2010-04-04: Hibernian 0-1 Celtic, SPL

Match Pictures | Matches: 20092010 | 2009-2010 Pictures

Trivia

  • Unchanged, Celtic ten pts behind Huns, but they've a game in hand.
  • Boruc not playing due to family stuff.
  • Robbie Keane, 12 goals in 12 games, 8th in league.

Review

A Robbie Keane penalty helped Celtic edge out Hibernian in a fast-paced encounter at Easter Road. Hibs should have been 2-0 up after the first ten mins or so, but we clung on and took control. We weren't as competent as should have been and it took till the 30th minute to get a shot on target. We had a fair penalty appeal turned down from handball, but took the lead after McGeady took a high kick from a Hibee player. Robbie Keane scored from the spot. Hibs had one real chance from Riordan, but did little else enough and were quite the more aggressive side with too many fouls and yellow cards.

3pts for us, and a good boost for Lennon.

Teams

Hibernian

  • 01Stack
  • 06Murray
  • 15Thicot; yellow card
  • 25McCormack; yellow card
  • 26Bamba; yellow card
  • 08Cregg
  • 11Rankin (Benjelloun 78)
  • 33Miller; yellow card
  • 09Nish; yellow card (Gow 88)
  • 10Riordan (Danny Galbraith 77)
  • 18Stokes

Substitutes

  • 21Smith,
  • 16Stevenson,
  • 22Danny Galbraith,
  • 30Taggart,
  • 19Benjelloun,
  • 28Gow,
  • 29Byrne

Celtic

  • 24Zaluska
  • 02Hinkel
  • 03Naylor
  • 38Thompson
  • 48O'Deayellow card
  • 06N'Guemoyellow card
  • 08Brown
  • 46McGeady
  • 07Keane (Rasmussen 84)
  • 09Samaras
  • 10Fortune; yellow card

Substitutes

  • 47Cervi,
  • 12Wilson,
  • 21Braafheid,
  • 17Crosas,
  • 18Ki,
  • 19Rasmussen,
  • 55McGowan

Goals

  • Keane (pen) 62
Ref: Richmond
Att: 10,523

Articles

Pictures

KStreet

MOTM

Stats

Possession

  • Hibernian 38%
  • Celtic 62%

Attempts on target

  • Hibernian 4
  • Celtic 6

Attempts off target

  • Hibernian 5
  • Celtic 4

Corners

  • Hibernian 2
  • Celtic 8

Fouls

  • Hibernian 24
  • Celtic 15

Articles

Football: 'Brilliant' Keane helps Lennon push his claim for Celtic job: Hibernian 0 Celtic 1 Keane 62pen

05 April 2010

Provided by: The Guardian

Neil Lennon's celebrations at full time showed he knew a meaningful hurdle had been negotiated. Celtic's interim manager had pinpointed a visit to Easter Road as the first real test of his spell in charge and of his ability to take on the post full-time from the summer. It was not pretty but Robbie Keane's second-half penalty secured three points for the visitors and for Lennon a second win in his two games so far.
"I am more pleased than after we won last week," Lennon said. "We showed great character and it was an outstanding defensive display. I told the players at half‑time to back themselves, to have belief, and that's what they did."
The one key problem Lennon, or whoever succeeds Tony Mowbray before the start of next season, will have is that the architect of almost everything positive at Celtic now almost certainly will not be around to help out.
Keane has now scored a dozen goals in as many games and has solved what had become a problem at Celtic over the last year by converting spot-kicks. The Tottenham loanee has virtually ruled out staying in Glasgow beyond this campaign although Lennon suggested matters may not be as straightforward as that. "He is a class player, he's brilliant," Lennon said of Keane. "Whether we can keep him here, we will see. We'll keep working at it."
A poor playing surface and an overly fussy refereeing display from Charlie Richmond hardly helped this spectacle. Hibernian, whose season is petering out after a promising start, opened brightly and forced Lukasz Zaluska into two fine saves within the first six minutes. Zaluska had replaced Artur Boruc as Celtic's goalkeeper, the latter having been granted compassionate leave to return home to Poland following the death of his father.
Celtic improved after the break and there was little doubt about the decision that led to the winner. Anthony Stokes clumsily upended Aiden McGeady and Keane coolly did the rest from 12 yards.
Hibs' best attempt at a response came when Derek Riordan lashed a 30-yard volley against the crossbar. Celtic's backline, well-marshalled and protected from midfield in the manner from which Lennon made a playing career, showed the very strength they lacked to such damaging effect earlier in the season.
Man of the match Darren O'Dea (Celtic).
Captions:
Neil Lennon, Celtic's acting manager, has not given up hope of keeping his on-loan forward Robbie Keane
© Copyright 2010. The Guardian. All rights reserved.
The Guardian

Hibernian 0 – 1 Celtic

BBC

By Martin Conaghan

A Robbie Keane penalty helped Celtic edge out Hibernian in a fast-paced encounter at Easter Road.

