2012-01-29: Falkirk 1-3 Celtic, League Cup

Match Pictures | Matches: 20112012 | 2011-2012 Pictures

Trivia

  • Semi-final match.
  • Celtic into the final in March v Kilmarnock; the treble still on.
  • Polish international striker Brozek, 28, is close to signing from Trabzonspor on a six-month loan deal.
  • Club trying to sign Fojut before window shuts. €250k has been offered. If deal cannot be done other loan options considered
  • Celtic signed Rabiu Ibrahim.
  • Jay Fulton scores for Falkirk; his father Steve Fulton played for Celtic in the 1990s.
  • Clear goal by Hooper chopped offside! Cracking free-kick by Stokes.
  • Falkirk manager and ex-Celt/ex-Hun player Steven Pressley through a wobbley at half-time and was sent to the stands. He later apologised for behaviour on radio interview. It was a penalty so no complaints.
  • Neil Lennon: "Never felt we were in that much danger today…Emilio a little but pedestrian…can't ask any more of players at moment."

Review

(Jungle G of KDS)
Flat but comfortable for most of first half till equaliser came. Falkirk are a decent wee footballing team who done themselves and BMcF proud today but even at h/t was in no doubt we'd find ways to avoid an upset, as they were still leaving far too much space and being made to look good by a Celtic team whose passing was far from sharp and rarely out of first gear in terms of dictating the pace. Second half and to be fair we didn't really seem to be responding the way I imagine NL would have liked after some half-time truths but Stokes showed his mercurial streak with a touch of class from a set piece and that was the spark we needed to see it out without any real alarm. Relaxed at last, the third was a tap-in on the end of a glorious turn and burst of pace from Hooper. Incredible really that plenty continue to insist he produces little other than feeding on the scraps, lacks a first touch, questionable workrate etc. Strong as an ox and a brilliant outlet, deceptively fast on the turn and can be as selfish as he is deadly.

Downside was Izzy's performance which was setting off alarm bells long before he was done by Baggio jr for the Bairns' equaliser. Hooked at half-time and worryingly NL at a loss as to why he's looking so lethargic as on the radio the manager refused to make excuses for the player and said that with every game a big one right now, if the Honduran is looking for time to get up to speed, we can't afford that at the moment. Wanyama was also out of sorts.

But in summary front two showing their class, keeper there when we needed him, a 14th domestic win on the bounce, some character shown to secure the result with room to spare and a cup final and the first leg of a potential treble to look forward to. Happy with that alright.

Teams

Falkirk

  • 01 McGovern
  • 02 Duffy
  • 03 Scobbie
  • 04 Dods; yellow card
  • 05 Wallace
  • 06 Murdoch; yellow card
  • 08 Millaryellow card
  • 11 Jay Fulton (Alston 61)
  • 07 Weatherston (White 87)
  • 09 El Alagui
  • 10 Higginbotham (Sibbald 90+3)

Substitutes

  • 17 Bowman,
  • 12 Bennett,
  • 14 Alston,
  • 15 Sibbald,
  • 16 White

Goal

  • Jay Fulton 40

Celtic

  • 01 Forster
  • 03 Izaguirre (Ki Sung-Yeung 46)
  • 11 Cha Du-Ri (Matthews 68)
  • 21 Mulgrew
  • 25 Rogne
  • 08 Brown
  • 16 Ledley
  • 67 Wanyama
  • 10 Stokes (Commons 87)
  • 49 Forrest
  • 88 Hooper

Substitutes

  • 24 Zaluska,
  • 02 Matthews,
  • 18 Ki Sung-Yeung,
  • 09 Samaras,
  • 15 Commons

Goals

  • Brown (pen) 27
  • Stokes 56
  • Stokes 86
Ref: Norris
Att: 30,000

Articles

Pictures

Forum

MOTM

Stats

Possession

  • Falkirk 53%
  • Celtic 47%

Attempts on target

  • Falkirk 4
  • Celtic 8

Attempts off target

  • Falkirk 4
  • Celtic 4

Corners

  • Falkirk 4
  • Celtic 7

Fouls

  • Falkirk 13
  • Celtic 8

Articles

Falkirk 1 – 3 Celtic: Anthony Stokes double fires Celtic to final

The Scotsman

Published on Sunday 29 January 2012 17:39

CELTIC will meet Kilmarnock in the Scottish Communities League Cup final after Anthony Stokes’ second-half double took the Glasgow side past battling Falkirk in their semi-final at Hampden.

Skipper Scott Brown fired the Hoops into the lead from the spot in the 26th minute after Bairns skipper Darren Dods had wrestled with Thomas Rogne at a corner and it looked like the Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders would go on to win with some ease.

However, 17-year-old Falkirk midfielder Jay Fulton, son of former Celtic player Stevie Fulton, dramatically levelled for the Irn-Bru First Division side before the break.

