2016-01-19: Celtic 8-1 Hamilton Academicals, SP

Match Pictures | Matches: 2015 – 2016 | 2015-16 Pictures

Trivia

• Giant win for Celtic.
• An "outstanding effort" from Nir Bitton and a Leigh Griffiths hat-trick help Celtic move six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership after thrashing Hamilton at Celtic Park.
• Game overshadowed by efforts by the SFA to look into bringing in facial recognition identity software to sift out fans they are targetting
• A year ago or so, Griffiths & Rogic were under fire, now they are heroes. Things picking up
• Transfer window is open.
• Rumours: Tyler Blackett to be recalled to Man U. Ambrose to China?
• Celtic want Aiden McGeady – but can't afford wages, says Ronny Deila
• Darren O'Dea (ex-Celt) joins Dundee.
• Stokes signs for Hibs on loan, all for the best. Has to help his old club in the Championship, with Sevco clear in front at moment.

Review

(dogg of KDS)
Pumped them!

GMS and Armstrong looking like they did when they first arrived.

Ambrose was immense all game.

Didn't think Griffiths played that well but still got himself a Hat-Trick.

Gordon's distribution is terrible put Ambrose in trouble needlessly 2 or 3 times. Should also have done better at the goal.

Collum was his usual "inept" self. Letting their keeper take as long as he wanted from the 10 min mark. Numerous late challenges unpunished and then no injury time at HT or FT.

(algreen of KDS)

Was in two minds about going however glad I turned up and the weather was not as cold as I thought it might be.

Getting the three goals in ten minutes helped the confidence of the team.

Also good to see play at a higher tempo and some of the player who have not played get a game – GMS and Izzy.

Funniest moment would be the crowd helping Collum count out the steps and he still mucked it up, not surprised as the previous free kick the Hamilton wall was never ten yards back. And this **** rocket will be officiating at Euro 2016.

(Anton R of KDS)
Some absolute roaster in our section screaming abuse at the team from the first whistle. They're 4-0 up and he calls someone a waster for missing a shot and not passing. "Selfish play, ya wink – SELFISH PLAY"

Seemed to be relieved when Hamilton scored – "SEE WHAT YOU GET, CELTIC! GET YOUR FINGER OUT, LAWWELL!!!"

Sake…

Enjoyed that, regardless. Tierney hit a shot in the half time warmup into the crowd, buncha wee kids grabbed the ball, ran down the front and told him to come and get it… and he did. And he was stuck there for the next 5-10 minutes high fiving and shaking hands. The boy needs to learn (lol)

Hamilton were awful. Dougie Imrie is an absolute cretin and should be banned from the human race, let alone football.

Efe looked like he enjoyed that game more than anything else in a long time, good to see the big man get a wee break. Cracking performance all round.

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Stats

Celtic Hamilton Academical
Possession
30% 70%
90mins

Shots
30 6
On target
15 2
Corners
8 0
Fouls
5 8

Articles

Celtic 8 – 1 Hamilton: Hoops romp to easy win in Accies rout
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/celtic-8-1-hamilton-hoops-romp-to-easy-win-in-accies-rout-1-4005766
STEPHEN HALLIDAY

Celtic delivered by far their most emphatic statement of intent yet in pursuit of a fourth consecutive domestic title as they crushed a wretched Hamilton Accies side who appear increasingly likely candidates for relegation.

Ronny Deila’s men had been largely indifferent on home soil in recent months but were simply irresistible on a night when they led 3-0 after just ten minutes and 5-0 by the break. Restoring a six-point lead over Aberdeen at the top of the Premiership was never in doubt.

Leigh Griffiths maintained his recent hot streak as he claimed the fourth hat-trick of his Celtic career, taking his tally for the current campaign to 27.

Hamilton could count themselves fortunate Celtic did not reach double figures as Martin Canning’s side narrowly remain above the relegation play-off spot. On the back of their recent Scottish Cup exit at Annan, these are worrying times for the Lanarkshire outfit.

