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{ Jamie Ness has already experienced an Old Firm match and feels he can step in if Lee McCulloch fails to recover from an injury

Jamie Ness today appealed to Rangers boss Walter Smith to pitch him into the massive Scottish Cup showdown with Old Firm rivals Celtic.

Smith is facing an anxious wait to see if midfield talisman Lee McCulloch will be fit to play for the Gers in the match at Ibrox this Sunday.

McCulloch limped off in the first half of his side’s 1-0 win over Hearts at home last night, with a recurrence of a long-standing knee problem.

But Ness, who made his first- ever top-team start in the Old Firm game last month, reckons Rangers can cope without the Scotland internationalist against their city rivals.

And the hugely talented 19-year-old said: “I always want to play and hopefully the gaffer will think I have done enough to merit a place in the team. I have been surprised at how much I have played, but I have trained with the first-team boys regularly for almost two years now and that has helped.

“I know all of the boys and I know their games really well. That has served me well since I have come into the team.”

He added: “Lee is an important player for us and we will miss him if he doesn’t make it. But we have Maurice Edu and Steven Davis who can play in the middle.

“Steven has been playing wide right, but he can come back into the middle if need be. We have quite a lot of players who can play in that position if Lee isn’t available.”

Ness was encouraged by how Rangers played in their rearranged SPL fixture with third-placed Hearts last night, after McCulloch limped off.

The triumph, secured thanks to a Kyle Lafferty goal after just four minutes, moved the Scottish champions to within five points of Celtic at the top of the league table with two games in hand.

Meanwhile, Ness has praised controversial new signing El-Hadji Diouf – who came on for McCulloch just days after completing his loan move from Blackburn – for his performance on his Rangers debut.

He said: “It was difficult for him. I don’t think he expected to come on so early on. But, when he did, he showed some good touches. I think he will only get better and become a really good player for us.

“I think he could do a job for us in the Old Firm game on Sunday if he is selected.

“He has definitely got the quality so if he gets picked I am sure he will be able to make an impact.”

Agences de presses

Labels: Celtic, Evening, Glasgow, Times

{ New Boy: Diouf applaudes Ibrox fans after 1-0 victory over Hearts Pic: ©SNS Group

Rangers midfielder Jamie Ness has backed new signing El-Hadji Diouf to be a strong force for the Ibrox side and hopes the forward can have big part to play in the Old Firm derby on Sunday.

Diouf, who joined on loan from Blackburn on the transfer deadline day, made his debut for Rangers when he was brought on from the bench after 20 minutes in Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Hearts.

Ness admitted he was impressed by the Senegalese’s performance and expects big things from his new team mate.

"It was difficult for him as I don't think he expected to come on so early," said the 19-year-old.

"But he showed some good touches and I think he will only get better and be a really good player for us."

Diouf, who was widely criticised for spitting at a Celtic fan in 2003, could feature in the fifth round match against the Hoops and Ness believes he has the potential to have a huge impact on the match.

He added: “[Diouf's] obviously got the quality so, if he's playing, hopefully he will be able to do something for us."

Ness is looking to secure a foothold in Walter Smith’s side himself after making his starting debut in the New Year Old Firm game. He hopes his recent performance have done enough to feature in Smith’s plans.

"Hopefully I'll be involved. I always want to play and hopefully the gaffer will think I've done enough to merit a place,” he said.

"I've trained with the first team boys regularly for almost two years so I know everyone really well and I know everyone's game well and I think that has helped me a lot."

RANGERS NEWS:

Agences de presses

Labels: Celtic, clash, Diouf, hopes, Rangersapos, shine, stvtv

{ Highlights - Aberdeen 0-3 Celtic

Celtic beat Aberdeen for the third time in 10 days and in doing so moved eight points clear of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

Andrew Considine was sent off within two minutes for fouling Celtic's Scott Brown but Jamie Langfield saved Anthony Stokes' resultant penalty.

Gary Hooper and Stokes combined for two of Celtic's three goals, the former finishing a one-two for the opener.

Mark Wilson headed a 75th-minute second and Hooper fed Stokes for the third.