But there was to be no repeat of Celtic’s shock 2010 Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to First Division Ross County thanks to former Bairns player Stokes.

The Irishman’s free-kick from 25 yards in the 56th minute gave Falkirk keeper Michael McGovern no chance and he tapped in from a Gary Hooper pass with five minutes remaining to make sure Celtic return to the national stadium on March 18.

Celtic were not at their best for long spells but their treble hopes remain alive with their next game in the William Hill Scottish Cup at Inverness next week.

Falkirk will continue their chase of Irn-Bru Division One leaders Ross County and they can take plenty of positives from their performance.

Celtic went into the game having won 12 successive SPL matches on their way to the top of the table.

Steven Pressley’s side had knocked out Rangers and Dundee United on their way to Hampden and they started brightly and with a confidence not often displayed by SPL teams when faced with Celtic.

However, in the 11th minute the Bairns were let off the hook with what appeared to be a contentious offside decision in their favour.

Brown’s right-footed drive from the edge of the box was tipped onto the post by Bairns keeper McGovern before Hooper rattled the rebound in to the net, only to turn and see the flag up.

Then, from a Charlie Mulgrew corner, Rogne crashed a header off the post, which perhaps led Dods get too close in the 26th minute when referee Euan Norris pointed to the spot and booked the Bairns skipper for wrestling Rogne to the ground at a Mulgrew corner.

There was little cause for complaint from Pressley’s side and Brown, who had scored last week at St Mirren, stepped up to slam the penalty past McGovern.

Celtic looked comfortable but there was even more drama in the 39th minute when Fulton drew Falkirk level with a fine goal.

Midfielder David Weatherston turned inside Celtic defender Cha Du-ri on the left and passed inside to Kallum Higginbotham who switched to Fulton who was running in to the box and he knocked the ball low past Fraser Forster before taking the cheers of the jubilant Bairns fans and his team-mates.

The Parkhead side were stunned but with seconds remaining of the first period remaining McGovern came to Falkirk’s rescue with a great point-blank save from James Forrest.

After remonstrating with Norris at the end of the first half about the penalty decision, Pressley found himself watching the second-half from the stand where he squirmed in frustration.

Emilio Izaguirre, who was missing at Falkirk’s goal, was replaced at the interval by Ki Sung-yueng with Victor Wanyama moving to centre-back and Mulgrew moving go to left-back.

Five minutes after the break Fulton had another chance when Higginbotham stood the ball up at the back post but this time, from 10 yards out, the midfielder bounced his shot over the bar.

In the 55th minute Rogne hit woodwork again, crashing a close-range shot off the bar from a Mulgrew corner which the Bairns had failed to deal with properly.

However, that only delayed the Hoops’ second goal which came a minute later when striker Anthony Stokes curled a wonderful free-kick from 25 yards over the defensive wall and past the helpless McGovern.

With that goal, Celtic regained their grip on the game and on the hour mark Ki had a powerful drive from 30 yards which was gathered by the Bairns keeper.

Falkirk substitute Blair Alston, who had replaced Fulton, drove wide from inside the box as the game began swinging from end to end.

With one goal in it and Higginbotham at the top of his game, the First Division side always had a chance and in the 78th minute Forster made a fine double save following a corner, first from Dods and then from Stewart Murdoch.

However, there was to be no shock and in the 85th minute Celtic’s final appointment was booked when Hooper got away from Dods on the right-hand side of the box and set up Stokes who knocked in from barely a yard out.

Falkirk 1-3 Celtic

Page last updated at 17:00 GMT, Sunday, 29 January 2012 By Andy Campbell

BBC Sport Scotland Stokes (centre) is contratulated by his team-mates after scoring Celtic's second Celtic will face Kilmarnock in the Scottish Communities League Cup final after overcoming Falkirk at Hampden.

Scott Brown's penalty gave Celtic a 27th-minute advantage.

But Jay Fulton, son of former Celtic and Falkirk midfielder Steve, levelled five minutes before half-time with a composed finish.

Anthony Stokes restored Celtic's lead with an excellent free-kick on 56 minutes and the striker got his second with a tap-in late on.

With the Bairns having knocked Rangers and Dundee United out of the competition in an earlier round, the First Division side were hoping to claim a third Scottish Premier League scalp, while Celtic were looking to continue their push for the domestic treble.

Falkirk's top goalscorer Farid El Alagui was unable to test Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster with a first-time shot that flew wide early on.

Celtic began to assert themselves and Brown's well-struck shot was touched onto the post by Michael McGovern.

Gary Hooper converted the rebound only to have his celebrations cut short by the offside flag but television replays suggested the goal should have stood.

The frame of the Falkirk goal was struck again when Thomas Rogne's downward header from James Forrest's corner bounced up onto the bar.