From the moment Griffiths saw a netbound shot blocked by Lucas Tagliapietra inside the first minute, it was evident this was going to be a long and testing evening for the visitors. But few could have predicted just how tortuous it would prove for Canning’s men.

If the small band of travelling fans hoped their ship had been steadied by Saturday’s gritty goalless draw at St Johnstone, they were quickly as engulfed in despair as the beleaguered Accies defence were by Celtic’s relentless waves of attack.
On any other night, a Griffiths hat-trick would be the talking point – however, Celtic's eight goals stole the show. Picture: PA
On any other night, a Griffiths hat-trick would be the talking point – however, Celtic's eight goals stole the show. Picture: PA

The fourth minute opener set the tone for the champions’ merciless finishing and the hapless defending of the visitors. Stuart Armstrong’s free-kick from the left found its way to the unmarked Mikael Lustig at the far post, allowing Celtic’s stand-in skipper a simple close-range headed finish.

Gramoz Kurtaj briefly threatened some resistance for Hamilton when he dragged a shot wide of Craig Gordon’s right-hand post but it soon became a case of one-way traffic towards Michael McGovern at the other end.

The Accies keeper was helpless to prevent Celtic’s second goal in the ninth minute. Nir Bitton, returning from suspension, collected a short pass from Callum McGregor and thundered his eighth goal of the season into the roof of the net with a right-foot shot from around 30 yards.

McGovern was beaten again just a minute later, this time wrong-footed by a deflection off centre-half Michael Devlin which helped Tom Rogic’s left-foot shot from the edge of the penalty area on its way.
Michael McGovern kept the scoreline from entering cricket territory. Picture: SNS Group
Michael McGovern kept the scoreline from entering cricket territory. Picture: SNS Group

Celtic were slicing their way through a shell-shocked Accies outfit at will with only a more successful block by Devlin preventing Gary Mackay-Steven adding to the tally.

Griffiths was conspicuous by his absence from the scoring spree at this stage but he put that to rights when he made it 4-0 in the 23rd minute. Ali Crawford lost possession in midfield and Mackay-Steven seized on the loose ball to drive purposefully through the middle.

He timed his pass to Griffiths perfectly and the striker guided a typically precise left-foot shot across McGovern and into the corner of the net from around eight yards.

Even Efe Ambrose fancied his chances of joining the fun, the defender scooping a shot over from close range when he really should have hit the target.
Dejection for Hamilton's Ali Crawford at full-time. Picture: SNS Group
Dejection for Hamilton's Ali Crawford at full-time. Picture: SNS Group

There was no sign of Celtic easing off and they grabbed number five in the 34th minute. It was inexcusably lame defending from Accies this time, standing off to allow Rogic as much time as he desired on the right to lay the ball on a plate for Griffiths who gratefully accepted the tap-in from a couple of yards.

Celtic made two changes at the start of the second half, Scott Allan and James Forrest replaced the injured Rogic and Jozo Simunovic. The arrival of two creative and attack-minded players was the last thing Accies needed.

The substitutes duly combined to make it 6-0 eight minutes after the restart. Forrest’s back-heel to Allan on the edge of the penalty area was returned into the Scotland winger’s path and he drove home a low shot.

Number seven arrived almost straight from the restart. Devlin was dispossessed 20 yards out by Griffiths who strolled through to complete his hat-trick with a neat lob over McGovern.

As Griffiths was replaced by Carlton Cole with 25 minutes still remaining, the record books were being checked for Celtic’s all-time record victory. But the 11-0 drubbing of Dundee in 1895 retains that status.

Hamilton substitute Eamonn Brophy snatched a consolation with a well-taken 73rd minute strike through Gordon’s legs, before the excellent McGregor fittingly had the last word for Celtic when he made it 8-1 in the 90th minute with a fine right-foot shot from 20 yards.

