Friday, March 12, 2010
Derby County At Centre Of £37 million Takeover Bid From Peter Gadsby. Coca-Cola Championship team, currently sitting 16th in the table and who were founded in 1888, are apparently worth £6 million more than Rangers FC. (Telegraph) ::
"Why Should I Worry?" - Tony Mowbray Tries To Play Down Pressure Ahead Of Celtic's Must-Win Scottish Cup Tie Against Kilmarnock. Celtic manager deflects media probing on his future and the criticality of winning cup-tie as it relates to his future. (Herald Scotland) ::
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Gordon Strachan: Good To Be Back In The Firing Line. A chat with the former Celtic manager, who only has good things to say about the club and the fans. (Evening Times) ::
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Kilmarnock 0-3 Celtic, Scottish Cup, 13 March 2010
It was a Tale of Two Celtics at Rugby Park this afternoon. Kilmarnock had the better of the first half and could have been ahead but Celtic stormed forward in the second half, when Robbie Keane scored his first Celtic hat trick to win the cup tie 0-3, which has seen him score Celtic's last six goals.
Landry Nguemo had an alarmingly poor first half typified when a slack pass never reached Aiden McGeady allowing Kilmarnock to break forward. The resulting move saw Allan Russell crack a first time shot off Lukas Zaluska 's crossbar.
Killie's Frazer Wright took an early blow to the head which kept him out of the game for 9 minutes and had to retire for a couple of stitches but despite being down to 10 men Kilmarnock grabbed control of the game and pinned Celtic into their own half. Zaluska did well to inspire confidence in the men in front of him.
Morten Rasmussen was in the wars, first when Tim Clancy stamped on his knee in what looked like a very dangerous challenge, then when Wright knocked him in the air in a challenge from behind. After Wright subsequently pulled him Rasmussen retaliated, which brought some discipline to the home side.
Celtic started the second half much better but it was not until Fortune replaced the ineffective Crosas and Samaras went on for Rasmussen on 57 minutes that things clicked for them.
Edson Braafheid played a long ball to the edge of the Kilmarnock area from the half way line which Keane controlled beautifully with the inside of his calf; in an instant bringing the ball under control and knocking if beyond keeper Cammy Bell before knocking it into the net.
Samaras chased and won a lost cause on 81 minutes before feeding Fortune inside the box, who squared a pass to an unmarked Keane to score into an empty net from 3 yards.
Less than two minutes later Aiden McGeady played an inch perfect pass into the path on Fortune, who drew the last Kilmarnock defender before again squaring for Keane. This time the striker had more to do but he swept his shot past Bell and into the net to complete a memorable performance.
Landry Nguemo had an alarmingly poor first half typified when a slack pass never reached Aiden McGeady allowing Kilmarnock to break forward. The resulting move saw Allan Russell crack a first time shot off Lukas Zaluska 's crossbar.
Killie's Frazer Wright took an early blow to the head which kept him out of the game for 9 minutes and had to retire for a couple of stitches but despite being down to 10 men Kilmarnock grabbed control of the game and pinned Celtic into their own half. Zaluska did well to inspire confidence in the men in front of him.
Morten Rasmussen was in the wars, first when Tim Clancy stamped on his knee in what looked like a very dangerous challenge, then when Wright knocked him in the air in a challenge from behind. After Wright subsequently pulled him Rasmussen retaliated, which brought some discipline to the home side.
Celtic started the second half much better but it was not until Fortune replaced the ineffective Crosas and Samaras went on for Rasmussen on 57 minutes that things clicked for them.
Edson Braafheid played a long ball to the edge of the Kilmarnock area from the half way line which Keane controlled beautifully with the inside of his calf; in an instant bringing the ball under control and knocking if beyond keeper Cammy Bell before knocking it into the net.
Samaras chased and won a lost cause on 81 minutes before feeding Fortune inside the box, who squared a pass to an unmarked Keane to score into an empty net from 3 yards.
Less than two minutes later Aiden McGeady played an inch perfect pass into the path on Fortune, who drew the last Kilmarnock defender before again squaring for Keane. This time the striker had more to do but he swept his shot past Bell and into the net to complete a memorable performance.
Live updates will appear below after 12:15 GMT.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Kilmarnock tie too tight to call
It was after out last visit to Kilmarnock that I concluded we were not going to win the league. I watched Jimmy Calderwood's new team hold Hamilton Accies a week earlier before they harassed the life out of Celtic and took all three points.
Tomorrow's visit on Scottish Cup duty is not really an opportunity for revenge. A win and progress in the Cup would be welcome but consequences for defeat in the league game will linger for a while yet.
Celtic must simply win the Cup. They have made more than enough mistakes this season to know dozens of potential pit-falls and have had ample time to work on deficiencies.
Kilmarnock would have gone bottom if Celtic beat them last month but now sit six points ahead of Falkirk, so the threat of relegation has diminished considerably, so the Cup will be tackled with more gusto than it would by a team scrapping at the bottom of the league.
Expect the team with the greater appetite to come out on top; no predictions from me.
Tomorrow's visit on Scottish Cup duty is not really an opportunity for revenge. A win and progress in the Cup would be welcome but consequences for defeat in the league game will linger for a while yet.
Celtic must simply win the Cup. They have made more than enough mistakes this season to know dozens of potential pit-falls and have had ample time to work on deficiencies.
Kilmarnock would have gone bottom if Celtic beat them last month but now sit six points ahead of Falkirk, so the threat of relegation has diminished considerably, so the Cup will be tackled with more gusto than it would by a team scrapping at the bottom of the league.
Expect the team with the greater appetite to come out on top; no predictions from me.
