Scottish Cup: Celtic ratings and tactical analysis

The Hoops headed to Hampden with treble dreams already reduced to a double, but lacked a cutting edge against Paulo Sergio's men.

Neil Lennon though was left furious at the final whistle, racing onto the park to remonstrate with referee Euan Norris with the Hearts penalty given yet two calls in the final ten minutes turned down for Celtic.

Starting tactics

Celtic started with what appeared to be a 4-4-2 formation that switched at times to 4-3-3 formation.

Kris Commons, Georgios Samaras and Gary Hooper swapped positions in the opening period to keep the Hearts defence on their toes.

Charlie Mulgrew started at left back, and right from kick-off allowed Scott Robinson in behind him to almost gift Hearts the dream start. In nine minutes he again looked shaky as Ian Black robbed him of the ball. The player of the year contender was looking a weak link for the Hoops early on.

Midfield battle

As the half wore on, Commons dropped to more of a central midfield role with Joe Ledley occupying the left wing spot, though Commons would switch to one of the wings when Celtic ventured forward. Hearts were getting joy in the middle with Rudi Skacel and Ian Black both giving Celtic a battle.

Celtic in control

Hearts had started the game in a flurry, but Celtic eventually gained control, with Glenn Loovens getting down the right hand side alongside Commons and Samaras to constantly cause the Tynecastle side problems. They had plenty of cross balls but goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald was not ever seriously tested.

Celtic looked at their best when they were being patient, trying to find the gap for Gary Hooper to spring through, but at times they tried to be too quick and passes went astray, allowing Hearts off the hook.

For all their possession though, Celtic were reaching half-time with the scores level. Then, in the final minute, Neil Lennon's men finally opened Hearts up; with Maroon shirts all at sea Ki Sung Yueng had a free header at the back post but rocketed it off the post.

New threat

Hearts took off Scott Robinson at half-time and brought on the in-form Craig Beattie. He started on the right, however it was down the left where Hearts did the damage inside the first minute of the re-start. Ian Black tried to feed Ryan McGowan, but it bounced off Kelvin Wilson and into the path of Rudi Skacel, who finished high into the net.

Celtic continued to look shaky as Elliot, Skacel and Beattie linked up to cause problems, with Loovens and Wilson needing Scott Brown to drop deep to help them out.

Chasing the game

Mikael Lustig, who had been quiet for much of the game, was asked to get forward more down the right hand side, with Scott Brown sitting deep and trying to feed him.

Neil Lennon replaced Samaras with Anthony Stokes after an hour, with the Stokes-Hooper partnership sitting in front of Commons.

Andy Driver was coming more into the game on the left hand side for Hearts though, and Lustig was struggling to deal with him.

Hearts boss Paulo Sergio could see Celtic looked vulnerable on the wings, and Suso Santana replaced Ian Black to add even more width to the side. Black may also have been replaced to save him from a red card, with assistant manager Alan Thompson adamant afterwards Black should have been sent off for his challenge on Ledley.

Stokes began to switch sides with Hooper, but Hearts had them well marshalled. Lennon had a decision to make – Loovens was struggling in defence with Driver and Beattie's link up play, and he had defensive options on the bench in Emilio Izaguirre and Victor Wanyama, but Celtic needed something more up front. With Stokes on already only young Dylan McGeouch remained an option.

In 74 minutes that decision was made, with Wanyama replacing Lustig.

All out assault

With options limited, Lennon had to roll the dice with McGeouch for the last ten minutes. Scott Brown limped off injured, depriving Celtic of their inspirational captain as they chased a one goal deficit.

The chances were coming though, and so did the goal. Stokes should have finished in 84 minutes, but Hooper made no mistake three minutes later, though replays showed he was slightly offside as Ki crossed in.

That looked to be the goal that took the game to extra-time, but two penalty decisions turned the game back in Hearts favour. Just before the goal Ki had fallen in the box with no penalty given, but in the final minute the referee pointed to the spot when Ledley handled Marius Zaliukas goalbound shot.

Beattie made it 2-1, but still the drama wasn't over. Back came Celtic and Loovens rattled the ball off Andy Webster, with Lennon screaming for a penalty, but his claims were ignored and Hearts made it through to an all-Edinburgh final.

Player ratings

Fraser Forster - 6: Quiet first half though had to save straight away from Ian Black. Made good stop from Skacel but was left exposed at opener. Couldn't be faulted for either goal.

Kelvin Wilson - 5: Wicked deflection off him gifted Skacel space for opener. Booked for foul on Skacel that could have been a red with the Czech man racing forward, but Loovens was there to ensure he wasn't the last man. Toiled badly and like his centre-half partner struggled with the presence of Beattie.

Scott Brown - 7: Captain grafted away and was a decent link between defence and attack. Limped off in 81 minutes

Georgios Samaras - 6: The Greek didn't have much luck but was always showing for the ball and put in a shift. Subbed for Stokes in the 60th minute.

Kris Commons – 6.5: Looks desperate for a goal to give him a confidence boost. Tried a few speculative efforts from far out with no-luck. Touch let him down in first half when clean through on MacDonald after Webster's poor pass-back.

Joe Ledley – 6.5: Welshman slips under the radar at times but had a tidy game. Gave away pen, but could have equalised straight afterwards.

Ki Sung Yueng - 7: Best passer of the ball in Celtic's team and spread the play effectively. Missed three good chances - heading Celtic's best chance of the first half off the post, then hit post again in the final ten minutes. Also unlucky not to make it 1-1 a minute after Celtic conceded when he drove over the bar.

Charlie Mulgrew - 6: Shaky start at left-back as he struggled, with Stephen Elliot and Ian Black both getting the better of him. Became a decent attacking threat down the left hand side as usual. Booked for foul on Black after twenty minutes.

Glenn Loovens - 5: Got forward well in the first half, but looked cumbersome at times and was troubled by pace of Beattie. Caught out by Wilson's deflection at Skacel's opener.

Mikael Lustig - 5: Little to do in first half. Asked to get forward more in second, but struggled with balls in behind. Caught flat-footed too often and also gifted Driver a goal when robbed in possession. Replaced in 74 mins for Wanyama.

Gary Hooper - 6: Englishman didn't receive much service and ended up having to come deep to receive ball. Scored in 86 mins though, heading in Ki's cross.

Subs:

Anthony Stokes - 5.5: (on 60 mins) Should have done better with header inside area in 70 mins for starters, but couldn't direct a glorious chance into net on the line in 84 mins after Mulgrew's header had beaten the keeper. Has to do more when given his chance.

Victor Wanyama - 4: (on 74 mins) Came on for struggling Mikael Lustig. Might have been at fault for penalty too with him and Ledley both going for the ball, with it eventually cannoning off Ledley's arm.

Dylan McGeouch - 6: (on 81 mins) Youngster looked likely when he came on and was always looking to get to the by-line. Should get more game time in remainder of season.

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