Celtic: Gordon, Lustig, Ambrose, Simunovic (Forrest 46), Izaguirre; Bitton, McGregor; Mackay-Steven, Rogic (Allan 46), Armstrong; Griffiths (Cole 65). Subs not used: Bailly, Ciftci, Commons, Tierney.

Hamilton Accies: McGovern, Gordon, Devlin, Lucas, Kurakins; MacKinnon, Docherty, Gillespie (Lyon 84), Kurtaj (Imrie 46); Crawford; D’Akol (Brophy 62). Subs not used: Martin, Morris, Tena, Nade.

Read more: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/celtic-8-1-hamilton-hoops-romp-to-easy-win-in-accies-rout-1-4005766#ixzz3xonOARn3
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BBC
By Tom English BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

Leigh Griffiths claimed a hat-trick as Celtic inflicted an eight-goal thrashing on Hamilton at Celtic Park.

Ronny Deila's side scored five times in the opening half, Mikael Lustig, Nir Bitton and Tom Rogic putting them 3-0 ahead after a mere 10 minutes.

Griffiths completed his hat-trick after the break, with James Forrest also scoring to make it six.

Eamonn Brophy scored Hamilton's goal to make it 7-1 before Callum McGregor drove in number eight.

It was the biggest win since the formation of the Scottish Premiership in 2013 and the biggest for Celtic since their 9-0 victory over Aberdeen in November 2010, and means the Scottish Premiership leaders are six points clear of second-placed Aberdeen.

Hamilton were deeply fortunate that it was not a whole lot worse. Eight goals could have been 12 or 14 – and that is no exaggeration. Michael McGovern made some decent saves in the Hamilton goal and Celtic wasted a few other opportunities.

McGovern was Hamilton's best player. In truth, along with the substitute Brophy, he was their only player. The rest were soft touches; easy prey to Celtic's vultures.

The rhythm of the evening was established after just 51 seconds when Griffiths had a shot hacked off the line. So lax in that moment, Hamilton did not – or could not – learn the lesson.

Lustig, standing free three yards out, nodded in a Stuart Armstrong free-kick. Bitton thundered in the second from 30 yards and Rogic's shot went in off Michael Devlin for the third.

The game was just 10 minutes old and Hamilton had lost the plot. Their defending was an abomination, their wastefulness in possession the source of so many of their problems.

Celtic were sharp and relentless – the measure of Hamilton's nightmares. Yet another miscued Hamilton pass found Gary Mackay-Steven, who ran hard and played in Griffiths, who, unsurprisingly, scored.
Hamilton's Lucas Tagliapietra (left) and Michael McGovern

Hamilton were brushed aside at Celtic Park

The fifth was, again, painfully easy. Rogic slid a cross along the floor into the six-yard box, Hamilton tried to play offside and got it horrendously wrong and Griffiths tapped in.

Deila brought on Forrest and Scott Allan at the break and the latter set up the former for the sixth. As wretched as Hamilton were, some of the stuff that Celtic played in tearing them to ribbons was pretty smart.

It helps, of course, when your opponent is all at sea. When Devlin dallied at the back, Griffiths ransacked him of the ball and then gently lobbed McGovern for 7-0.

A surging run and goal from Brophy briefly halted Celtic's procession, but McGregor thumped in the eighth late on.

Celtic cruise on merrily at the top. Hamilton, in 10th, continue to sink like a stone.

