2011-05-04: Inverness CT 3-2 Celtic, SPL

Match Pictures | Matches: 20102011 | 2010-2011 Pictures

Trivia

  • Celtic effectively now go behind in the league, 1pt behind Rangers with no games in hand. This was the much delayed cancelled match.
  • Most now believe we've lost the league.
  • Kayal believed to have broken his wrist.
  • Celtic fan John Higgins wins Snooker world champs for 4th time; ex-Celt Paul Lambert guides Norwich to Premiership as manager (two consecutive promotions).

Review

Poor pathetic and unacceptable performance. The less said the better….however.

Inverness has had a reputation for being thorns in our side for a while now. Ever since the infamous night that signalled the end of John Barnes` time as manager, in turn that brought about the glorious Martin O Neill era, but even the great man himself slipped up on a miserable sunday evening in the highlands back in 2003.

This was our 3rd trip to Inverness this season having won 1-0 and 2-1 there previously. Arguably though this was by far the most important game of them all.
We started the game pretty well and looked to have a sense of ugency about us, however in the 7th minute disaster struck as a hopefull cross diverted off a helpless Charlie Mulgrew and past Fraser Forster.
How would we react?

Pretty blimin well actually. Kris Commons had us level almost instantly with a wicked shot from 25 yards or so which also took a wee nick from an ICT defender.
From there on in we couldn`t press home the advantage and we got to half time still locked at 1-1.

The second half was as depressing a 45 minutes as we have seen in a long long time. For some reason the majority of our players chose this game as the game to produce the worst performance of the season, ICT made it 2-1 and then quickly 3-1.
As we pushed and pushed in desperation more than anything else, ICT should really have scored more. Only good goalkeeping from Fraser Forster kept the score down.
As the clock passe the 90 minute mark we had a lifeline when the ref awarded us a penalty, Commons clinically dispatched it and we raced back up the park in prayer.
94 minutes gone and Paddy McCourt bursts into the ICT box past a few defenders, he takes a wee tumble, millions of Celtic supporters around the world simultaneously scream PENALTY.

Alas not, in hindsight it was probably the correct decision.

To make matters worse Beram Kayal was clattered by an oaf disguised as a centre half and suffered a fractured wrist and concussion which put him our for the rest of the season.
We didn`t even get a free kick from that.

Trooping away from the game that night was as low as I`ve ever felt in all my years following Celtic. We have all been through our fair share of misery over the years but this defeat was as sore as they can possibly come…

Teams

Inverness CT

  • 01 Esson
  • 03 Tokely; yellow card
  • 14 Munro
  • 15 Innes
  • 24 Gillet
  • 04 Duff
  • 06 Cox
  • 19 Ross
  • 10 Rooney (Morrison 90+2)
  • 20 Sutherland; yellow card (Odhiambo 82)
  • 26 Doran

Substitutes

  • 12 Tuffey,
  • 05 Golabek,
  • 08 Duncan,
  • 17 Morrison,
  • 25 MacDonald,
  • 07 Odhiambo,
  • 23 Sanchez

Celtic

  • 26 Forster
  • 03 Izaguirre
  • 05 Majstorovic; yellow card
  • 12 Wilson
  • 21 Mulgrew
  • 08 Brown; yellow card
  • 33 Baram Kayal (Ki Sung-Yeung 71)
  • 10 Stokes (Murphy 58)
  • 13 Maloney
  • 15 Commons
  • 88 Hooper (McCourt 66)

Substitutes

  • 24 Zaluska,
  • 25 Rogne,
  • 18 Ki Sung-Yeung,
  • 20 McCourt,
  • 09 Samaras,
  • 27 Murphy,
  • 49 Forrest
Ref: O'Reilly
Att: 6,702

Articles

  • Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

Stats

Possession

  • Inverness CT 57%
  • Celtic 43%

Attempts on target

  • Inverness CT 5
  • Celtic 6

Attempts off target

  • Inverness CT 4
  • Celtic 8

Corners

  • Inverness CT 5
  • Celtic 11

Fouls

  • Inverness CT 16
  • Celtic 10

Articles

Inverness CT 3 – 2 Celtic: Battling Inverness come back to haunt Celtic
Shane Sutherland shows his delight after scoring Caley's third goal. Picture: SNS

Published Date: 05 May 2011
THE Highlands are ablaze but it wasn't only the moors on fire last night, as Inverness Caledonian Thistle slipped back into an old routine. Yet again they have left a significant wound on Celtic. The Parkhead side's title flame flickered on another epic night. It was difficult to know which story deserved to take top billing.

