Woeful Celts fall to super Hibees
By Bobo the Great December 19 2003
A terrible performance by Martin O'Neill's bhoys resulted in an early exit from the CIS cup for Celtic. With a mix of experience and youngsters in the team, the tactics played simply weren’t appropriate for this type of game.
A terrible performance by Martin O'Neill's bhoys resulted in an early exit from the CIS cup for Celtic. With a mix of experience and youngsters in the team, the tactics played simply weren’t appropriate for this type of game.
Martin O'Neill announced few first team players in the squad, but it was clear that Martin was going for the game especially with the exciting prospect of a British cup. Hibernian manager Bobby Williamson started with a very young and attacking team and this was clear as Hibs' youngsters had Celtic on the run within the first five minutes, it was already clear that we would see goals.
The first major opportunity fell to Hibs under 21 international Garry O'Connor but unfortunately for the Edinburgh side he fired over the bar. Hibs had a lot of success down the left in the first half with quick wingers Whittaker and Riortan coming up against un-experienced right back John Kennedy, who slipped on more than one occasion to allow the Easter road side in. Youngster Riortan came close with a curled effort which bounced back off the woodwork and the stranded Rab Douglas came out lucky.
Celtic rarely threatened in the first half, although Sutton found himself through on goal with only the keeper to beat after some nice work by Larsson but the England hopeful saw his lobbed effort crash off the underside of the crossbar. Hibs looked the much brighter side in the first half and fully deserved the 0-0 score line which they went into half time with.
Nothing was changed at half time by confident manager Martin O'Neill and Celtic started the second half the better team, once again though this period didn't last and before long Hibs were back on top. In the 56th minute against the run of play a whipped in corner saw big centre back Stan Varga head a powerful effort into the goal mouth and what looked like a goal line clearance was infact spotted by the linesman to be a goal, it was later revealed that the linesman was correct and the ball was in fact a few feet over the line.
It looked like Hibernian's missed chances would come back to haunt them, however less than 10 minutes later Hibs were awarded a penalty when John Kennedy's inexperience was shown after he needlessly handled the ball in box, the resulting spot-kick has calmly tucked away by Hibs skipper Grant Brebner. At this point you would of thought that Celtic would attack and go for the win, this wasn't the case however and Hibernian continued to dominate with Celtic keeper Rob Douglas to thank after a one-on-one with O'Connor thankfully resulted in a good block.
After 82 minutes Celtic's abysmal display was rounded off, after a penalty box melee resulted in the ball dropping to Hibs youngster Thomson on the edge of the box and he fired in to give Hibs the lead. Celtic were rattled and very, very few Celtic players showed the desire which we have so often seen in our fantastic European nights. The score line stayed the same and credit has to be given.
I'm not quite sure what Martin O'Neill was thinking, in my opinion you either go for the win and play you're first team or just go for some experience builder and play the youth team, Martin appeared to be caught in two minds and he under-estimated Hibs, just like he did against Caley last season. All in all an absolutely abysmal performance from the bhoys and they fully deserved to lose, if we had played Cove Rangers and played in the same manner we would've lost. Hibernian played superbly and the 2-1 score flattered Celtic.
More bad news to come from the match was that Chris Sutton came off with another wrist injury and Henrik Larsson appeared to be having problems with his back near the end. Nobody in particular played well, but youngster Ross Wallace was probably the best player for the Hoops with some jinking runs and exquisit passes this young lad looks a brilliant prospect for the future and being Liam Miller in my opinion is our best youngster, Maloney looked bright and lively when he came on.
Celtic team:
4-4-2
Douglas - 6
Balde - 6
Varga - 6
Kennedy - 5
Crainey - 6
Miller - 5
Thompson - 5
Lambert - 5 (Beattie - 5)
Wallace - 7
Sutton - 5 (Maloney - 6)
Larsson - 5
Referee: Rowbotham, J ,Scotland
Hoops Online Man Of The Match: Ross Wallace
The first major opportunity fell to Hibs under 21 international Garry O'Connor but unfortunately for the Edinburgh side he fired over the bar. Hibs had a lot of success down the left in the first half with quick wingers Whittaker and Riortan coming up against un-experienced right back John Kennedy, who slipped on more than one occasion to allow the Easter road side in. Youngster Riortan came close with a curled effort which bounced back off the woodwork and the stranded Rab Douglas came out lucky.
Celtic rarely threatened in the first half, although Sutton found himself through on goal with only the keeper to beat after some nice work by Larsson but the England hopeful saw his lobbed effort crash off the underside of the crossbar. Hibs looked the much brighter side in the first half and fully deserved the 0-0 score line which they went into half time with.
Nothing was changed at half time by confident manager Martin O'Neill and Celtic started the second half the better team, once again though this period didn't last and before long Hibs were back on top. In the 56th minute against the run of play a whipped in corner saw big centre back Stan Varga head a powerful effort into the goal mouth and what looked like a goal line clearance was infact spotted by the linesman to be a goal, it was later revealed that the linesman was correct and the ball was in fact a few feet over the line.
It looked like Hibernian's missed chances would come back to haunt them, however less than 10 minutes later Hibs were awarded a penalty when John Kennedy's inexperience was shown after he needlessly handled the ball in box, the resulting spot-kick has calmly tucked away by Hibs skipper Grant Brebner. At this point you would of thought that Celtic would attack and go for the win, this wasn't the case however and Hibernian continued to dominate with Celtic keeper Rob Douglas to thank after a one-on-one with O'Connor thankfully resulted in a good block.
After 82 minutes Celtic's abysmal display was rounded off, after a penalty box melee resulted in the ball dropping to Hibs youngster Thomson on the edge of the box and he fired in to give Hibs the lead. Celtic were rattled and very, very few Celtic players showed the desire which we have so often seen in our fantastic European nights. The score line stayed the same and credit has to be given.
I'm not quite sure what Martin O'Neill was thinking, in my opinion you either go for the win and play you're first team or just go for some experience builder and play the youth team, Martin appeared to be caught in two minds and he under-estimated Hibs, just like he did against Caley last season. All in all an absolutely abysmal performance from the bhoys and they fully deserved to lose, if we had played Cove Rangers and played in the same manner we would've lost. Hibernian played superbly and the 2-1 score flattered Celtic.
More bad news to come from the match was that Chris Sutton came off with another wrist injury and Henrik Larsson appeared to be having problems with his back near the end. Nobody in particular played well, but youngster Ross Wallace was probably the best player for the Hoops with some jinking runs and exquisit passes this young lad looks a brilliant prospect for the future and being Liam Miller in my opinion is our best youngster, Maloney looked bright and lively when he came on.
Celtic team:
4-4-2
Douglas - 6
Balde - 6
Varga - 6
Kennedy - 5
Crainey - 6
Miller - 5
Thompson - 5
Lambert - 5 (Beattie - 5)
Wallace - 7
Sutton - 5 (Maloney - 6)
Larsson - 5
Referee: Rowbotham, J ,Scotland
Hoops Online Man Of The Match: Ross Wallace
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