Celtic 4-1 Hearts: Bullying 4-3-3 exploits Hearts’ left

Neil Lennon carried on his developing 4-3-3 covered recently on this blog, with Celtic’s firepower up top too powerful for struggling Hearts. With Efe Ambrose away for the African Cup of Nations and Kelvin Wilson suspended, Charlie Mulgrew and surprisingly Mikael Lustig started at centre-back. It was a snub for Thomas Rogne – a more natural centre-back than either – but arguably the chosen two provide better composure on the ball.

Anthony Stokes and Rami Gherson caught the attention on the bench (Tom Rogic hadn’t yet received his work permit), while Lukasz Zaluska replaced the injured Fraser Forster, but in every other area this was Lennon’s strongest XI.

Hearts manager John McGlynn handed a debut to Danny Wilson – on loan from Liverpool – replacing the suspended Marius Zaliukas. McGlynn was also without Ryan McGowan (sold), Ryan Stevenson (suspended), Jamie Hamill, Danny Grainger and Scott Robinson (injured).

This was McGlynn’s standard 4-2-3-1, with a mixture of established players and up-and-coming talent. 19 year-old Jason Holt was given the crucial role of linking midfield and attack, with highly rated 18 year-old Callum Paterson on the right, and 19 year-old Kevin McHattie at left-back.

Unassailable lead taken from right

It’s never easy criticising young players, especially those with a bright future but both of Celtic’s game-changing early 2 goals were derived from the left-back area. Most damning here for McGlynn is that this was the exact same circumstance in the last encounter with Hearts.

In short, McHattie couldn’t cope with two or three big problems. Firstly, Celtic’s front three meant that the Hearts full-backs had to tuck in to make 4 against 3 at the back (as per the total football general rule of thumb that the defending team should always have a man over) Hooper and Commons – the two players mostly on that side – were clever. Dropping deep, switching places, even sometimes switching with Samaras.

If coping with three players of that calibre isn’t enough, Adam Matthews was having a fabulous match – hurtling down the flank, threatening McHattie’s outside.

The final headache was his own team-mate. Andrew Driver, when not tucked in centrally, embroiled in the midfield battle, simply wasn’t interested in tracking the run of Matthews. Considering McHattie’s 4 vs 3 predicament, it’s strange that it took McGlynn until the second half to set Driver’s priorities because by then it was too late.

Matthews and then Commons took advantage to setup Hooper and Samaras respectively, inflicting the damage that effectively ended the match.

Domination but not extending lead

Such was the damage being done on both flanks, Celtic were piling up the chances, with both Commons and Joe Ledley having good opportunities getting in behind the full-backs, and Mulgrew came close with a header.

Into the second half, Celtic were comfortable with the two goal advantage, with Hooper having a goal chalked off for offside (again, Commons finding space on the flank). Matthews was no longer the threat on the right after Driver’s more persevering tracking, and Jamie Walker had a stronger effect than Paterson who he replaced on the wing.

Soon after repelling a potential goal of the season – a superb flowing move involving Izaguirre, Samaras and finally Ledley – Hearts pulled one back. Holt was given too much space in the middle finding it easy to stride through, but it was sheer luck that saw the ball deflected off Mulgrew and beyond Zaluska.

Perhaps indicative of Hearts’ dejected current mentality, even after the goal there wasn’t a renewed vigour or belief that they might go on to win. It was business as usual as Celtic dominated and created chances.

Again, as per previous matches starting in this newer style formations, Celtic reverted back to 4-4-2, although this was probably more about available personnel and freshening things up than a particular need to switch formation.

By the end, Thomas Rogne replaced Kris Commons who came off with (hopefully) an innocuous injury. Kayal had replaced Ledley and Nouioui replaced Matthews. It was a return to the lop-sided 4-4-2 with Hooper and Lassad up front, Samaras left and Brown right.

Unsurprisingly the killer goal and subsequent fourth came from wide areas. Brown found a second wind charging (yet again) with ease into the left-back area, before slipping Hooper through to complete his brace. Lassad finished the job after a sweeping deep cross from Izaguirre.

From start to finish the result never seemed in doubt. But tactically the gaping weakness at left-back, not addressed until half-time proved decisive. Celtic had a host of brilliant performers, not least another gargantuan display from Wanyama. So crucial to Celtic’s 3 man midfield – as his output seems to be equivalent to 2 players, bridging the frequent numerical disadvantage associated with this brand of 4-3-3.

Adam Matthews had a stunning first-half, Hooper was clinical, with another positive in Ledley making a gradual return to full health.