The match could scarcely have begun more dramatically. Dons boss Craig Brown had just finished shaking hands with his Celtic counterpart Neil Lennon when Hooper picked out Brown making a run into the box.

Hooper's delicious cross-field pass was controlled and nudged towards goal by the Celtic captain in a flowing move, but as Brown shaped to score he was hauled down by Andrew Considine and referee Alan Muir pointed to the spot.

While Stokes grabbed the ball for the penalty, Muir presented the shell-shocked Dons defender with a red card and his involvement was over after 95 seconds.

Considine's foul was apparent but Aberdeen could argue that a yellow card was sufficient as Zander Diamond was racing across to cover.

Jamie Langfield did not have the best of games against Celtic at Hampden in the 4-1 Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final defeat, but he denied Stokes a penalty goal with a dive to his left - an inspirational save.

But Celtic could smell blood and they tore the Reds apart in the 12th minute.

Quick-thinking Hooper worked a one-two with strike partner Stokes, raced past a static Aberdeen defence and slid the ball beyond Langfield for his 11th Scottish Premier League goal.

Worse was to follow for the home side. Ryan Jack had started the match in midfield in favour of Derek Young but had moved into defence with Considine's sending-off.

Soon he was hobbling off injured at the same time as David McNamee, who had switched from right- to left-back, was wincing in pain with a groin injury.

Considine's red card in the second minute set the tone for the Dons' evening

Brown threw on Derek Young and new loan signing Steven Smith for the duo as Aberdeen's decimated defence contemplated a long evening.

Celtic's Kris Commons had looked lively, firing over the bar after 10 minutes, and tested Langfield twice more with his left foot in the first half.

He smacked a first-time shot at the Dons goal that was well saved in 22 minutes, and 10 minutes later the Aberdeen keeper was down smartly to his right to turn the former Derby player's shot round the post.

The pressure on the Dons goal was constant. Brown blasted a shot at goal that Zander Diamond blocked with a combination of head then arm, then Beram Kayal stole into space 25 yards out and curled a powerful shot around Langfield that cracked off the inside of the post.

Aberdeen's Rob Milsom cleared off his goal-line with Stokes ready to pounce before Aberdeen made a late first-half rally.

Nick Blackman had three Celtic players puzzled when he left them in his wake with a 180-degree turn and shot just wide in 38 minutes, then Chris Maguire belted a first-time angled volley that stung Fraser Forster's palms.

Reaching half-time a goal down was an achievement for Aberdeen. They would have been level in 42 minutes had Forster not been alert to a sweet volley by Scott Vernon from eight yards as he connected with a corner.

While Celtic have been consistent in racking up the SPL points, their defence has been shorn of any sort of pattern. Efrain Juarez, Mark Wilson, Charlie Mulgrew and Emilio Izaguirre were in at the back, with Glenn Loovens, Thomas Rogne and Daniel Majstorovic injured and Darren O'Dea and Jos Hooiveld out on loan.

Aberdeen worked hard to limit the chances in the first 20 minutes of the second half; enough, indeed, for Lennon to withdraw Kayal for Paddy McCourt to try to increase Celtic's attacking intent.

In 66 minutes the pacy Commons evaded a desperate challenge by Smith, rounded Langfield then struck the post when he ought to have rolled the ball into the net.

Wilson's last goal was five years ago but it was the defender who eased Celtic's nerves that they may be stung by Aberdeen when he rose to meet Commons' in-swinging corner. His powerful header from six yards gave Langfield no chance at all.

The Dons were three goals down after as many minutes had passed since Wilson's header.

Hooper was running away from goal in the Aberdeen box but managed to find his strike partner Stokes, who cut on to his left foot and shot between Langfield and his near post.

Celtic are unbeaten in 12 league games and are applying pressure to their title rivals.

