2010-09-25: Celtic 2-1 Hibernian, SPL

Match Pictures | Matches: 20102011 | 2010-2011 Pictures

Trivia

  • Fourteen league wins in a row for Neil Lennon.
  • Celtic on top by 3pts but Rangers play next day (v Aberdeen)
  • Much maligned duo of Loovens & Brown score.

Review

Who'd have put their money on Loovens & Brown to score? Both have been overly maligned by too many, and since the departure of McGeady they have become the new scapegoats for too many. A great start with a terrific goal by Brown saw Hibs come back into the game but a second from Loovens from a corner should have ended it all However, a wonderful goal by ex-Celt Riordan (a lob over Forester) put the Hibs back in and there were some scarey moments.

We held out and it's a long tough season ahead.

(Arsene Parselie of the KDS forum)
It was scorchio in the North Stand, bloody roasting, but it was a scruffy game which reinforced the feeling that the midfield is the key to how we perform on any given day, and that even a minor personnel or positional change can alter the whole flow of a match. We have so many options in midfield, that the balance needs to be tailored to suit the opposition.

Forster – had nothing of note to deal with, no corners or crosses. Couple of free kicks that went high and wide. Not a hope with the goal

Cha – decent engine and pace, needs to find someone to play with on the right. I hope Juarez and he manage to partner up there.

Loovens – No, I repeat, no bombscare moments, result.

Maijstorovic – dealt with most things as expected, gives the defence a bit of stability. Needs a really decent partner in the long term though.

Mulgrew – A decent enough half – if both our first choice left backs are injured, get ready for more games like this one where Ledley is wasted (or Wilson at LB)

Ledley – Held the midfield together in the 1st half, when he was there Hibs did nothing in the game. Moving him to LB basically was detrimental to our game. A player who does the simple thing very well, and proof that you don't need to be "noticed" to be a key man. His presence allows others to play their role. He did OK at LB, but Hibs targetted him, and with Maloney not at his best to help out, that position caused a wee bit of concern when Hibs had their flurry after they scored.

Juarez – worst game to date, a bit sloppy and wasteful, should have scored with the header.

Maloney – Also, his worst game this season – wasted on the wing, he tried but the mix wasn't right in midfield for him to link with.

Brown – In the main, the reason we don't play fluid football like the ICT game in midweek. He does the nitty gritty part very well, but can't contribute to quick moves because he hasn't the mental ability to do it. fine for passes when he has time to look and execute, not so fine under pressure and that is why we got the Donati-esque contirbution to the Hibs goal. IF he sticks to the game plan, he can be great against teams where we need to man mark or "fight" back, but he is a weak link when we are on the friont foot and don't need a spoiler in the team.
It was fine in the first half because Ledley allowed him to get forward and wander, but when Ledley got shifted to LB, he started chasing everything, and really didn't contribute much positively in the 2nd half. Took his goal excellently, and the fact that he controlled the through ball and shot was a surprise, as most times his first touch would have been too far in front of him to get the ball under control. He's never as bad as Donati was, but he (like most of the others) shouldn't be guaranteed a starting position, he should be selected for the games he can bring his, er, qualities too, e.g. the Huns.

Ki – I thought he was fine, has added a wee bit more workrate and application to his game. He played some nice passes into the channels for the strikers and sprayed the ball about pretty well. He should feel unlucky not to start more.

Stokes – Didn't shine and no clear cut chances so had to try the long range shots. I don't know if he dived to get booked, but it looked bad from my angle. His "passback" would have been funny if it was another team. I suppose I should applaud the fact that he was willing to track back, but he's a striker not last man in the defence. Trying too hard maybe to link with Hooper, and his attempt at the end was too strong for a pass, and too off line for a shot. Needs to settle a bit.

Hooper – not match fit, but showed enough about him that if he gets the right partner he'll cause problems but no clear cut chances either – here's hoping he gets up to speed soon.

Samaras – a classic display from him – won't make the easy pass, always tries to stroke the ball in, so never shoots early thus opportunities are wasted. Goes on mazy runs but every turn takes the ball a wee bit further away from him until the defenders just take it off him. Frustrating.

Refereeing team – didn't get anything wrong that affected the scoreline, but some strange things there. A couple of dodgy offsides and the one where Samaras "handballed" in the Hibs half and they took a quick free kick from the edge of the circle in our half was just mad.