Rangers have been handed a huge fillip in the race for the championship but it was the personal nature of Grant Munro's victory which resounded throughout the hills. The defender had only just been informed by manager Terry Butcher that his long Inverness career will end in just nine days' time. Yet he picked himself up last night, adorning his man of the match performance with a stunning goal to re-establish his side's lead in the second-half.

Having surrendered an early advantage given to them by a Charlie Mulgrew own goal, Inverness this time held on. Indeed, the lead was extended to two thanks to a Shane Sutherland strike and, although Celtic snatched a goal through a last-minute penalty from Kris Commons, who had also scored his side's early equaliser, their mission to recover at least a point proved beyond them. Indeed, they could easily have conceded four or five goals last night.

The home fans' hearts – and probably those of watching Rangers fans – did leap into their mouths in the dying seconds as Celtic claimed another penalty, after substitute Pat McCourt had fallen under Munro's challenge. Fortune favoured the defender, who had earned it after such a brave, committed performance. Neil Lennon kicked out at some water bottles in a show of frustration which only served to increase the home fans' delight.

One club was formed in 1994, the other in 1888. But Inverness and Celtic share a remarkably storied history of encounters with each other, and the early stages suggested this was to be another of those seismic meetings. The second half simply confirmed we were witness to another dismantling of Celtic's hopes by a rampant Inverness side, who, in another delicious aside, are managed by that old Ibrox war horse, Butcher.

It was a compliment to Inverness that Lennon chose to play a full quantity of ball players, with Shaun Maloney handed a first start this year. He lined up alongside Anthony Stokes, Gary Hooper and Kris Commons in a potent mix of guile and goal-threat.

Lennon recognised that Inverness can play a bit too and, on a late spring evening in the sun-dappled Highlands, why not aim to play the beautiful game?

This was another of those occasions when one is moved to think that, when the conditions are right, there is no better place in Britain to watch football than the Tulloch Caledonian stadium, Inverness.

Butcher had invited criticism by announcing the names of ten players he had decided to free on the eve of the match. But it wasn't possible to detect any sense of players downing tools, despite the likes of Munro and Chris Innes having also been named in the starting line-up. Both will be leaving Inverness in the summer, with the long-serving Munro among the biggest surprises on the axed list.

Here was a night when Inverness backed up their contention that they belong in the top six. This twice-postponed match had been allowed to stray into the post-split segment of the season, yet such was its tightness that it might easily have passed for a bona fide top-six clash.

Lennon had been right to be wary, although the Celtic manager needs little reminder of the dangers posed by Inverness. He placed a heavy emphasis on his mercurial players, though they struggled to fashion chances that were nearer than about 20 yards from goal.

Surprisingly, they were quickly required to go in search of an equaliser. Inverness, having survived an early series of Celtic attacks, mounted one of their own and Mulgrew was forced to clear the ball towards the Kessock Bridge.

But the danger remained after the throw-in and another clearance saw the ball land at the feet of Kenny Gillet, who slung a good ball towards Sutherland at the back post. His cross was intended for Rooney, and although it found him, a further deflection off Mulgrew meant Forster was never likely to get his hands to the ball.

Just seven minutes had passed and already Celtic were behind. For the first time since the League Cup final defeat to Rangers Lennon's side had to chase the game, and it was a task they tackled with admirable relish. Just two minutes more had passed when Commons collected the ball and moved towards the Inverness goal. This surge forward was made easier due to the absence of opposition challenges, with Commons then deciding to let the ball do the work. He unleashed an angled shot from 20 yards and saw it fly into the corner of Ryan Esson's net, via another deflection, this time off Innes.

Two goals in the opening ten minutes certainly whetted the appetite. It could easily have been three goals in 11 minutes had Rooney managed to force the ball past Forster following a flick from Aaron Doran. Forster read the situation well, however, and made a good block.

Celtic could not stage such an impressive response this time around. They toiled to create an opening inside the Inverness box. Commons went close with another effort from just outside the box while Maloney saw a free-kick tipped over the bar by Esson. But it was far from what the Celtic fans would have expected from a team boasting such an array of attacking riches.