Tuesday, 1 February 2011

Scottish Premier

Hooper 12Wilson 75Stokes 78Final Result Full Time 90:00+2:13 The referee ends the match. 90:00+1:53 Scott Vernon takes a shot. Save by Fraser Forster. 90:00+1:03 Unfair challenge on Kris Commons by Paul Hartley results in a free kick. Mark Wilson takes the free kick. 90:00+0:09 Scott Vernon sends in a cross. 88:17 Charlie Mulgrew produces a right-footed shot from 35 yards and missed to the left of the goal. 87:41 Foul by Chris Maguire on Charlie Mulgrew, free kick awarded. Fraser Forster restarts play with the free kick. 86:41 Corner taken by Chris Maguire from the left by-line, clearance by Mark Wilson. 86:41 Booking The referee shows Charlie Mulgrew a yellow card for unsporting behaviour. 84:08 Substitution Lewis Toshney on for Scott Brown. 82:15 The ball is swung over by Daryl Murphy, Zander Diamond makes a clearance. 81:42 Unfair challenge on Scott Brown by Chris Maguire results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Efrain Juarez. 78:55 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Kris Commons, Scott Vernon makes a clearance. 78:55 Substitution Daryl Murphy comes on in place of Anthony Stokes. 77:23 Gary Hooper provided the assist for the goal. 77:23 GOAL - Anthony Stokes:Aberdeen 0 - 3 Celtic Anthony Stokes grabs a goal from just inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Aberdeen 0-3 Celtic. 76:27 A cross is delivered by Nick Blackman, Mark Wilson makes a clearance. Paul Hartley produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target. 76:27 Substitution Lukasz Zaluska joins the action as a substitute, replacing Joe Ledley. Correction - 76:06 The ball is crossed by Nick Blackman, clearance made by Mark Wilson. Shot from just outside the box by Paul Hartley goes over the bar. 74:37 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Kris Commons from the right by-line, assist by Kris Commons. 74:37 GOAL - Mark Wilson:Aberdeen 0 - 2 Celtic Goal scored by Mark Wilson from inside the six-yard box to the top right corner of the goal. Aberdeen 0-2 Celtic. 71:45 The ball is delivered by Emilio Izaguirre, clearance by Zander Diamond. Short corner worked by Scott Brown. Patrick McCourt produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the target. 69:53 Emilio Izaguirre gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Maguire. Free kick taken by Chris Maguire. 68:22 Joe Ledley fouled by Paul Hartley, the ref awards a free kick. Kris Commons crosses the ball in from the free kick, Rory McArdle manages to make a clearance. 66:05 Kris Commons takes a shot from inside the six-yard box that strikes the post. 63:25 Chris Maguire gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mark Wilson. Free kick crossed by Charlie Mulgrew, comfortable save by Jamie Langfield. 63:25 Substitution Patrick McCourt joins the action as a substitute, replacing Beram Kayal. 63:25 Booking Chris Maguire booked. 60:58 Robert Milsom produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target. 60:21 Chris Maguire fouled by Scott Brown, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Steven Smith. 58:54 Foul by Scott Vernon on Emilio Izaguirre, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Charlie Mulgrew. 58:54 Booking Scott Vernon goes into the book for unsporting behaviour. 57:15 Chris Maguire concedes a free kick for a foul on Mark Wilson. Free kick crossed left-footed by Kris Commons, clearance by Steven Smith. 56:13 Unfair challenge on Joe Ledley by Scott Vernon results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Emilio Izaguirre. 55:52 Steven Smith sends in a cross, clearance by Mark Wilson. 55:07 Mark Wilson concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Maguire. Direct free kick taken by Steven Smith. 54:02 Chris Maguire is caught offside. Fraser Forster takes the free kick. 53:34 Kris Commons delivers the ball. 52:41 Effort from deep inside the area by Kris Commons misses to the left of the goal. 51:02 A cross is delivered by Emilio Izaguirre. 49:55 Unfair challenge on Paul Hartley by Emilio Izaguirre results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jamie Langfield. 49:19 Inswinging corner taken by Kris Commons from the right by-line. 47:26 Paul Hartley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Efrain Juarez. Fraser Forster takes the direct free kick. 47:26 Booking Booking for Paul Hartley for dissent. 46:43 Inswinging corner taken by Chris Maguire from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Mark Wilson. 45:59 Unfair challenge on Zander Diamond by Gary Hooper results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Jamie Langfield. 