Overall, I'm happy with the 3 points, and unlike some other panic merchants round my seat, I wasn't worried about conceding a 2nd as Hibs weren't creating concrete chances.
The 1st half was adeuate, but the 2nd was disappointing. We were sloppy but that was down to the fact that the midfield was rearranged and became largely ineffective as far as creating clear chances was concerned.

We can't play brilliantly every week, and compared to the last three or four seasons, it feels good going to games now. It's a pity the stadium isn't full, but if we beat the Huns in a month, then it should be getting back to capacity as the glory hunters return!

Teams

Celtic

  • 26 Forster
  • 04 Juarez
  • 05 Majstorovic
  • 11 Cha Du-Ri
  • 21 Mulgrew (Ki Sung-Yeung 46)
  • 22 Loovens
  • 08 Brown
  • 16 Ledley
  • 10 Stokes; yellow card
  • 13 Maloney
  • 88 Hooper (Samaras 70)

Substitutes

  • 24 Zaluska,
  • 25 Rogne,
  • 31 Towell,
  • 18 Ki Sung-Yeung,
  • 33 Baram Kayal,
  • 09 Samaras,
  • 27 Murphy

Hibernian

  • 31 Mark Brown
  • 02 Hart (Stephens 80)
  • 03 Grounds
  • 14 Dickoh; yellow card
  • 20 Hanlon
  • 08 De Graaf (Danny Galbraith 80)
  • 11 Rankin (Trakys 86)
  • 17 McBride
  • 24 David Wotherspoon
  • 33 Miller
  • 10 Riordan

Substitutes

  • 21 Smith,
  • 04 Hogg,
  • 15 Thicot,
  • 25 Stephens,
  • 16 Stevenson,
  • 22 Danny Galbraith,
  • 23 Trakys
Ref: Murray
Att: 48,625

