Gers Lose To Celts

[pete 2,499]

CELTIC have taken all three points in the first Old Firm Reserve Game of the season thanks to an impressive second-half display at New Broomfield.

 

Ross Harvey put Rangers ahead on the stroke of half-time with a fine header but a double from Paul McGowan and a further strike from Ben Hutchinson after the break sealed a 3-1 win for Willie McStay's team who maintain their 100 per cent record in the SPL.

 

John Fleck in action against CelticTommy Wilson was able to field a strong starting eleven for this afternoon's fixture with Graeme Smith in goal and a midfield four of Chris Burke, Andrew Shinnie, Mo Edu and Aaron.

 

The coach also selected the same back line that kept a clean sheet against Aberdeen last week with Jordan McMillan and Ross Harvey in the centre and Andrew Little and William McLachlan at right and left back respectively.

 

Rory Loy and John Fleck, meanwhile, were given the nod in attack.

 

Celtic suffered an early blow when midfielder Michael McClinchey had to be replaced by Koki Mizuno after only four minutes due to injury and the home side had to make a second substitution on 27 minutes when Doumbe also pulled up.

 

The first moment of real class, however, came on six minutes from Aaron who was impressive throughout the opening period.

 

Chris Burke was brought down 30 yards from Scott Fox's goal and the Spaniard curled a tremendous free-kick which smashed off the underside of the bar but bounced inches in front of the goal line with the keeper flapping at thin air.

 

It was a brilliant effort from the on loan star who was a proving to be a constant thorn on the left in the early stages as was Burke on the opposite flank. Ross Harvey scores

 

Celtic's best chance came on 19 minutes when the lively McGowan sprinted past the Gers defence and his chip over Graeme Smith clipped the cross bar before being cleared.

 

With the clock ticking down it looked as if neither team would break the deadlock before the interval but Harvey had other ideas.

 

The big defender sprinted forward for a corner with only minutes remaining and when Burke swung in a dangerous cross the centre-half rose above the Celtic defence and keeper to power a header into the net.

 

Rangers made a pre-planned substitution at the break with Charlie Adam going on for Edu who looked steady and composed in his first Old Firm outing.

 

Hutchinson was the danger man for Celtic when the sides last met at the end of last season and the former Middlesbrough man tried his luck from distance at the start of the second period with a powerful shot which Smith did well to hold.

 

At the other end Adam dispossessed a Celtic midfielder and when the ball arrived at the feet of Fleck his raking effort from 30 yards was well over Fox's goal.

 

Only seven minutes later and Celtic had a great chance to level the scoreline.

 

Mo EduAfter some slack play from Rangers, Hutchinson slipped a neat ball to his strike partner Paul McGowan.

 

The no. 10 had time and space to pick his spot but Graeme Smith darted from his line and dived low to his right to make a superb stop.

 

This should have been a warning for the Gers players but poor marking was to prove costly again on 66 minutes when Celtic equalised.

 

Mizuno delivered a teasing cross from the right and McGowan made no mistake this time with an easy header from six yards.

 

Celtic were now in the ascedency and got their noses in front for the first time in the match with 13 minutes remaining.

 

Kevin Cawley played the ball through to McGowan who slotted the ball coolly past Smith in the Gers' goal.

 

With ten minutes remaining Charlie Adam was inches away from giving his side a point with free-kick from 20 yards but it was Hutchinson at the other end that was to secure a home win for Celtic in the final stages of the game.

 

The powerful hitman latched on to a long ball with Rangers trying to play an offiside trap.

 

He looked up once before lofting it over Smith from a tight angle to end a frustrating day for the Gers.

 

CELTIC: Fox; Doumbe (Towell 27), O'Dea, Lafferty, Conroy; Cawley, Millar, McGlinchey (Mizuno 4), McCourt; McGowan, Hutchinson

 

Subs: Gaughan, Marshall, Tidser, Monti, Graham

 

RANGERS: Smith; Little, Harvey, McMillan, McLachlan; Aaron (Stirling 75) , Edu (Adam 45), Shinnie, Burke; Fleck, Loy

 

Subs: Robinson, Perry, Bagci

 

Never nice to read i know but i still think it should be mentioned on here.

Edu,Aaron,Fleck, Burke. i think that answers the question for me about playing a weakened team for a cup game.

[Super_Ally 0]

A little concerning as that should be a strong side. The likes of Smith, Burke and Adam have a lot of first team experience. As does Edu albeit in the MLS and many are wanting to see Aaron in the first team now.

 

For a reserve fixture there's a lot of first team experience there and they should be doing better if they wish to feature in the first team.

[Bluedell 5,329]

So Koki Mizuno is only good enough to make the subs bench of the reserves.

 

I seem to recall that he was given a work permit because he was a "special case". Someone obviously lied at the tribunal. Hopefully that will be taken account of at the next such trbunal that Celtic have? Then again, with Pat Nevin, Gerry Collins and Peter Cormack on it, I doubt much evidence was actually presented.

 

Surely his work permit should be withdrawn as he is obviously here on false pretences?

 

It makes a mockery of the whole process.

[Bluedell 5,329]

For a reserve fixture there's a lot of first team experience there and they should be doing better if they wish to feature in the first team.

Agreed. Perhaps the likes of Aaron, Fleck and McMillan aren't ready for the first team yet.