The first-half had finished in fairly tame fashion, especially considering its explosive start. The game quickly re-ignited after the interval, however. A Doran corner after 53 minutes was not cleared effectively enough by Majstorovic. But Celtic might not have been overly concerned as the ball fell to Munro, just inside the box. His half-volley, which flew past Forster into the corner of the net, took everyone by surprise, possibly even himself.

His reaction was that of a player who does this every week. Perhaps in his undemonstrative march back to his own half could also be detected the deep satisfaction of a man who sensed he had made a point.

Inverness were not content with a one-goal lead and sought the comfort which their second-half performance merited. Just eight minutes later, they increased their lead and, again, Majstorovic played his part, courtesy of a poor clearance. Nick Ross played a fine first-time ball towards Sutherland, whose shot bashed off the far post before nestling in the net.

Celtic pulled one back, through Commons again, but they must now re-train their sights on clawing back an older enemy.

Inverness: Esson, Tokely, Munro, Innes, Gillet, Duff, Cox, Ross, Sutherland (Odhiambo 82), Rooney (Morrison 90), Doran. Subs not used: Tuffey, Golabek, Duncan, Sanchez, MacDonald.

Celtic: Forster, Izaguirre, Majstorovic, Wilson, Mulgrew, Brown, Kayal (Ki 71), Commons, Maloney, Stokes (Murphy 58), Hooper (McCourt 66). Subs not used: Zaluska, Samaras, Rogne, Forrest.

BBC

Inverness CT 3-2 Celtic

Inverness Caledonian Thistle derailed Celtic's title challenge with a well-deserved victory in the Highlands.

Charlie Mulgrew nudged in Adam Rooney's seventh-minute flick to give Caley the lead, but Kris Commons's 18-yard strike two minutes later restored the balance.
Grant Munro's screamer restored Caley's lead on 53 minutes, then Shane Sutherland volleyed home for the third.
Commons converted for Celtic from the spot when Shaun Maloney was felled in stoppage time, but it came too late.

The win means Celtic are now one point behind leaders Rangers with three matches remaining, handing the advantage to the Ibrox side for the title run-in.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon made just the one change to his side as Maloney came in for James Forrest, who started on the bench.
His opposite number Terry Butcher also made one change, with defender Chris Innes coming in for Alex MacDonald.
A flurry of corners for Celtic put some early pressure on the hosts, but the opening goal came from a Sutherland long ball against the run of play in the seventh minute, which Rooney flicked past goalkeeper Fraser Forster from six yards out via a delfection off Charlie Mulgrew.
However, the lead was short lived when Commons edged forward to the Inverness 18 yard line two minutes later and blasted a sensational strike past keeper Ryan Esson to restore parity.
Player of the Season Emilio Izaguirre delivered a long ball across for Anthony Stokes, but the Irishman's shot lacked power and failed to test Esson.
A Commons free-kick from the edge of the Inverness penalty area struck the wall, then Aaron Doran's dead ball at the other end failed to find a blue-and-red jersey.
As the half-hour mark approached, Gary Hooper sent a tempting ball across the Inverness goal, but Innes was on hand to clear it for a Celtic corner that ultimately came to nothing.
Moments later, Hooper angled another tempting shot towards the Inverness goal that inched past Esson's left-hand post.
A double-attempt at goal by Stokes five minutes from the interval was thwarted by Grant Munro, then a curling Maloney free-kick was tipped over the bar by Esson on the stroke of half-time.
Sutherland almost leapt to meet a Doran cross shortly after the restart as the hosts went in search of the lead, then a Commons cross at the other end failed to find a Celtic jersey.
With 53 minutes played, Munro controlled a Doran corner on the edge of the Celtic penalty area and planted a delightful shot past Forster to put Inverness ahead.
Shortly after the hour mark, Nick Ross latched on to a poor Daniel Majstorovic clearance to flick on for Sutherland to blast in from 10 yards out to make the score 3-1.
Beram Kayal broke free in the Inverness penalty area and struck for goal, but Esson was equal to the task.
Celtic struggled for large spells of the second half with Inverness piling on the pressure in search of more goals, and Munro should have done better with an effort from 18 yards that went wildly astray.
The match could have been over as a contest in the 75th minute when Rooney benefited from a Mulgrew slip-up and went one-on-one with Forster, but struck the ball straight at the big Celtic keeper's legs.
The visitors made several changes – one enforced when Kayal was stretchered off with a wrist injury – but failed to break down their hosts' resolve, with Majstorovic's late header flashing across the face of goal as full-time approached.
With four minutes of stoppage time added, Maloney was felled in the Inverness penalty area by Ross Tokely and Commons converted to hand Celtic a late lifeline.
As the seconds ticked away, referee Stevie O'Reilly waved away Celtic's claims for a second penalty after Paddy McCourt went to ground, and any hopes of the visitors securing an unlikely equaliser vanished.