Keane netted the 12th goal of his loan spell, confidently converting from the spot in the 62nd-minute.

Anthony Stokes had perhaps been harshly penalised for a challenge on Aiden McGeady and a spot-kick was the result.

Derek Riordan was denied by the Celtic crossbar in the 69th minute, but the hosts failed to find the target and Celtic secured the points.

The victory helps Celtic maintain pressure on Rangers at the top of the table, although, with a 10-point advantage and a game in hand, the Ibrox side look unlikely to be toppled.

Hibs have now lost valuable ground on Dundee United and lie in fourth place, trailing the Taysiders by five points, having played a game more.

Lukasz Zaluska returned to Celtic goal after Artur Boruc was left out due to a family bereavement, while John Hughes dropped Lewis Stevenson to the bench and Chris Hogg was left out altogether as Anthony Stokes and Darren McCormack came in.

Riordan's fourth-minute free-kick tested Zaluska in the Celtic goal when Ian Murray nodded down a searching ball into the danger area.

The pressure from Hibs continued when John Rankin found Stokes down the right and the former Arsenal man blasted in a shot that Zaluska parried wide.

Celtic replied at the other end when McGeady fed Marc-Antoine Fortune inside the Hibs penalty area, but Souleymane Bamba made the block and the Frenchman was denied.

Josh Thompson blazed a shot over the bar after Georgios Samaras had nodded down a Lee Naylor corner.

Celtic appeared to be denied a penalty in the 17th minute when Murray handled the ball under pressure from Keane, but neither referee Charlie Richmond nor his assistant on the sideline spotted the infringement, despite the Irishman's protests.

With 20 minutes played, Scott Brown fired over the bar after a Naylor corner was cleared, then Celtic keeper Zaluska made a double save from a Riordan free-kick sent in from the edge of the area.

Samaras rifled in a 20-yard shot in the 34th minute that Graham Stack held well, then the keeper comfortably gathered a Naylor corner with the last touch of the first half.

There was no let-up in the pace after the re-start and Samaras fluffed a chance to shoot for goal from the centre of the Hibernian penalty area after Fortune crossed in from the right.

Colin Nish fired a tame effort at Zaluska as the hour mark approached, then Fortune warmed the hands of Stack at the other end.

Stack was again called into action in the 61st minute when Naylor curved in a tempting direct free-kick as the visitors enjoyed a brief spell of pressure.

One minute later, Stokes was punished for a dangerous challenge on McGeady in the Hibs penalty area and Robbie Keane stepped up to convert the resulting penalty kick with confidence.

Riordan struck the Celtic crossbar in the 69th minute with a thundering half-volley as the hosts attempted to restore parity, then Murray completely miss-hit a sterling opportunity from 10 yards out.

Keane attempted a bold effort from a tight angle in the 75th minute, but Stack was positioned well to deny.

With about five minutes remaining, Darren McCormack sent in an over-ambitious volley from 25 yards, but it sailed over the bar.

Celtic's Morten Rasmussen should have done better with a right-foot strike from the edge of the Hibs penalty area in the last few minutes of the game, but the visitors held out and interim manager Neil Lennon maintained his 100% record in charge of the Glasgow side.

