| Match Pictures | Matches: 1996 – 1997 | 1996-1997 Pictures |
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Trivia
- This was Enrico Annoni’s debut game. Tom Boyd was missing, Jackie McNamara had an ankle injury, Peter Grant was out with a thigh and ankle injury, McStay was recovering from the knee knock that saw him go off in the Cup game against Hibs.
- Nottingham Forest’s interest in Pierre Van Hooijdonk continued to grow according to his agent Rob Jansen.
- The FIFA decision on the appeal against the fine for the use of an unlicensed agent in the transfer of Alan Stubbs to Celtic was finally in. The club fine was reduced from £40000 to £20000 and Stubbs’ fine reduced from £28000 to £18000
- Paolo di Canio was awarded the Bell's Player of the Month award for February.
Review
A good win and Rangers drawing got the pulses racing. An excellent debut from Annoni.
Teams
Celtic (4-4-2): : Kerr; Annoni, Stubbs, MacKay, McKinlay, Thom (Donnelly 72), Hannah, O'Donnell, McLaughlin; Di Canio (Van Hooijdonk 87), Cadete.
Non Used Sub: O’Neil
Scorers: Cadete (28), Di Canio (61)
Hearts (5-4-1): Rousset; Locke, Weir, McPherson, Naysmith, Ritchie; Mackay, Salvatori, Cameron, McCann (Burns 72); Robertson (Paille 45).
Non Used Sub: Fulton
Yellow cards: Annoni, McKinlay (Celtic); Mackay, Cameron, Salvatori (Hearts).
Referee: W Young (Clarkston).
Attendance: 49,729.
Articles
- Match Report
Demonic decorous debonair Di Canio
Scotland on Sunday 02/03/1997
Celtic 2 Heart of Midlothian 0
JUST on quarter to five, there was a mighty chorus here, led by Paolo di Canio and vibrating the new stands. And it was not because Scotland had won the rugby. Rangers' draw, news of which came via radio before this match finished, sent a bush fire of optimism round Celtic Park yesterday and the stadium can welcome two consecutive visits from their rivals with revivified optimism. However, just as significant in justifying that emotion as what happened at Pittodrie was Celtic's own performance.
This was a pretty complete victory in which goals were scored at prescient moments, moves were executed aesthetically and Hearts were denied a single chance. Jim Jefferies' men performed the way they had when they secured a draw at Ibrox last month.
However, because of the scalpels of Di Canio and the rejuvenated Andreas Thom, plus the dagger provided by Jorge Cadete, this strategy was rendered unsustainable.
There is a certain school which suggests that, because of money, Rangers and Celtic will forever more lie beyond other Scottish teams. Sometimes you suspect there is a degree of hearty masochism among those who relay it but this was an occasion you had to agree. The beauty of what Cadete, Di Canio and Thom were able to make together was underpinned with the cash it takes to coax and acquire such pedigree. In contrast, Hearts' two outfield foreigners, Stefano Salvatori and Stephane Paille, looked just what they are: speculative free-transfer buys.
Then there is Enrico Annoni, who, on his debut, looked as if he might live up to all the unashamed hype. Just as Joe Tortolano's surname means 'little cupcake' in Italian, we had been told by the spin merchants that Annoni translates as something pretty frightening. Here he confirmed as much, locking into tackles, leaning on Neil McCann until he was cowed and at one point making Gary Mackay shirk a 50/50 challenge.
He is also an attentive and disciplined defender with ambition to do little else, if perhaps a touch slow. "He played like a real defender," said Tommy Burns. "He doesn't get caught."
Burns is fairly shuffling his pack at the moment, though curiously he has become less of a gambler. This was the second time running his Saturday team had been substantially different to the one which he had fielded for a cup-tie in midweek but, whereas previously Burns seemed to pick players and fit a formation about them, now it's the other way around.
Hence Annoni came in not in his favoured central position but as a strictly delineated full-back and Phil O'Donnell and David Hannah were exact fits role-wise for Paul McStay and Peter Grant. This continuity, and conservatism, may give Celtic a far better chance than before against Rangers on Thursday.
The Celtic Park litter is back, gusting in small white pieces like something from the World Cup of 1978. During the first half most of it was concentrated deep in Hearts' territory, as was the play. It was fascinating, Hearts deep obdurate line of five, flagged about by old Dave McPherson, against all the different angles and aspects of attacking play provided by Thom, Di Canio and Cadete. For 28 minutes the stout Hearts held it, then Cadete struck.
Before going on to that, an astonishing miss by O'Donnell must be reported. This, remember, was the player who scored so naturally in last Wednesday's game against Hibs. Yesterday however, he skewed with the ball at his feet and the net gaping after Brian McLaughlin's shot had ricocheted to him.
How many times can we emphasise the contrasting gift of Cadete? He despatched a header here which was in the net before you knew it was a chance. The cross had come from Thom and was pacey, arched and gorgeous, and Cadete met it full on from ten yards, having stolen among McPherson's regiment.
This generated a period of near-fantasy for Celtic's foreign players who wove some sumptuous movements together. Di Canio had Gilles Rousset batting a corner away from the bar and Gary Locke hacked off the line from Thom. The pick was the back-heeled nutmeg Di Canio visited on the angel-faced Gary Naysmith. Demonic.
"Paille for Robertson" was the shout in the press box as the teams emerged from half-time although JR apparently prefers roll and sausage. Whatever, isolation at the apex of Hearts' formation has hardly been to Robertson's taste and Jimmy Wardhaugh's record seems far away indeed. It was little surprise to see the Frenchman come on.
Yet it was Celtic's continentals who continued to have the day. Thom back in his most dashing mode again provided with another sweeping run out on the right. This time the cross arrived at waist-height and Di Canio with that unconventional athleticism of his, reached out and jabbed it past Rousset.
At half-time there was a competition in which participants sang Celtic songs out on the centre circle acapella. The standard was patchy. Cadete, Di Canio and Thom on the other hand could have won many a contest unaccompanied.
- Manager Interview
"Against Hearts we played as well as we have done in recent months. The most pleasing thing was we looked a tasty side.
"There is no doubt that the influence of the foreigners makes us a more special team.
"Back in January we were basically beating sides because of our superior fitness but over the past few weeks we have shown greater patience and that has paid off.
On Annoni – "He looked every inch the complete defender. There is nothing flash about him. He is strong, experienced and knows the job inside out."
Pictures
- Match Pictures
- Fans
Stats
| Celtic | Hearts | |
| Bookings | 2 | 3 |
| Fouls | 11 | 15 |
| Shots on Target | 7 | 1 |
| Corners | 5 | 2 |
| Offside | 8 | 1 |