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/9474278.stm

Published: 2011/05/03 15:38:30 GMT

© BBC 2011

  • Final Result
  • Full Time
  • 90:00+5:14 The referee brings the game to a close.
  • 90:00+3:19 Eric Odhiambo concedes a free kick for a foul on Charlie Mulgrew. Free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
  • 90:00+2:38 GOAL – Kris CommonsInverness CT 3 – 2 Celtic Penalty taken left-footed by Kris Commons and scored. Inverness CT 3-2 Celtic.
  • 90:00+2:02 Booking Ross Tokely receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
  • 90:00+1:54 Penalty awarded for an unfair challenge on Shaun Maloney by Ross Tokely.
  • 90:00+1:50 Substitution Gavin Morrison joins the action as a substitute, replacing Adam Rooney.
  • 90:00+0:33 Emilio Izaguirre decides to take the corner short, Effort on goal by Scott Brown from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.
  • 87:42 Daniel Majstorovic produces a headed effort from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
  • 87:08 Corner taken by Kris Commons, Ross Tokely makes a clearance.
  • 84:16 Inswinging corner taken by Sung-Yeung Ki, clearance made by Kenny Gillet.
  • 82:27 Emilio Izaguirre fouled by Eric Odhiambo, the ref awards a free kick. Charlie Mulgrew restarts play with the free kick.
  • 81:57 Substitution Eric Odhiambo on for Shane Sutherland.
  • 81:26 Booking Shane Sutherland is shown a yellow card.
  • 77:30 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mark Wilson by Shane Sutherland. Kris Commons crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing.
  • 74:44 Adam Rooney takes a shot. Save by Fraser Forster.
  • 73:24 Inswinging corner taken by Patrick McCourt from the left by-line.
  • 72:02 Corner taken by Aaron Doran from the right by-line, Effort on goal by Grant Munro from just inside the area clears the bar.
  • 71:35 Adam Rooney fouled by Daniel Majstorovic, the ref awards a free kick. Shane Sutherland restarts play with the free kick.
  • 71:18 Booking The referee shows Daniel Majstorovic a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
  • Correction – 70:54 Substitution Sung-Yeung Ki comes on in place of Beram Kayal.
  • 70:54 Substitution Sung-Yeung Ki joins the action as a substitute, replacing Beram Kayal.
  • 70:12 Scott Brown gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Shane Sutherland. Aaron Doran delivers the ball, Headed effort on goal by Ross Tokely from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
  • 69:46 Booking The referee books Scott Brown for unsporting behaviour.
  • 68:48 Unfair challenge on Kenny Gillet by Kris Commons results in a free kick. Ryan Esson takes the direct free kick.
  • 67:31 Corner taken left-footed by Kris Commons from the right by-line, Grant Munro manages to make a clearance.
  • 67:10 Beram Kayal takes a shot. Save made by Ryan Esson.
  • 65:52 Substitution Patrick McCourt joins the action as a substitute, replacing Gary Hooper.
  • 64:53 Kris Commons takes a shot. Save made by Ryan Esson.
  • 64:20 Foul by Kenny Gillet on Shaun Maloney, free kick awarded. Mark Wilson restarts play with the free kick.
  • 63:36 The assistant referee flags for offside against Adam Rooney. Fraser Forster takes the free kick.
  • 62:16 Effort from just outside the area by Kris Commons goes over the target.
  • 61:13 GOAL – Shane SutherlandInverness CT 3 – 1 Celtic Shane Sutherland finds the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Inverness CT 3-1 Celtic.
  • 60:23 Daniel Majstorovic gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nick Ross. Aaron Doran crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, clearance by Daniel Majstorovic.
  • 59:00 Ross Tokely challenges Kris Commons unfairly and gives away a free kick. Mark Wilson restarts play with the free kick.
  • 57:55 Substitution Daryl Murphy comes on in place of Anthony Stokes.
  • 56:24 Corner from the left by-line taken by Shane Sutherland, Effort from deep inside the area by Grant Munro misses to the right of the goal.
  • 54:27 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kris Commons by Ross Tokely. Kris Commons restarts play with the free kick.
  • 52:36 The assist for the goal came from Aaron Doran.
