points the feeling was equally of relief as well as joy. What makes it even more significant is that Aberdeen have lost at Motherwell and that buys us some insurance for the run in.

All this however does not disguise that it was another poor performance from Celtic. Kilmarnock defended stoutly and limited Celtic to only a few half chances. In fact Killie looked more dangerous and in the 1st half had a couple of decent chances. It took an alert Gordon to block a volley from Boyd early on and Celtic were thankful for his lack of pace later when Gordon was able to clear from him. Sviakchenko headed wide from a corner with a free header and had the ball taken off the line in the 2nd half. Roberts came on for the 2nd half for Commons and injected a bit more life into Celtic but Killie had few anxious moments. Tierney went off late in the 1st half with an ankle injury and was replaced by Boyata. Bitton was replaced by Rogic with 10 to go. Both Bitton and Brown were poor and created very little. Killie with less possession looked dangerous in breakaways and it was a worry that they would score in the closing stages but fortunately the Aussie came to the rescue.

[CelticBhoy]

Both Scott Brown and Mikael Lustig celebrated international milestones on Tuesday as they made their 50th appearance for their respective national sides.

The Celtic captain marked the occasion with a victory, playing the full 90 minutes of Scotland’s 1-0 win over Denmark at Hampden while Lustig came on for the closing stages of Sweden’s 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic.

It was also a night to remember for Hoops youngster Kieran Tierney who made his full Scotland debut at the age of 18 against the Danes. The Celtic Youth Academy graduate featured for the opening 45 minutes of the friendly fixture and impressed on the big stage, turning in a mature and composed performance.

Craig Gordon and Leigh Griffiths also made the starting XI, with Gordon producing several superb saves to notch up a clean sheet. Griffiths, collecting his seventh cap, was unable to score his first goal for his country during his 60 minutes on the pitch, despite his best efforts.

Charlie Mulgrew came on at the start of the second-half for Gordon Strachan's side, demonstrating his valuable versatility as he replaced club colleague Tierney at left-back. James Forrest was an unused sub.

[salty]

Celtic 3 Hearts 1

Celtic moved 7 points clear with victory at Parkhead after being a goal behind early on and looking very shaky. The visitors went ahead in 5 minutes when Sviatchenko was bustled off the ball which was laid off to Walker who easily made room when faced with a flat footed Boyata, to fire it into the top corner past a helpless Gordon. Hearts were looking the better side moving it about with purpose. Celtic finally showed in 15 minutes. Griffiths whipped in a vicious free kick which produced a terrific save from Alexander. From the resultant corner the ball was headed clear only to Mackay-Steven who controlled at the edge of the area and fired a beauty into the corner. Hearts had a great chance almost immediately. Oshinawa availing of ball watching by Lustig was alone in front of goal from a cross but he failed to control it and Gordon had an easy take. Systematic of the uncertainly in the Celtic defence with Tierney once again easily the best of the back four. Celtic had another escape when a free kick by Ozturk hit the top of the bar and went over. Juanma hooked over from close range as Hearts continued to look the better side. In the 35th minute Celtic went ahead when Rogic stole the ball from a Hearts defender played a lovely ball through to Roberts who took a touch and dinked the ball over the advancing Alexander for a superb goal. Rogic had to go off shortly after when he was injures in a clash of heads and looked to be concussed. He was replaced by Bitton. A flattered Celtic lead at half time.

Celtic began the 2nd half in far more emphatic fashion and 4 minutes in increased the lead. Roberts neatly put away by Johansen down the right wing cut inside and beat Alexander with a well placed shot which the keeper got a hand to but was unable to keep out. This gave Celtic a comforting cushion and they had a much more relaxed 2nd half. Gordon made a few decent saves late on and Alexander made a good save from Roberts to deny him a hat trick. Oshinawa was sent off for Hearts in the closing minutes but it looked harsh though it had no effect on the result.

Brown had got away with a worse tackle early on without even being booked when he could have been red carded on another day. Apart from this stupidity he was far too slow again and Celtic are carrying him at the moment. I shudder to think the danger he could be to Celtic in the semi final and hopefully the final if he continues to mindlessly dive in to tackles and risk getting sent off.

Overall we are keeping Aberdeen at bay at the moment. Young Roberts was superb and surely will be an automatic starter in the run in. We would have been in trouble without him today.

[Bredbury Blue]

So what do you guys reckon to Boyota and Roberts?

[salty]

Roberts looks very promising. Excellent on Saturday and livened things up in the 2nd half at Rugby Park. Boyata is dodgy. Inclined to give the ball away needlessly and poor to sense danger.

You a City fan?

[Bredbury Blue]

^Yep I'm a City fan and thanks for answering.

Boyota I saw enough of to judge; he's not physical enough, a bit slow to react.

Roberts we haven't really seen hence my interest in him but hecseems highly rated.

Denayer is another we City fans have yet to see. Hopefully he'll be back in the summer from Turkey to replace Demechellis.

[mrbojangles]

The Old Firm Derby's are back on next year then

[stoneyboy]

The Old Firm Derby's are back on next year then

Yes all 26 of them is it ?

[CelticBhoy]

Celtic will play The Rangers next season.

The Old Firm is a thing of the past.

[mrbojangles]

Celtic will play The Rangers next season.

The Old Firm is a thing of the past.

whys that? Cos they tweaked their name?

Alan Brazil still said Old Firm on TalkSport this morning when he was talking about it

[smokie36]

Celtic will play The Rangers next season.

The Old Firm is a thing of the past.

whys that? Cos they tweaked their name?