Rogne's presence at a corner was the catalyst for the opening goal as Darren Dods was penalised for grappling with the Celtic defender in the box. El Alagui (left) was unable to maintain his record of scoring in every round Brown confidently stroked the spot-kick to McGovern's left as the keeper dived in the other direction.

El Alagui's shot into the arms of Forster lacked power as Falkirk tried to respond quickly.

A slack pass from Victor Wanyama allowed the Bairns to mount the attack that would give them their equaliser.

David Weatherston retrieved, pushed down the left and cut the ball inside for Kallum Higginbotham.

Higginbotham had the awareness to spot Fulton's advancing run on the right-hand side of the penalty area and the inch-perfect pass was coolly converted by the 17-year-old.
Rogne was unable to connect with a teasing Brown free-kick and Forrest was denied by McGovern in the closing stages of the first half.

Steven Pressley marched onto the pitch just after the half-time whistle to remonstrate with referee Euan Norris and, as a result, the Falkirk manager watched the second half from the stand.
Fulton scooped the ball over after meeting Higginbotham's high, hanging cross shortly after play resumed.

Rogne was frustrated by the crossbar again with a deflected shot from Charlie Mulgrew's corner and, in the melee that followed, Stokes claimed unsuccessfully for a handball against Murray Wallace before the ball was cleared.

However, Celtic quickly won a free-kick and Stokes superbly curled the ball home to register a goal against his former club.

Fulton's replacement Blair Alston fired wide from the edge of the box before Forster made a double save to deny Dods and Stewart Murdoch as Falkirk continued to threaten.
At the other end, Joe Ledley's effort was deflected wide by Kieran Duffie and McGovern held a curving Mulgrew free-kick.

But Celtic did get a third goal on 86 minutes when Hooper burst towards the bye-line and cut back for Stokes to apply a simple finish. Neil Lennon's side will return to the national stadium to face Killie on 18 March,

