Celtic show both style and belief as Lennon strikes right balance

Hugh MacDonald Chief Sports Writer at Celtic Park

27 Jan 2011

This was billed as the night a team could make a definitive statement about their title aspirations at Celtic Park.

Hearts left without barely uttering a murmur as Neil Lennon’s side testified loudly as to both their will, ability and their growing cohesion.

This convincing victory does not, of course, rule out Hearts entirely as contenders for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, but in its style and execution it was the most convincing testimony as to Celtic’s growing efficiency as a side. Goals by James Forrest, Anthony Stokes, twice, and Paddy McCourt were the substance that separated the sides. But there was a gap in style and belief, too.

Celtic started convincingly and ended in almost total command. There were impressive performances throughout the team. The best came from Charlie Mulgrew, who was imposing and assured in central defence, and Biram Kayal, who set the tone for the night by immediately imposing himself in midfield and never releasing his grip. Tactically, Lennon won the argument. His selection reflected his recognition of Hearts as a physical side. Scott Brown was consigned to the wide role on the right as Joe Ledley and Kayal anchored the central midfield spots. Celtic were signalling that they were not going to lose the battles. They eventually won the war – with ease.

Celtic, who garnered four of the seven bookings, never took a backward step. They played most of the football and earned the right to do so by refusing to be intimidated by their opponents or the size of the occasion.

Amid all this aggression and physical obduracy, it was perhaps ironic that it was the relatively slight figure of Forrest who made the breakthrough. Brown’s acceptance of a neat Gary Hooper flick after seven minutes was followed by the Celtic captain drifting across field to pass to Forrest in space. The winger left Eggert Johnsson flatfooted before shooting high past Marian Kello. The winger was to leave the field with a knock after 24 minutes, but he had made a crucial intervention.

The tension of the match was not defused by Forrest’s spectacular effort after seven minutes, but the result almost certainly was. Celtic seemed to raise the tempo, strongly, for a second.

Both Stokes and Hooper had opportunities as the Hearts defence ceded possession under pressure. Brown’s presence on the right also allowed Celtic to create chances down that flank. The Scottish midfielder was helping to push Lee Wallace on to the back foot while also finding space in behind the full-back. An excellent Mark Wilson pass found the Celtic captain with room to prompt significant danger but his cross was both hurried and weak and Marius Zalukas cleared easily.

These were hints of a Celtic threat that was to be rewarded with three second-half goals. The most dangerous incident in the first half after Forrest’s opener was when the Hearts goalkeeper drifted from his goal to clear the ball wide on the right and found himself stranded. Stokes’ run to the byeline, though, was followed by a cross that ran to Ledley, whose shot drifted wide of the post.

The Slovak, though, was to find the second half more testing. In contrast, Celtic’s defence was combative and resilient throughout, allowing only the briefest of glimmers for Hearts in the first half. However, both Stephen Elliott and Wallace were wasteful when good positions on the left were rendered redundant by crosses that ran innocuously across the box.

The sense of frustration among the Celtic fans about not adding to the early lead was increased by the booking of Wilson and Emilio Izaguirre. Rudi Skacel was also yellow carded by Euan Norris, but the match was never malicious until Ian Black’s kick at McCourt in the second half. This incident also provided bookings for Zalukas, Brown and Stokes for the melee that followed the spiteful challenge.

By then, Celtic were two goals up as Stokes curled a free-kick past Kello after Ismael Bouzid had tugged at the increasingly impressive Izaguirre. Hooper, who had fired straight at Kello in the opening moments of the second half, had the opportunity to finish the match off when he volleyed over when clear in the box. It was left to other to supply the killing shots.

The withdrawal of the largely ineffective David Templeton and Black to be replaced by David Obua and Suso Santana was an acceptance by Jim Jefferies that his side needed something more robust to unnerve the Celtic defence. It was a prelude, though, to the Parkhead team strolling to victory.

Celtic, increasingly assertive, found a third goal. Kayal released Hooper, who appeared to be fouled as he rounded Kello, but Stokes was on hand to tap the ball into the net.

A blunder on the bye-line by Zaliukus allowed Hooper time to cross for McCourt to drill home a fourth at the far post. It could have been more, but it was enough to send Celtic 10 points clear of Hearts. That margin did not look exaggerated last night.

Taken from the Herald