  • 52:36 GOAL – Grant MunroInverness CT 2 – 1 Celtic Goal scored by Grant Munro from inside the box to the top right corner of the goal. Inverness CT 2-1 Celtic.
  • 52:01 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Aaron Doran,
  • 49:33 The official flags Gary Hooper offside. Free kick taken by Ryan Esson.
  • 47:08 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Shane Sutherland from the left by-line, Daniel Majstorovic makes a clearance.
  • 46:29 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kris Commons by Kenny Gillet. Direct free kick taken by Mark Wilson.
  • 45:01 The match restarts for the second half.
  • Half Time
  • 45:00+1:11 The whistle is blown to end the first half.
  • 45:00+0:27 Shot from outside the penalty box by Beram Kayal goes wide right of the goal.
  • 45:00+0:02 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Kris Commons, save by Ryan Esson.
  • 43:47 Ross Tokely concedes a free kick for a foul on Shaun Maloney. Shaun Maloney produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick, Ryan Esson makes a save.
  • 42:41 Nick Ross produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target.
  • 38:51 Free kick awarded for a foul by Daniel Majstorovic on Adam Rooney. Grant Munro takes the direct free kick.
  • 36:43 Chris Innes challenges Anthony Stokes unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Emilio Izaguirre.
  • 36:03 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Aaron Doran, clearance by Gary Hooper.
  • 35:36 Foul by Kris Commons on Nick Ross, free kick awarded. Ryan Esson takes the direct free kick.
  • 33:30 Adam Rooney gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Charlie Mulgrew. Charlie Mulgrew takes the direct free kick.
  • 31:44 Shot from just outside the box by Kris Commons misses to the right of the goal.
  • 28:49 Corner taken left-footed by Kris Commons, Daniel Majstorovic has a headed effort from close in and clears the bar.
  • 27:09 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Daniel Majstorovic by Adam Rooney. Direct free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
  • 24:08 Kenny Gillet challenges Mark Wilson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance by Adam Rooney.
  • 19:25 Shaun Maloney concedes a free kick for a foul on Ross Tokely. Free kick crossed right-footed by Aaron Doran, clearance made by Daniel Majstorovic.
  • 18:37 Beram Kayal takes a shot. Save by Ryan Esson.
  • 16:49 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Beram Kayal by Grant Munro. Kris Commons produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
  • 15:25 Free kick awarded for a foul by Chris Innes on Gary Hooper. Direct free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
  • 14:16 Anthony Stokes takes a shot. Save by Ryan Esson.
  • 13:10 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Rooney by Daniel Majstorovic. Kenny Gillet takes the direct free kick.
  • 11:11 Emilio Izaguirre gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Shane Sutherland. Ross Tokely takes the direct free kick.
  • 9:20 Adam Rooney takes a shot. Save by Fraser Forster.
  • 8:39 GOAL – Kris CommonsInverness CT 1 – 1 Celtic Kris Commons gets on the score sheet with a goal from outside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Inverness CT 1-1 Celtic.
  • 8:12 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Emilio Izaguirre by Shane Sutherland. Charlie Mulgrew takes the free kick.
  • 7:53 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Grant Munro by Gary Hooper. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Esson.
  • 6:14 Assist by Shane Sutherland.
  • 6:14 GOAL – Charlie MulgrewInverness CT 1 – 0 Celtic Charlie Mulgrew concedes an unfortunate own goal. Inverness CT 1-0 Celtic.
  • 3:57 Corner taken by Shaun Maloney from the right by-line, Header from close in by Daniel Majstorovic misses to the left of the goal.
  • 3:19 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Shaun Maloney, clearance made by Nick Ross.
  • 2:47 Corner taken right-footed by Shaun Maloney from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Chris Innes.
  • 0:25 Shaun Maloney takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Grant Munro makes a clearance.
  • 0:00 The referee gets the game started.