JEKYLL AND HYDE CELTS EDGE A THRILLER

Celtic’s 4-3 win in the Scottish Cup semi-final featured both the good and bad things about this current Celtic team. At times excellent attacking play, alongside a bit of the famous Celtic fighting spirit was undone by dreadful defending, and once again certain players didn’t turn up. Interestingly it took two players who have at times been much maligned at Celtic, Kris Commons and Anthony Stokes, to drag us into the final against Hibs.

Neil Lennon sprung a surprise in his starting line-up, as both James Forrest and Kris Commons who were both injury doubts started, and Celtic lined up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, which is something we haven’t done in a domestic game for a while. But it seemed to have payed off as Commons gave Celtic after only two minutes, he picked up the ball in midfield and hammered home a brilliant shot from thirty yards. Surely Celtic would go on to dominate? Well…

The turning point in the game came when Mikael Lustig had a free header to make it 2-0, which he headed against the post with the goal gaping. Not long after United equalised, Ledley claimed a foul on the edge of the box, it wasn’t given, Wilson was then muscled off the ball by Daly, the ball was eventually played to Mackay-Steven who combined with Gauld to finish off a fine breakaway goal. United then went 2-1 up after half an hour.  A free kick was swung in, our defence failed to deal with it and Jon Daly headed home. Was the Hampden ‘curse’ going to strike again? Thankfully, the equaliser came two minutes later, an Izaguirre cross was met with a bullet header by Wanyama. So at half-time it was 2-2.

The second half began relatively quietly, but burst into life as Commons got his second and Celtic’s third, Izaguirre’s great cross picking him out and even though the ball came off his hand the goal was rightfully given. Shortly after, Wanyama picked up a yellow card for a crude foul which will rule him out of the final. Commons almost got his third when he met a final ball by Hooper but the United keeper pulled off a fine save. Unbelievably, United then equalised with twenty minutes left, as Daly – with a free header – met a Mackay-Steven cross to make it 3-3.

Celtic then made two changes, Kayal and Stokes replacing Wanyama and Lustig, not long after Kayal was booked and is suspended for the final as a result. In a frantic finale Celtic really should have won the game, as a Mulgrew shot was saved, the ball broke to Forrest whose effort was blocked and then Stokes’ effort was so wide it went for a throw-in. So at the end of full time, it was 3-3.

The extra time period began with United in control, and they almost took the lead when from a corner Jon Daly headed off the post and ball broke to Gardyne whose effort was saved. Celtic made our final change when Samaras replaced Commons, and just before the end of the first period of extra time Celtic took the lead, as a brilliant Forrest cross was met with a fine header by Stokes.  The second period of extra time was nervy, but aside from a saved Samaras shot no real chances were created and Celtic got through to the final.

On the positive side, the game was highly entertaining and exciting at times. Kris Commons kept up his terrific recent form – he now has 19 goals this season – and should be used sparingly between now and the final. Izaguirre put in two terrific crosses which led to goals, Anthony Stokes chipped in with yet another vital goal – and one which arguably saved Neil Lennon from a lot of criticism – and it was good to see Celtic show the fighting spirit to win the game which I thought this side didn’t have. It was also good to finally win a game at Hampden.

On the negative side, our defence was once again very poor. To see Kelvin Wilson out muscled by Gary Mackay-Steven and a limited player like Jon Daly destroy the defence was not an enjoyable sight. The goals we conceded were terrible, especially the third, where Daly was allowed to run off Izaguirre to get a free header. The defence only improved in extra time when Charlie Mulgrew – who remember won Player of the Year last season for his performances in defence – moved back there from midfield. Once again Gary Hooper turned in a very poor performance, and the tackles from Wanyama and Kayal which got them suspended for the final were idiotic. Joe Ledley worked hard but did not really contribute much. It is obvious with each passing week that the workrate and energy of Scott Brown is badly missing from this side, hopefully he will be back from injury in time for the final, as he’ll certainly be needed.

Neil Lennon will have plenty to think about when he looks back at the match. Firstly he’ll be thrilled we won an important game at Hampden, and for the time being avoided any scrutiny into his future, which would have been rife if we had lost in my opinion. He’ll obviously be pleased with the attacking contributions of Commons, Stokes, Forrest and Izaguirre, but frustrated at the poor defending and the stupid yellow cards picked up. Hopefully he’ll finally realise that Charlie Mulgrew’s best position is at centre-half and not in midfield. The Scottish Cup and now be put on the back burner for a couple of weeks as thoughts will now turn to the SPL, which could be clinched even before Celtic play Inverness next Sunday. Let’s hope that day we go out and show we are worthy champions.