Articles

Pictures

KStreet

MOTM

Stats

Possession

  • Celtic 54%
  • Hibernian 46%

Attempts on target

  • Celtic 6
  • Hibernian 1

Attempts off target

  • Celtic 6
  • Hibernian 3

Corners

  • Celtic 9
  • Hibernian 0

Fouls

  • Celtic 11
  • Hibernian 7

Articles

  • Final Result
  • Full Time
  • 90:00+2:26 The referee blows for the end of the match.
  • 90:00+1:46 Efrain Juarez takes a outswinging corner.
  • 90:00+0:55 Du-Ri Cha produces a cross, clearance by Paul Hanlon.
  • 90:00+0:07 Free kick awarded for a foul by Francis Dickoh on Georgios Samaras. Scott Brown restarts play with the free kick.
  • 89:16 Du-Ri Cha takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Save by Mark Brown.
  • 88:32 Daniel Galbraith sends in a cross.
  • 87:42 Georgios Samaras crosses the ball.
  • 87:11 Unfair challenge on Daniel Galbraith by Shaun Maloney results in a free kick. Liam Miller takes the free kick.
  • 86:30 Corner taken right-footed by Shaun Maloney from the left by-line, save by Mark Brown.
  • 86:21 The ball is crossed by Anthony Stokes, clearance made by David Stephens.
  • 85:46 Substitution Valdas Trakys on for John Rankin.
  • 84:16 Corner taken right-footed by Shaun Maloney.
  • 83:53 Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Blocked by Francis Dickoh.
  • 83:16 Handball decision goes against Daniel Majstorovic. Free kick taken by Kevin McBride.
  • 82:50 Sung-Yong Ki has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses right.
  • 81:32 Effort on goal by Derek Riordan from inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.
  • 81:04 Du-Ri Cha crosses the ball, Efrain Juarez takes a shot.
  • 80:32 The ball is sent over by Anthony Stokes.
  • Correction – 79:09 Substitution Edwin De Graaf leaves the field to be replaced by Daniel Galbraith.
  • Correction – 79:09 Substitution Michael Hart goes off and David Stephens comes on.
  • Correction – 79:09 Scott Brown gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Derek Riordan.
  • 79:09 Kevin McBride restarts play with the free kick.
  • 79:09 Substitution Edwin De Graaf leaves the field to be replaced by Daniel Galbraith.
  • 79:09 Substitution Michael Hart leaves the field to be replaced by David Stephens.
  • 79:09 Foul by Scott Brown on Derek Riordan, awarded.
  • 78:32 Corner taken by Sung-Yong Ki, save by Mark Brown.
  • 78:11 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Shaun Maloney from the right by-line, clearance by Francis Dickoh.
  • 77:43 Outswinging corner taken by Shaun Maloney from the right by-line, Edwin De Graaf manages to make a clearance.
  • 77:33 The ball is sent over by Du-Ri Cha.
  • 76:26 Kevin McBride challenges Sung-Yong Ki unfairly and gives away a free kick. Daniel Majstorovic takes the direct free kick.
  • 76:20 Liam Miller produces a cross, clearance made by Daniel Majstorovic.
  • 75:32 The ball is swung over by Du-Ri Cha, clearance made by Michael Hart.
  • 74:03 Foul by Efrain Juarez on Liam Miller, free kick awarded. Strike comes in from Derek Riordan from the free kick.
  • 72:37 John Rankin has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide right of the target.
  • 72:18 Georgios Samaras concedes a free kick for a foul on Paul Hanlon. Free kick taken by Kevin McBride.
  • 70:30 Scott Brown challenges Kevin McBride unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Paul Hanlon.
  • 70:18 Du-Ri Cha produces a cross, save by Mark Brown.
  • 69:39 Scott Brown crosses the ball.
  • 69:02 Substitution Gary Hooper goes off and Georgios Samaras comes on.
  • 68:07 Unfair challenge on Sung-Yong Ki by Edwin De Graaf results in a free kick. Daniel Majstorovic restarts play with the free kick.
  • 67:15 Shaun Maloney takes a shot. Save made by Mark Brown.
  • 65:38 The ball is crossed by Edwin De Graaf.
  • 64:28 The ball is delivered by Glenn Loovens, clearance by Edwin De Graaf.
  • 64:18 The ball is delivered by Anthony Stokes, save by Mark Brown.
  • 64:08 Du-Ri Cha crosses the ball, Francis Dickoh makes a clearance.
  • 63:46 Edwin De Graaf is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Daniel Majstorovic.
  • 61:50 Handball by David Wotherspoon. Direct free kick taken by Glenn Loovens.
  • 59:30 Scott Brown concedes a free kick for a foul on John Rankin. Derek Riordan takes the free kick.
  • 57:27 Gary Hooper is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Mark Brown.
  • 55:57 The referee blows for offside against David Wotherspoon. Daniel Majstorovic takes the indirect free kick.
  • 53:34 GOAL – Derek Riordan:Celtic 2 – 1 Hibernian Derek Riordan gets on the score sheet with a brilliant goal from just inside the area to the top left corner of the goal. Celtic 2-1 Hibernian.
  • 52:19 Inswinging corner taken by Shaun Maloney from the left by-line. Effort on goal by Sung-Yong Ki from just inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.
  • 50:47 Assist on the goal came from Shaun Maloney.
  • 50:47 GOAL – Glenn Loovens:Celtic 2 – 0 Hibernian Glenn Loovens scores a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Celtic 2-0 Hibernian.
  • 50:15 Corner taken by Shaun Maloney played to the near post,
  • 50:01 Shaun Maloney delivers the ball.
  • 49:39 Derek Riordan sends in a cross, blocked by Anthony Stokes.
  • 47:06 Anthony Stokes takes a shot. Save by Mark Brown.
  • 45:01 The referee starts the second half.
  • 45:01 Substitution Sung-Yong Ki on for Charlie Mulgrew.
  • Half Time
  • 45:00+1:05 The referee blows for half time.
  • 45:00+0:26 Scott Brown concedes a free kick for a foul on David Wotherspoon. Kevin McBride takes the free kick.
  • 44:53 Shot from just outside the box by Efrain Juarez misses to the left of the goal.
  • 44:17 Centre by Du-Ri Cha, Effort from deep inside the area by Gary Hooper misses to the right of the goal.
  • 43:43 The ball is delivered by Anthony Stokes.
  • 43:35 Scott Brown sends in a cross, clearance made by Paul Hanlon.
  • 42:34 A cross is delivered by Joe Ledley, save by Mark Brown.
  • 42:15 Foul by John Rankin on Scott Brown, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Glenn Loovens.
  • 40:44 Unfair challenge on Du-Ri Cha by David Wotherspoon results in a free kick. Glenn Loovens takes the free kick.
  • 37:48 The referee blows for offside. Michael Hart takes the indirect free kick.
  • 36:54 The referee blows for offside against Gary Hooper. Indirect free kick taken by Mark Brown.
  • 34:00 The assistant referee flags for offside against Du-Ri Cha. Mark Brown takes the indirect free kick.
  • 32:36 The ball is delivered by Anthony Stokes, comfortable save by Mark Brown.
  • 32:01 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Daniel Majstorovic.
  • 31:15 Booking Anthony Stokes goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
  • 27:25 Corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew, Jonathan Grounds manages to make a clearance.
  • 27:19 Charlie Mulgrew produces a cross, clearance by Jonathan Grounds.
  • 24:27 The official flags David Wotherspoon offside. Glenn Loovens restarts play with the free kick.
  • 23:37 Free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
  • 23:37 Booking Francis Dickoh receives a yellow card.
  • 23:26 Unfair challenge on Joe Ledley by Francis Dickoh results in a free kick.
  • 22:43 The referee blows for offside against Derek Riordan. Fraser Forster restarts play with the free kick.
  • 22:10 David Wotherspoon crosses the ball, clearance made by Daniel Majstorovic.
  • 20:40 Efrain Juarez concedes a free kick for a foul on John Rankin. Paul Hanlon restarts play with the free kick.
  • 18:14 The referee blows for offside. Mark Brown takes the indirect free kick.
  • 15:50 Kevin McBride fouled by Efrain Juarez, the ref awards a free kick. Jonathan Grounds takes the free kick.
  • 14:01 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Wotherspoon by Du-Ri Cha. Paul Hanlon takes the direct free kick.
  • 12:56 Francis Dickoh challenges Gary Hooper unfairly and gives away a free kick. A cross is delivered by Charlie Mulgrew, Header from close in by Daniel Majstorovic misses to the right of the target.
  • 12:31 The referee blows for offside against Derek Riordan. Fraser Forster takes the indirect free kick.
  • 7:12 The referee blows for offside against Michael Hart. Charlie Mulgrew takes the free kick.
  • 6:02 Liam Miller fouled by Scott Brown, the ref awards a free kick. Kevin McBride takes the free kick.
  • 4:19 Assist on the goal came from Anthony Stokes.
  • 4:19 GOAL – Scott Brown:Celtic 1 – 0 Hibernian Scott Brown finds the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Celtic 1-0 Hibernian.
  • 1:26 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Glenn Loovens.
  • 0:00 The referee gets the match started.