45:01 The second half begins. Half Time 45:00+2:16 The ref blows to end the first period. 45:00+1:17 The assistant referee signals for offside against Anthony Stokes. Jamie Langfield restarts play with the free kick. 45:00+0:43 Unfair challenge on Scott Brown by Robert Milsom results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Mark Wilson. 44:01 Zander Diamond concedes a free kick for a foul on Anthony Stokes. Anthony Stokes has a direct shot on goal from the free kick. 41:59 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Rory McArdle by Gary Hooper. Rory McArdle takes the direct free kick. 40:49 Corner taken by Robert Milsom from the right by-line, Rory McArdle takes a shot from 6 yards. Mark Wilson gets a block in. 39:39 Nick Blackman gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joe Ledley. Charlie Mulgrew takes the direct free kick. 38:49 Shot from 18 yards by Chris Maguire. Save by Fraser Forster. 37:55 Effort from outside the penalty area by Nick Blackman goes wide left of the goal. 37:15 Zander Diamond fouled by Anthony Stokes, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie Langfield takes the direct free kick. 36:28 Beram Kayal takes a shot from a long way out and strikes the post. 31:59 Kris Commons takes a shot. Fantastic save by Jamie Langfield. Corner taken by Kris Commons played to the near post, Zander Diamond makes a clearance. Shot from long range by Emilio Izaguirre goes wide of the left-hand post. 31:08 Chris Maguire fouled by Emilio Izaguirre, the ref awards a free kick. Robert Milsom crosses the ball in from the free kick, save by Fraser Forster. 29:51 Kris Commons fouled by Derek Young, the ref awards a free kick. Charlie Mulgrew takes the free kick. 29:51 Booking The referee shows Derek Young a yellow card. 27:03 Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Hartley on Beram Kayal. Free kick taken by Mark Wilson. 26:18 Foul by Efrain Juarez on Robert Milsom, free kick awarded. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Paul Hartley from left channel, Charlie Mulgrew manages to make a clearance. 25:29 Foul by Zander Diamond on Anthony Stokes, free kick awarded. Efrain Juarez takes the free kick. 24:53 Centre by Beram Kayal, save made by Jamie Langfield. 23:48 Effort on goal by Scott Brown from 18 yards. Save by Jamie Langfield. 21:30 Scott Brown takes the outswinging corner, Rory McArdle manages to make a clearance. Kris Commons has a drilled shot. Save made by Jamie Langfield. 19:44 Nick Blackman sends in a cross. 18:37 Inswinging corner taken by Kris Commons from the right by-line, Zander Diamond makes a clearance. The offside flag is raised against Anthony Stokes. Free kick taken by Jamie Langfield. 17:29 Substitution David McNamee leaves the field to be replaced by Steven Smith. 16:40 Joe Ledley is caught offside. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick. 15:35 Chris Maguire concedes a free kick for a foul on Kris Commons. Fraser Forster takes the free kick. 15:35 Substitution Derek Young is brought on as a substitute for Ryan Jack. 15:07 Scott Vernon is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Mark Wilson. 14:39 The assistant referee signals for offside against Anthony Stokes. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick. 11:52 Assist on the goal came from Anthony Stokes. 11:52 GOAL - Gary Hooper:Aberdeen 0 - 1 Celtic Gary Hooper scores a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Aberdeen 0-1 Celtic. 10:49 A cross is delivered by Paul Hartley. 9:39 Kris Commons has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand post. Correction - 6:28 Joe Ledley challenges Scott Vernon unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jamie Langfield takes the direct free kick. 6:28 Joe Ledley challenges Scott Vernon unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jamie Langfield takes the free kick. 5:53 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joe Ledley by Ryan Jack. Mark Wilson takes the free kick. 4:34 Paul Hartley has a volleyed shot. Blocked by Mark Wilson. 4:08 Centre by Ryan Jack, clearance by Mark Wilson. 2:32 Kris Commons takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Zander Diamond makes a clearance. 2:32 A save by Jamie Langfield from penalty by Anthony Stokes. Aberdeen 0-0 Celtic. 1:35 Andrew Considine gives away a Penalty for an unfair challenge on Scott Brown. 1:35 Sent off Andrew Considine sent from the field by the ref for professional foul. 0:00 The game begins. Live text and data provided by The Press Association.