Live Text Commentary
Full time

Full Time Match ends, Celtic 8, Hamilton Academical 1.
90:00 +0:04 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Celtic 8, Hamilton Academical 1.
88:50 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 8, Hamilton Academical 1. Callum McGregor (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Scott Allan.
87:43

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Darren Lyon.
83:09 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Darren Lyon replaces Grant Gillespie.
81:52

Foul by Scott Allan (Celtic).
81:52

Greg Docherty (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
80:11

Attempt missed. Eamonn Brophy (Hamilton Academical) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
76:57

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ziggy Gordon.
76:49

Attempt blocked. Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
75:27

Attempt missed. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
72:14 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 7, Hamilton Academical 1. Eamonn Brophy (Hamilton Academical) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Greg Docherty.
71:01

Foul by Carlton Cole (Celtic).
71:01

Michael Devlin (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
70:14

Attempt missed. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
67:30

Callum McGregor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
67:30

Foul by Grant Gillespie (Hamilton Academical).
65:53

Attempt missed. Scott Allan (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
65:26

Attempt blocked. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
64:27 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Carlton Cole replaces Leigh Griffiths.
64:12

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Michael McGovern.
64:00

Attempt saved. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
63:16

Attempt saved. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
62:30

Attempt blocked. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from more than 35 yards is blocked.
60:56 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Eamonn Brophy replaces Alejandro D'Acol.
60:34

Attempt missed. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
60:25

Attempt blocked. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
60:00

Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
59:52

Foul by Dougie Imrie (Hamilton Academical).
59:03

Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
59:03

Foul by Darian MacKinnon (Hamilton Academical).
57:50

Attempt blocked. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
57:00

Scott Allan (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
56:51

Foul by Dougie Imrie (Hamilton Academical).
53:43 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 7, Hamilton Academical 0. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
52:36 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 6, Hamilton Academical 0. James Forrest (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Scott Allan.
45:00

Second Half begins Celtic 5, Hamilton Academical 0.
45:00 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. James Forrest replaces Jozo Simunovic.
45:00 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Celtic. Scott Allan replaces Tomas Rogic because of an injury.
45:00 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Hamilton Academical. Dougie Imrie replaces Gramoz Kurtaj.
45:00 +0:06 Half time

Half Time First Half ends, Celtic 5, Hamilton Academical 0.
45:00

Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
44:55

Foul by Gramoz Kurtaj (Hamilton Academical).
44:33

Attempt saved. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the bottom left corner.
42:14

Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
42:14

Foul by Ali Crawford (Hamilton Academical).
40:19

Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
40:19

Greg Docherty (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
39:48

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Michael McGovern.
39:33

Attempt saved. Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
34:27

Attempt saved. Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner.
33:15 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 5, Hamilton Academical 0. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tomas Rogic.
32:26

Attempt missed. Ali Crawford (Hamilton Academical) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
30:32

Attempt saved. Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the bottom left corner.
26:41

Attempt missed. Efe Ambrose (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
25:33

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Michael Devlin.
24:52

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Michael Devlin.
23:54

Hand ball by Mikael Lustig (Celtic).
21:58 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 4, Hamilton Academical 0. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Gary Mackay-Steven.
18:31

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Michael Devlin.
18:22

Attempt blocked. Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
17:30

Attempt blocked. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
14:50

Attempt saved. Ali Crawford (Hamilton Academical) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
13:51

Attempt missed. Gramoz Kurtaj (Hamilton Academical) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
12:08

Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ziggy Gordon.
11:59

Attempt blocked. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
11:18

Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
11:18

Foul by Gramoz Kurtaj (Hamilton Academical).
9:43 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 3, Hamilton Academical 0. Tomas Rogic (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box to the high centre of the goal.
9:11

Foul by Gary Mackay-Steven (Celtic).
9:11

Antons Kurakins (Hamilton Academical) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
8:10 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 2, Hamilton Academical 0. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
7:13

Attempt missed. Gramoz Kurtaj (Hamilton Academical) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
3:05 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Celtic 1, Hamilton Academical 0. Mikael Lustig (Celtic) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong with a cross.
2:28

Stuart Armstrong (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
2:28

Foul by Ziggy Gordon (Hamilton Academical).
1:28

Attempt missed. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
1:03

Attempt blocked. Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
0:52

Attempt saved. Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom left corner.
0:00

First Half begins.
0:00

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

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