  • Final Result
  • Full Time
  • 90:00+3:58 The referee blows for the end of the match.
  • 90:00+3:07 Free kick taken by Lee Naylor.
  • 90:00+3:07 Booking Darren McCormack goes into the referee's book.
  • 90:00+3:03 Darren McCormack concedes a free kick for a foul on Lee Naylor.
  • 90:00+1:04 Shot from just outside the box by Ian Murray misses to the right of the goal.
  • 88:51 Landry N'Guemo fouled by Daniel Galbraith, the ref awards a free kick. Lukasz Zaluska restarts play with the free kick.
  • 88:18 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marc-Antoine Fortune by Liam Miller. Free kick taken by Lee Naylor.
  • 87:44 Substitution Alan Gow replaces Colin Nish.
  • 87:06 Morten Rasmussen takes a shot. Save by Graham Stack.
  • 86:24 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Abdessalam Benjelloun by Scott Brown. Direct free kick taken by Patrick Cregg.
  • 83:40 Substitution Morten Rasmussen joins the action as a substitute, replacing Robbie Keane.
  • 83:40 Effort from outside the penalty area by Darren McCormack goes wide left of the target.
  • 83:09 Marc-Antoine Fortune gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Souleymane Bamba. Graham Stack restarts play with the free kick.
  • 81:13 Unfair challenge on Darren McCormack by Aiden McGeady results in a free kick. Daniel Galbraith delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing.
  • 80:29 Free kick taken by Ian Murray.
  • 80:29 Booking Marc-Antoine Fortune is shown a yellow card.
  • 80:23 Marc-Antoine Fortune gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ian Murray.
  • 79:22 Lee Naylor delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, clearance made by Steven Thicot.
  • 79:22 Booking Souleymane Bamba is shown a yellow card for dissent.
  • 79:11 Robbie Keane fouled by Souleymane Bamba, the ref awards a free kick.
  • 78:46 Georgios Samaras fouled by Abdessalam Benjelloun, the ref awards a free kick. Lee Naylor restarts play with the free kick.
  • 78:10 Effort from outside the box by Daniel Galbraith goes wide right of the target.
  • 77:27 Direct free kick taken by Steven Thicot.
  • 77:27 Substitution John Rankin leaves the field to be replaced by Abdessalam Benjelloun.
  • 77:27 Free kick awarded for a foul by Darren O'Dea on Anthony Stokes.
  • 76:07 Direct free kick taken by Graham Stack.
  • 76:07 Substitution Daniel Galbraith replaces Derek Riordan.
  • 76:07 Steven Thicot fouled by Marc-Antoine Fortune, the ref awards a free kick.
  • 75:29 Darren McCormack delivers the ball, clearance by Darren O'Dea.
  • 74:19 Booking Booking for Landry N'Guemo.
  • 74:10 Effort from inside the area by Robbie Keane misses to the right of the goal.
  • 70:31 Ian Murray crosses the ball, Lukasz Zaluska makes a save.
  • 69:41 The ball is swung over by Darren McCormack, Josh Thompson manages to make a clearance.
  • 68:27 Effort from 30 yards by Derek Riordan.
  • 68:03 Josh Thompson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Colin Nish. Free kick taken by Derek Riordan.
  • 67:01 Aiden McGeady takes a outswinging corner to the near post.
  • 65:38 Lee Naylor takes the free kick.
  • 65:38 Booking Caution for Colin Nish.
  • 65:32 Foul by Colin Nish on Landry N'Guemo, free kick awarded.
  • 61:48 Aiden McGeady provided the assist for the goal.
  • 61:48 GOAL – Robbie Keane:Hibernian 0 – 1 Celtic Robbie Keane scores a placed penalty. Hibernian 0-1 Celtic.
  • 60:49 Penalty awarded for an unfair challenge on Aiden McGeady by Anthony Stokes.
  • 60:25 Lee Naylor takes a outswinging corner to the near post, clearance made by Steven Thicot.
  • 59:09 Lee Naylor has an effort direct from the free kick, Graham Stack makes a save.
  • 59:09 Booking Steven Thicot receives a caution.
  • 59:03 Steven Thicot gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Georgios Samaras.
  • 58:47 Anthony Stokes challenges Darren O'Dea unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Landry N'Guemo.
  • 58:31 Drilled left-footed shot by Marc-Antoine Fortune. Save made by Graham Stack.
  • 57:26 Effort on goal by Colin Nish from 25 yards. Comfortable save by Graham Stack.
  • 55:54 John Rankin challenges Landry N'Guemo unfairly and gives away a free kick. Landry N'Guemo restarts play with the free kick.
  • 54:22 Free kick taken by Lukasz Zaluska.
  • 54:22 Booking Liam Miller goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
  • 54:17 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Landry N'Guemo by Liam Miller.