Agences de presses

Labels: Aberdeen, Celtic, Sport

{ CELTIC midfielder Beram Kayal believes his club are poised for a lengthy spell of domestic dominance if Neil Lennon's longer term future as manager is secured.Lennon is out of contract this summer with the offer of a new deal understood to be dependent on Celtic winning the Scottish Premier League title this season.

Sunday's 3-0 defeat of Rangers at Celtic Park left Lennon's team eight points clear of the defending champions, who have two games in hand, and has seen their odds on lifting the trophy shorten to as little as 1-3 with some bookmakers.

Kayal, one of a raft of new signings Lennon has gradually moulded into an effective unit over the course of the campaign, has no doubt the manager has already proved himself worthy of an extended tenure.

The 22-year-old Israeli international has emerged as a key performer in a squad he says are committed to bringing sustained success to Celtic over the next few seasons.

"The manager has made this team and it's fantastic," said Kayal.

"Sometimes people forget this is a new team, we have brought in 13 or 14 new players this season. But the team has gelled together very quickly and I think it is because of the manager.

"We are a very young team and if you look at us, then we could be playing together at Celtic for the next three or four years. The manager has built it, so hopefully it's the same for him.

"We have good young players and a good manager. He makes us all feel special, and we all try 100 per cent for him. Together we could have good success. I am learning from him every day in training and all the players feel the same. We have a lot of talent but the manager pushes us
every day and that's why we are a strong team."

Celtic stretched their current unbeaten run to 17 matches on Sunday, 12 of them victories, and remain in pursuit of all three domestic trophies.

They face Rangers in the Scottish Cup fifth-round replay at Celtic Park next Wednesday and will take on their great rivals again in the Co-operative Insurance Cup final at Hamdpen on 20 March.

The form of several of Lennon's recruits during the undefeated sequence, including Kayal, Honduran left-back Emilio Izaguirre and striker Gary Hooper, has attracted growing attention from English Premier League clubs. Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, who attended Sunday's Old Firm game, is the latest to be credited with an interest in Izaguirre. Kayal, however, believes there is a collective desire among the Celtic squad to remain part of a potentially exciting era for the club.

"I am here and happy at Celtic," added Kayal. "I have a long contract and I want to stay here. Really, I feel at home.

"I feel I could play here for the next five or six years with the manager and these players. Great credit must go to the manager for putting us all together and making us feel we have been playing together for years.

"Every day, every game, everyone here wants to play better and we try every game to continue our good form. I think I will learn more here than anywhere else.

"I am learning English and football, so it's fantastic for me to stay here.

"This club has so many talented players. But, not only that, every player really believes we are going to win every game. It is too early to say whether we can win every game until the end of the season, but we will try to do that.

"Rangers are a good team as well, but our manager has given us confidence.

"We are together and push each other to win.

"I don't think we are favourites to win the league yet.

" I was very happy we beat Rangers on Sunday, but we have to give respect to the other teams as well and make sure we focus just as much on every game we play."

Kayal limped out of the Old Firm showdown after 61 minutes with a hamstring strain but is confident it will not force him to miss any matches.

He is suspended for Celtic's next SPL fixture, against Motherwell at Fir Park on Sunday, in any case.

Agences de presses

Labels: Beram, Celtic, future, happy, Kayal, Lennon, Scotsman

{ Celtic's Scott Brown and Beram Kayal engage with El Hadji Diouf of Rangers
Midfielder Beram Kayal insists Celtic are not favourites to win the Scottish Premier League this year, despite moving eight points clear of Rangers.

After Celtic's 3-0 Old Firm win, Kayal said on Monday: "We're not favourites. We must win every game because Celtic is a big club. I like it like that.

"All the focus for everyone here is to try to play better in every game.

"I am very happy because yesterday we won but the next game on Sunday is not against Rangers."

Kayal has become a fans' favourite with his combative nature allied to his range of passing and positional sense.

His manager, Neil Lennon, has also recently highlighted the former Maccabi Haifa star's workrate.