  • Final Result
  • Full Time
  • 90:00+4:34 The referee blows for the end of the match.
  • 90:00+4:00 Charlie Mulgrew concedes a free kick for a foul on Mark Millar. Direct free kick taken by Mark Millar.
  • 90:00+2:31 Substitution Craig Sibbald replaces Kallum Higginbotham.
  • 90:00+0:41 Farid El Alagui gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Charlie Mulgrew. Scott Brown takes the direct free kick.
  • 89:46 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Mark Millar from the right by-line.
  • 88:48 Effort on goal by Kris Commons from just inside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the target.
  • 86:40 Substitution Anthony Stokes goes off and Kris Commons comes on.
  • 86:10 Substitution Jordan White on for David Weatherston.
  • 85:21 Assist by Gary Hooper.
  • 85:21 GOAL – Anthony StokesFalkirk 1 – 3 Celtic A goal is scored by Anthony Stokes from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Falkirk 1-3 Celtic.
  • 85:12 Centre by Gary Hooper,
  • 82:03 Blair Alston gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James Forrest. Charlie Mulgrew shoots direct from the free kick, save by Michael McGovern.
  • 79:20 Sung-Yeung Ki takes the inswinging corner, Thomas Scobbie makes a clearance.
  • 78:15 Drilled left-footed shot by Stewart Murdoch. Save by Fraser Forster.
  • 77:58 Darren Dods has a drilled shot. Fraser Forster makes a fantastic save.
  • 77:29 Corner taken by Mark Millar.
  • 76:08 Free kick awarded for a foul by Victor Wanyama on Kallum Higginbotham. Mark Millar crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, clearance made by Charlie Mulgrew.
  • 70:45 Effort on goal by Gary Hooper from 18 yards. Blocked by Murray Wallace.
  • 70:26 The ball is swung over by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance by Murray Wallace.
  • 69:01 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Mark Millar from the right by-line, Charlie Mulgrew makes a clearance.
  • 67:32 Substitution (Celtic) makes a substitution, with Adam Matthews coming on for Du-Ri Cha.
  • 66:42 Kallum Higginbotham crosses the ball, clearance made by Scott Brown.
  • 65:15 Effort from inside the area by Blair Alston misses to the left of the target.
  • 63:38 Sung-Yeung Ki takes the inswinging corner, Murray Wallace makes a clearance.
  • 63:00 Foul by David Weatherston on Du-Ri Cha, free kick awarded. Charlie Mulgrew delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, clearance made by Darren Dods.
  • 60:51 Substitution (Falkirk) makes a substitution, with Blair Alston coming on for Jay Fulton.
  • 59:04 Sung-Yeung Ki takes a shot from 30 yards. Michael McGovern makes a comfortable save.
  • 58:02 Joe Ledley concedes a free kick for a foul on Jay Fulton. Mark Millar takes the free kick.
  • 56:51 Free kick taken by Scott Brown.
  • 56:51 Booking Mark Millar goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
  • 56:37 Mark Millar concedes a free kick for a foul on Sung-Yeung Ki.
  • 55:23 The assist for the goal came from Victor Wanyama.
  • 55:23 GOAL – Anthony StokesFalkirk 1 – 2 Celtic Free kick scored by Anthony Stokes from outside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Falkirk 1-2 Celtic.
  • 55:02 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Victor Wanyama by Farid El Alagui.
  • 53:41 Corner taken left-footed by Charlie Mulgrew, Thomas Rogne has an effort at goal.
  • 50:22 Kallum Higginbotham sends in a cross, Close range effort by Jay Fulton clears the crossbar.
  • 49:46 Joe Ledley challenges Jay Fulton unfairly and gives away a free kick. Michael McGovern takes the direct free kick.
  • 48:18 Foul by Scott Brown on Stewart Murdoch, free kick awarded. Murray Wallace restarts play with the free kick.
  • 46:22 Unfair challenge on Victor Wanyama by Mark Millar results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew.
  • 45:01 The referee starts the second half.
  • 45:01 Substitution (Celtic) makes a substitution, with Sung-Yeung Ki coming on for Emilio Izaguirre.
  • Half Time
  • 45:00+1:05 The referee calls an end to the first half.
  • 44:59 James Forrest takes a shot. Save made by Michael McGovern.
  • 43:58 Centre by Kallum Higginbotham, Scott Brown makes a clearance.
  • 42:46 Free kick awarded for a foul by Stewart Murdoch on Victor Wanyama. The ball is crossed by Scott Brown, Close range header by Thomas Rogne misses to the right of the target.
  • 40:50 The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
  • 39:10 Assist on the goal came from Kallum Higginbotham.
  • 39:10 GOAL – Jay FultonFalkirk 1 – 1 Celtic Jay Fulton gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box low into the middle of the goal. Falkirk 1-1 Celtic.
  • 38:35 Anthony Stokes has a drilled shot. Darren Dods gets a block in.
  • 35:57 Farid El Alagui challenges Thomas Rogne unfairly and gives away a free kick. Scott Brown takes the direct free kick.
  • 34:57 Anthony Stokes is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Michael McGovern takes the indirect free kick.
  • 33:33 James Forrest sends in a cross, clearance by Darren Dods.
  • 33:05 Corner from left by-line taken by James Forrest.
  • 28:34 Emilio Izaguirre concedes a free kick for a foul on Farid El Alagui. Mark Millar takes the free kick.
  • 27:10 Farid El Alagui takes a shot. Save by Fraser Forster.
  • 26:10 The assist for the goal came from Thomas Rogne.
  • 26:10 GOAL – Scott BrownFalkirk 0 – 1 Celtic Penalty taken right-footed by Scott Brown and scored. Falkirk 0-1 Celtic.
  • 25:42 Booking Booking for Darren Dods for unsporting behaviour.
  • 24:51 Corner taken by Charlie Mulgrew from the right by-line, Darren Dods challenges Thomas Rogne unfairly and gives away a Penalty.
  • 21:15 Free kick taken by Fraser Forster.
  • 21:15 Booking Stewart Murdoch booked.
  • 21:07 Unfair challenge on Scott Brown by Stewart Murdoch results in a free kick.
  • 20:51 The ball is crossed by Kallum Higginbotham.
  • 18:38 Unfair challenge on Thomas Rogne by Darren Dods results in a free kick. Fraser Forster takes the direct free kick.
  • 17:55 Corner taken by Mark Millar from the right by-line, Thomas Rogne manages to make a clearance.
  • 15:44 Corner taken by James Forrest, Header from close range by Thomas Rogne bounces off the post.
  • 14:44 Jay Fulton fouled by Emilio Izaguirre, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kieran Duffie.
  • 10:54 The referee blows for offside against Gary Hooper. Michael McGovern restarts play with the free kick.
  • 10:39 Shot from 20 yards by Scott Brown. Save by Michael McGovern.
  • 9:05 A cross is delivered by Emilio Izaguirre, clearance by Stewart Murdoch.
  • 7:17 Farid El Alagui produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.
  • 6:33 Free kick awarded for a foul by Victor Wanyama on Kallum Higginbotham. Thomas Scobbie takes the direct free kick.
  • 5:08 Charlie Mulgrew takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Stewart Murdoch.
  • 4:07 Free kick awarded for a foul by Murray Wallace on Charlie Mulgrew. Fraser Forster takes the direct free kick.
  • 3:02 Effort from just outside the area by Kieran Duffie goes over the target.
  • 1:10 Farid El Alagui challenges Thomas Rogne unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Du-Ri Cha.
  • 0:00 The match has kicked off.