Alan Brazil still said Old Firm on TalkSport this morning when he was talking about it

The Rangers must have NEWfans...well you haven't seen Jockstar commenting yet!

[Jockstar]

Celtic will play The Rangers next season.

The Old Firm is a thing of the past.

The more you say it wont make it true.

[Jockstar]

I really don't get why celtic, supported by Catholics who happily accept Jesus died and came back, are so angry about Rangers.

6:51 AM - 6 Apr 2016

From Twitter.

[CelticBhoy]

I really don't get why celtic, supported by Catholics who happily accept Jesus died and came back, are so angry about Rangers.

6:51 AM - 6 Apr 2016

From Twitter.

Extremely disrespectful. I wonder if you have the manners to remove this post.

[salty]

Motherwell 1 Celtic 2

Celtic moved 8 points clear with victory at Fir Park. It was a deserved victory but they made hard work of it, Celtic were well on top in the 1st half and had several attempts on goal but the Well goalie Ripley was in top form and made several good blocks. Roberts mostly was well policed but a rash tackle in the area gained a penalty. Griffiths effort lacked belief and went a yard wide. Surely some one else should step up to the plate the next time as a few recent penalties have been very lame. He has not been at his best lately so it was doubly welcome when he struck a minute before the break. He drilled in a close range finish from a good centre from Tierney.

Motherwell got more into it in the 2nd half and Celtic were lucky when McDonald was ruled offside as he put the ball in the net. It was very close. The home team got on terms on the hour. Tierney misread the spin on the ball and let Cadden get ahead of him . He rolled it across goal and McDonald finished. Celtic rallied and went ahead again in 74 minutes . Another Tierney cutback was finished by Griffiths through Ripley's legs. Overall the keeper had an excellent game but he should have saved this one. Just before Kazim-Richards was booked as he was subbed after getting involved in an exchange. Absolutely stupid from him and he might well have seen red.

A better performance by Celtic but it is essential they bring their A game next week for the semi and avoid all stupidity. We need 11 men on the field.

[Jockstar]

Predictions for today?

[wilai]

Return of the 'Old Firm'!

"Sorry mate...you're not bringing that in"....

[salty]

New Rangers 2 Celtic 2 NR 5-4 penalties.

New Rangers went through to the final on the slimmest of margins but overall they were much the better team. From the off they looked far more lively and were causing a leaden footed Celtic problems. Gordon had to make a good stop from Miller. Celtic were under pressure continually . In one break Brown had a good chance but shot wide when well placed . He went on over the game to confirm all my fears about him. Boyata was struggling and as usual looking very slow to react. When a shot cannoned off Brown, Miller was far quicker to react to the situation and finished comfortably past Gordon. NR continued to dominate and Boyata soon came off with an injury to be replaced by Sviatchenko. Given how well the Dane performed one has to ask why he did not start. Midway through the half in a rare attack Griffiths hit the post and the ball fell to the inrushing Roberts who shot wide with an open goal beckoning. It was a dreadful miss and the sense of foreboding increased. For a 10 minute period before ht Celtic could not get near the ball and an on screen graphic showed NR had 78% possession in this period without getting any shots on goal.

Celtic looked a bit more lively on resumption and forced 4 corners in quick succession. They had none in the first half. From the last of these Sviatchenko leapt high to head an equalizer. But NR took over again and were the dominant team. Their passing speed and work rate were overwhelming Celtic in midfield where as been the case many times this season Celtic were labouring. Neither side could make the break through and so to extra time. New Rangers went ahead again early in extra time. A wrongly awarded throw led to McKay in possession and from outside the box he hammered an unstoppable shot into the top corner for a terrific goal. That looked to be the decider but early in the 2nd period Tierney set up Rogic on as a sub for Johansen to fire in the equalizer. Another bad selection by Celtic as Johansen was poor Griffiths almost won it for Celtic at the death when his free kick hit the junction of bar and post.

Penalties followed . Celtic had the advantage twice but Mcgregor hit the bar and Browns weak effort was easily saved. Hardly a surprise. With Celtic going second huge pressure on them and finally Rogic shot well over to give the victory to New Rangers.

Overall the game reflected so many poor performances from Celtic this season. No doubt the clamour for a change of Manager will increase but one must also say that several of the side have reached their sell by date. Hopefully they will stagger over the line in the title race but it is likely the odds on next season will shorten dramatically from the beginning of this season.

[wilai]

^ You see your last penalty? The ball jumped in the air just before the guy struck it!!!!

[smokie36]

Is this the only place in the world they are referred to as "New Rangers"?

Keep it up I say!

[Jockstar]

Is this the only place in the world they are referred to as "New Rangers"?

Keep it up I say!

[Jockstar]

https://streamable.com/ra6d

Just in case you missed it.

[balo]

Rangers looking good , they could do very well in SPL next season. Celtic should be afraid , they need to buy more quality players that's for sure.

[hackjam]

Best team won, Rangers slaughtered Celtic, the way they passed/kept possession.

Could not believe why Commons never started, that Boyaya is a donkey, Johanson should have been dropped at the start of the season, Rogic is a better option and scores goals. Overall, Keeper and back 4 did well-once Boyata got the hook. Midfield was a total let down, totally over run, Brown has not been at the races since returning from injury, Deila has shown too much loyalty to him & Johanson. Spot kicks is always a bit of a lottery but to miss 3.

Like I said, best team won, congratulations to Rangers, totally deserved it.

What now for Celtic? They should be able to limp on to win the league, thanks to Aberdeen bottling it. Deila will be shitcanned, would like to see Moyles replace him. Some senior players need to be moved on,