2010-01-30: Hamilton 0-1 Celtic, SPL

Trivia

• Celtic stay 10pts behind Rangers (huns won 3-0 today). We've a game in hand.
• Danny Fox sold day before.
• Rasmussen scored his first goal for the club today. Fortune missed a penalty.
• Hooijveld debut.

Review

A poorer performance than even the defeat on Wednesday, but we scrapped a win despite missing a penalty. It's not good at the moment.

Teams

Articles

• Match Report

Pictures

• Match Pictures

KStreet

• Pre-match
• Match
• Post Match

MOTM

• Voting Thread
• Result Thread
• Winner – N'Guemo L
• 2009-10 Winners

Stats

Articles

Hamilton 0 – 1 Celtic

BBC
Morten Rasmussen bagged his first Celtic goal to set up an unconvincing win at Hamilton Accies.

The Danish striker immediately marked his arrival as a substitute with a sharp turn and shot on 67 minutes.

Prior to Rasmussen's strike, Celtic had toiled to break down stubborn, if unadventurous, opponents, with little goalmouth action to excite the fans.

Celtic were awarded a late penalty but Tomas Cerny made a good save to deny Marc-Antoine Fortune.

It was a hard slog for the visitors, who rarely found any passing fluency on a badly rutted pitch.

Visiting manager Tony Mowbray will be pleased that Rasmussen opened his account but the lack of cutting edge and midfield creativity must be a concern for the team chasing league leaders Rangers.

The home side made a lively start, with Celtic scrambling to clear a dangerous fourth-minute corner from Brian Easton, while Jordan Kirkpatrick was inches away from connecting with a Trent McClenahan cross.

However, the Accies completed the 90 minutes without a serious effort on target.

Celtic slowly worked their way into the game and Hamilton defender Mark McLaughlin awkwardly turned the ball over his own crossbar before Aiden McGeady went close with a drive from 18 yards.

Celtic full-back Andreas Hinkel was getting forward frequently but his team-mates could not capitalise on the German's good deliveries into the penalty area.

Nine minutes from the break, McLaughlin stepped in to intercept a slack pass to Georgios Samaras then strode forward purposefully only to see his 30-yard drive fly wide.

Fortune broke free of the home defence but his shot was well blocked by Cerny before the striker ballooned the rebound over the bar.

Celtic skipper Darren O'Dea headed over from a corner before Jos Hooiveld hit the side-netting following another set-piece from Ki Sung-Yueng.

Early in the second half Landry N'Guemo made a powerful run from the heart of midfield but his shot took a deflection and looped into the arms of Cerny.

On 65 minutes, South Korean midfielder Ki did well to manufacture room for shot on the edge of the penalty area but his powerful effort was beaten away by Cerny.

The breakthrough came two minutes later when Rasmussen, on as a replacement for the ineffectual Samaras, managed to turn sharply and shoot low into the net after a strong run from Ki.

The visitors were knocking the ball around with more purpose after the goal but still found it difficult to prise open the Accies defence.

A fierce angled drive from Fortune was blocked at his near post by Cerny and the keeper again denied the Celtic striker from a penalty in time added on.

Fortune was bundled over by McLaughlin but his spot-kick lacked accuracy and Cerny was able to parry the ball to safety.

Hamilton Accies manager Billy Reid:

"Over the 90 minutes we matched Celtic in most departments. Our goalkeeper has had one or two saves.

"But they've got the break of the ball and the big lad's (Morten Rasmussen) put the ball in the net.

"It's a wee bit unfair on our players; their commitment and effort was there for all to see. We just don't seem to get that wee break in front of goal.

"We had five first-team regulars missing today, but we have to start picking up points. It's been a tough schedule for us. We've got a break next week and we'll come back."

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray:

"We expected a tough game and I said that before the match.

"Hamilton are a very committed side and they've had three games recently against Rangers and done exceptionally well.

"They made life very difficult for us and we had to be patient, we knew we'd create chances.

"Thankfully, Morten Rasmussen came off the bench and scored a goal – that's why he's here.

"We've got some key players out injured at the moment: Brown, Maloney and McDonald. Your best players make the difference in the tight games.

"Hopefully, when the players I've mentioned return, and with another one or two additions, then we won't be far away."
Hamilton Accies manager Billy Reid:

"Over the 90 minutes we matched Celtic in most departments. Our goalkeeper has had one or two saves.
"But they've got the break of the ball and the big lad's (Morten Rasmussen) put the ball in the net.
"It's a wee bit unfair on our players; their commitment and effort was there for all to see. We just don't seem to get that wee break in front of goal.
"We had five first-team regulars missing today, but we have to start picking up points. It's been a tough schedule for us. We've got a break next week and we'll come back."
Celtic manager Tony Mowbray:

"We expected a tough game and I said that before the match.
"Hamilton are a very committed side and they've had three games recently against Rangers and done exceptionally well.
"They made life very difficult for us and we had to be patient, we knew we'd create chances.
"Thankfully, Morten Rasmussen came off the bench and scored a goal – that's why he's here.
"We've got some key players out injured at the moment: Brown, Maloney and McDonald. Your best players make the difference in the tight games.
"Hopefully, when the players I've mentioned return, and with another one or two additions, then we won't be far away."

Final Result