2010-01-19: Morton 0-1 Celtic, Scottish Cup

Trivia

• 4th Round Scottish Cup
• Bill McLaren (legendary rugby commentator) died the day.

Review

Another maddening performance, but we still have pulled the needed result, winning by a solitary goal against lower league minnows Morton. Rising youngster McGinn scored the goal continuing to make a name for himself. Our strikers continue to misfire and against opposition as tonight there has to be concerns from management.

Teams

Ref:Thomson
Att: 10,191

Articles

• Match Report
• Manager Interview

Pictures

• Match Pictures

KStreet

• Pre-match
• Match
• Post Match

MOTM

• Voting Thread
• Result Thread
• Winner – Crosas M.
• 2009-10 Winners

Stats

Articles

Morton 0 – 1 Celtic

BBC

By David McDaid

Celtic booked their spot in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup with a narrow away win over First Division Morton.

Morton looked the livelier side from kick-off and Peter Weatherson tested Artur Boruc with a strong drive.

The visitors struggled to get going, but took the lead on 35 minutes when Niall McGinn rifled the ball in from Marc-Antoine Fortune's cut-back.

Celtic went on to dominate the second half and Lee Naylor hit the post, but they were unable to add to their lead.

Celtic now travel to play Stenhousemuir or Dunfermline in round five.

Dunfermline have appealed their expulsion from the cup for playing an ineligible player, with Stenhousemuir the team who stand to benefit if the Pars are unsuccessful.

Far from being overawed by their SPL opponents, Morton, perhaps buoyed by the 10,000-strong crowd, put Celtic under some early sustained pressure.

With four minutes on the clock Allan Jenkins had a clear sight at goal but badly mis-hit badly from 18 yards.

Celtic struggled to find fluency in the opening stages with only Aiden McGeady promising top create anything. But he found himself closely guarded by the home side.

The visitors' first effort was 15 minutes in the making, when McGinn cut in from the right, but the Northern Irishman's left-foot shot was woefully weak and did not trouble Ton goalkeeper Colin Stewart

At the other end Weatherson showed how it should be done, forcing Boruc to beat the ball away when the Englishman struck a powerful knee-high drive from 20 yards.

That effort was indicative of the way Morton were matching Celtic and more.

But, despite not having threatened the home goal, Tony Mowbray's side took the lead 10 minutes before half-time.

Fortune shielded the ball strongly to the by-line, drilled it back to the penalty spot where McGinn took one touch to control and then another to lash the ball high into the net past Stewart.

Celtic upped their game after the break and dominated possession and territory. But it took until nearly 60 minutes before Georgios Samaras was able to test Stewart, who produced a strong one-handed save from the Greek's 25-yard drive.

But for all their dominance in the second period Celtic huffed and puffed to add to to their lead.

Samaras did bundle the ball into the net with 13 minutes to play, but referee Craig Thomson ruled out the effort, saying the ball had come off the forward's hand.

Morton rarely made a foray into the Celtic box, and when Brian Wake did manage to jink his way towards goal he found Lee Naylor alert enough to block his shot.

And Naylor was so unlucky not to seal the win with three minutes to go when he watched his thumping 18-yard volley clatter off the inside of the post with Stewart beaten.

Seconds later, Fortune's control deserted him just a few yards from goal, but the solitary goal was enough send Mowbray's men into round five.

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray:
"It was a competitive game and we knew that would be the case, but it's 'job done' for us.

"In cup football you've got to get in the next round and we've done that.

"There were a few too many balls bouncing over our heads in the first half for my liking.

"But in the second half we saw it out pretty comfortably, and they didn't trouble us too much.

"But again tonight we missed some good opportunities and we need to be more clinical to make the scoreline reflect the balance of play."

Morton co-manager James Grady:
"The goal we gave a way was a very cheap one. Fortune's marked on the wrong side so it's a basic error.

"But I'm proud of all my players; they gave everything.

"We always knew it was going to be difficult but for the majority of the match we competed well.

"With a wee bit of luck we might have got that goal to get us a replay.

"We're in the First Division, and if the players give us a performance like that then we'll win most Saturdays."