  • 51:39 Foul by Liam Miller on Aiden McGeady, free kick awarded. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Lee Naylor, Steven Thicot makes a clearance.
  • 50:51 The ball is sent over by Liam Miller, clearance by Andreas Hinkel.
  • 49:38 Corner taken left-footed by Lee Naylor from the right by-line, Darren O'Dea takes a shot. Patrick Cregg gets a block in.
  • 47:52 Aiden McGeady has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.
  • 47:25 Unfair challenge on Scott Brown by John Rankin results in a free kick. Andreas Hinkel takes the direct free kick.
  • 45:19 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Lee Naylor.
  • 45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
  • Half Time
  • 45:00+1:30 The match has reached half-time.
  • 45:00+0:49 Lee Naylor takes the inswinging corner, save made by Graham Stack.
  • 42:04 Unfair challenge on Scott Brown by Ian Murray results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Josh Thompson.
  • 41:18 The ball is crossed by Darren McCormack, Josh Thompson makes a clearance.
  • 39:40 The official flags Anthony Stokes offside. Lukasz Zaluska takes the free kick.
  • 38:03 Free kick awarded for a foul by John Rankin on Marc-Antoine Fortune. Lee Naylor takes the free kick.
  • 37:32 Liam Miller delivers the ball.
  • 35:19 A cross is delivered by Aiden McGeady.
  • 33:32 Short corner taken by Aiden McGeady.
  • 32:36 Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Save by Graham Stack.
  • 32:02 Free kick awarded for a foul by Colin Nish on Darren O'Dea. Lukasz Zaluska restarts play with the free kick.
  • 31:26 Foul by Georgios Samaras on Ian Murray, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Souleymane Bamba.
  • 30:42 Souleymane Bamba challenges Marc-Antoine Fortune unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lee Naylor restarts play with the free kick.
  • 28:57 Shot on goal comes in from Derek Riordan from the free kick.
  • 28:57 Booking Darren O'Dea goes into the referee's book.
  • 27:47 Foul by Darren O'Dea on Colin Nish, free kick awarded.
  • 27:18 Patrick Cregg fouled by Lee Naylor, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Graham Stack.
  • 24:21 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Colin Nish by Darren O'Dea. Derek Riordan takes the free kick.
  • 23:43 Colin Nish gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Darren O'Dea. Free kick taken by Lee Naylor.
  • 22:01 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Landry N'Guemo by Liam Miller. Lee Naylor takes the free kick.
  • 21:12 Colin Nish challenges Josh Thompson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Andreas Hinkel.
  • 20:03 Inswinging corner taken by Lee Naylor from the right by-line, Shot on goal by Scott Brown from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
  • 19:00 Liam Miller gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marc-Antoine Fortune. Direct free kick taken by Lee Naylor.
  • 16:57 Steven Thicot gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Landry N'Guemo. Lee Naylor delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel.
  • 12:05 Corner taken left-footed by Lee Naylor, Josh Thompson produces a left-footed shot from close in that goes over the bar.
  • 11:11 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Darren McCormack by Aiden McGeady. Free kick taken by Darren McCormack.
  • 10:00 Patrick Cregg concedes a free kick for a foul on Landry N'Guemo. Free kick taken by Lee Naylor.
  • 9:13 Marc-Antoine Fortune takes a shot. Blocked by Souleymane Bamba. Scott Brown concedes a free kick for a foul on Colin Nish. Direct free kick taken by Darren McCormack. Patrick Cregg fouled by Landry N'Guemo, the ref awards a free kick. John Rankin restarts play with the free kick.
  • 6:40 Anthony Stokes takes a shot. Save by Lukasz Zaluska. Outswinging corner taken left-footed by John Rankin, clearance made by Georgios Samaras.
  • 4:20 Souleymane Bamba produces a left-footed shot from inside the area that clears the bar.
  • 4:06 Corner from right by-line taken by John Rankin.
  • 2:58 Scott Brown challenges John Rankin unfairly and gives away a free kick. The ball is sent over by Derek Riordan, Colin Nish gets a header at goal, save by Lukasz Zaluska.
  • 2:08 Foul by John Rankin on Aiden McGeady, free kick awarded. Lukasz Zaluska takes the free kick.
  • 0:48 Marc-Antoine Fortune produces a cross, clearance by Souleymane Bamba.
  • 0:00 The referee gets the match started.