Celtic 2-1 Hibernian

Celtic leapfrogged Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League with a workmanlike win over Hibernian.
Former Hibs midfielder Scott Brown broke the deadlock after five minutes with a superb volley from 18 yards.
A lacklustre encounter came to life with two goals within 10 minutes after the break, with a Glenn Loovens header sneaking in to stretch Celtic's lead.
Riordan's fantastic chip minutes later gave Hibs renewed impetus, although an Efrain Juarez header struck their bar.

Celtic's 14th straight league victory stretching back to last season ensured that champions Rangers need a win away to Aberdeen on Sunday if they are to return to the top of the table.
Brown had returned to the Celtic midfield in place of Ki Sung-Yeung, while Charlie Mulgrew, Shaun Maloney and Cha Du-Ri came in for Mark Wilson, Georgios Samaras and the injured Emilio Izaguirre.
And the captain made an immediate impact against his former club as Celtic edged into the lead after five minutes.
Brown broke from midfield and worked a one-two with Juarez before volleying past former Celtic goalkeeper Mark Brown from long range for his first goal since March.
Hibs were without Sol Bamba and Colin Nish through injury, with youngsters David Wotherspoon and Paul Hanlon both coming into the starting line-up.
In the absence of the Ivory Coast defender and the big striker, Celtic defender Daniel Majstorovic rose above the visiting defence to meet a couple of corners without finding the target with his headers.
However, while Celtic had the better of the possession, neither side seriously threatened to turn some pretty but ineffectual passing into chances.
Hibs were playing like a side with only one win in eight games and the supply to lone striker Riordan was limited.
However, immediately after the break, Celtic handed Riordan the chance of an equaliser when Anthony Stokes, so recently a Hibs player himself, was short with a pass back, but the former Hoops forward was unable to capitalise.
Seconds later, a mistake at the other end presented Celtic with their second goal, when Loovens' flicked header from a 51st-minute corner somehow evaded goalkeeper Brown and attempts to clear off the line.
Whether it was an enforced change because of injury or a tactical one, Celtic manager Neil Lennon had started the second half with a more attacking formation, with midfielder Ki Sung-Yeong coming on for Mulgrew and Joe Ledley moving back to left-back.
The change certainly appeared to add to the excitement, although the next goal was quickly conceded by the home side's rearranged defence.
It took a moment of magic from Riordan to bring new life to Hibs' challenge, the forward sending a superb lob from the edge of the penalty box over towering Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster and into the net after 54 minutes.
John Rankin went close to giving Hibs a controversial equaliser when he sent a drive a few yards wide with Celtic claiming not only that they should have had the free-kick but that the visitors had stolen several yards for the set-piece.
The game came to life in the final 10 minutes, with Samaras just failing to reach a Stokes cross across the face of goal and a Juarez header striking the face of the Edinburgh side's crossbar.
Hibs immediately swept to the other end and a Riordan volley flew just over from 12 yards, but it was Celtic who ended the game on top for a deserved victory.

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/9028890.stm

Published: 2010/09/25 16:08:42 GMT

© BBC MMX

Scottish Premier

Celtic 2 Hibernian 1

  • Brown 5,
  • Loovens 51
  • Riordan 54
  • guardian.co.uk, Saturday 25 September 2010 17.48 BST
Celtic's Shaun Maloney, right, and Hibernian's Michael Hart battle for possession at Parkhead. Photograph: David Cheskin/PA Scott Brown bucked a trend where Hibernian could not. Plenty of illustrious names fill the list of past Celtic captains, few of whom have been the subject of as much discussion as Brown. One of the general criticisms of the midfielder – and there are many – is that he fails to return the number of goals which his marauding style suggests he should.
As Brown collected an Anthony Stokes pass, 18 yards from the Hibs goal, few would have banked on the superb, half-volleyed finish which followed. Brown found the net only once for Celtic in the whole of last season, meaning that, in this era when bets can be placed on almost every aspect of football, the option of "First goalscorer: Scott Brown" isn't the subject of much interest.
That goal set the tone for Hibs' latest profitless afternoon. John Hughes has now presided over a record which shows just four wins in the Edinburgh club's last 27 outings. Hibs don't face opposition of this quality every week, but their lack of confidence was apparent in concerted spells; a 1-0 loss, it seemed, would have been regarded as a good result.
Amid a malaise, which has apparently manifested itself in performances, Hughes arrived in Glasgow's East End under increasing pressure. His only hope of salvation here had arrived from a moment of Derek Riordan magic, which flew completely in the face of what had gone before.
This was a curious affair, littered with misplaced passes and inexplicable edginess. Celtic maintained their flawless Scottish Premier League touch, and placed pressure on Rangers as they head to Aberdeen tomorrow lunchtime, but returned by far their poorest domestic showing of the campaign thus far.
If there was a problem with Brown's goal, it was that it arrived too early to allow this game to develop into a contest. The remainder of the opening half was mind-numbingly tame with Celtic relaxed – partly understandably – about the safety of their lead.
Such an approach does not sit well with Neil Lennon. Celtic's manager is keen to see a high tempo maintained throughout matches, a message he would have pressed home during the interval.
The hosts therefore opened the second period with renewed vigour and, in doing so, claimed the goal which should have settled the contest. Glenn Loovens stooped to head home a Shaun Maloney corner, with the desperate actions of John Rankin on the Hibs goalline not suffice to prevent Celtic from doubling their lead.
Riordan's retort was as audacious as it was totally unlikely. Hibs' lone striker collected an Edwin de Graaf pass before lobbing Fraser Forster – all 6ft 7in of him – from 20 yards. The Celtic goalkeeper could point to one mitigating circumstance: shock at actually seeing the ball anywhere near him.
Celtic's play regressed into scrappy, wasteful stuff thereafter. Maloney, Lennon's most influential attacking threat of the season's opening weeks, was peripheral. Composure elsewhere was in similarly short supply.
Yet a Stokes cross narrowly evaded the diving Georgios Samaras , who had been introduced in an attempt to liven up Celtic's approach. Efraín Juárez came even closer to rounding off the encounter, the Mexican midfielder heading a Cha Du-Ri cross against the Hibs crossbar.
Hughes, to his credit, made a tactical switch to 3-4-3 for the closing stages in an attempt to claim a point. Hibs struck late at this venue last season, after all, in winning one of the matches which precipitated Tony Mowbray's departure from his post as the Celtic manager.
There was no such denouement this time. Much to the relief of a blatantly under-par Celtic.