The player says he enjoyed appearing in Celtic's 3-0 win over Rangers and credits Lennon for forging an impressive team spirit.

"All of Europe speaks about this derby," he said of the Old Firm match.

"It was my dream to play in this game and I am happy because I played in it."

And of the team manager, Kayal said: "He makes us all feel special, and we all try 100% for him.

"At the beginning of the season the majority were new players. A great credit must go to the manager for putting us all together and make us feel we have been playing together for years.

"Every day, every game, everyone here wants to play better and we try every game to continue (the form) this month because last month everyone played very well."

Kayal is suspended for Celtic's match on Sunday at Motherwell but in the meantime he will try to recover from a hamstring strain, which he predicted would heal in the next three or four days.

The Israeli was out of action earlier in the season with a groin injury and is delighted to get back playing in front of the club's fans.

He said: "It's fantastic to come back after two months out injured. It's a new country and the fans give me the drive and energy all the time.

The manager told us to enjoy it and, basically, win. He didn't want anything less and we showed that
Gary Hooper reflects on Celtic's 3-0 Old Firm win

For Gary Hooper, who scored twice in the first half in Sunday's win and was described by Kayal as "fantastic", self-belief is the key behind the team's run of 17 games unbeaten.

Rangers emerged with a 3-1 win at Celtic Park in October but their old rivals won at Ibrox at New Year, before the teams drew 2-2 at the same ground in the Scottish Cup.

With the Cup game producing a replay, and the teams' meeting at Hampden in the final of the Co-operative Insurance Cup on 20 March, it means the Old Firm will play seven times this season and Celtic will enjoy the greater confidence going into their next contest.

Asked what had changed since the home defeat by Rangers in the autumn, Hooper said: "We showed with this performance that our mental strength is really good, we are performing well and everybody is comfortable on the ball.

"Maybe we are just more confident. Not much has changed so maybe we just believe in ourselves more now.

"We are performing well and we have shown that for the last few months."

Like Kayal, Hooper refuses to write off Celtic's title rivals' chances, with Rangers second and Hearts in third, 10 points behind.

"I'm not focused on the trophy," said the striker.

"The main thing was to win the game and to carry on winning games and see what happens. There is confidence everywhere.

"We are not thinking about the championship, we are just focusing on the three points.

"We are eight points clear now and if we just keep on winning, we can put more pressure on them.

"The manager told us to enjoy it and, basically, win. He didn't want anything less and we showed that."

Agences de presses

Labels: Celtic, dismisses, Kayal, title

{ DERMOT Desmond tends to be highly selective about his visits to Celtic Park. The Irish billionaire has a busy schedule, one which prevents his regular attendance at the club in which he is the major shareholder.So the mustachioed Dubliner's presence in the directors' box yesterday, seated between chairman John Reid and chief executive Peter Lawwell, was confirmation, if any was needed, that even by Old Firm standards, this was a highly significant game. After witnessing Celtic's comprehensive 3-0 dismantling of Rangers, it would be a huge surprise if the boardroom chit-chat among the three men was not dominated by the issue of Neil Lennon's contract at the club.

Lennon, of course, has won nothing yet as Celtic manager and has all along accepted that his prospects of having his initial 12-month contract extended would be dependent on bringing the Scottish Premier League title back to the club for the first time in three years. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid the sense that Lennon has already made a compelling case that he is the right man for the job on a longer-term basis. A straw poll of the jubilant home support yesterday would certainly have returned a powerful mandate for the man from Lurgan.

His Celtic team stretched their current unbeaten run to 17 matches with a performance brimful of confidence and conviction. Now eight points clear of Rangers at the top of the table, albeit having played two games more, Lennon's players have put their early season inconsistencies behind them and are responding effectively to both the methods and the motivation of their boss.

There was vindication all over the pitch for Lennon yesterday, from another clean sheet for his defence, through the midfield dominance orchestrated by Beram Kayal and the attacking pace and finishing power of Gary Hooper and Kris Commons. His key signings are coming good at the business end of the season and his team simply looked fresher, livelier and more mobile than Walter Smith's often labouring side.

While Celtic did not have a failure in their ranks, there were few in light blue who mustered pass marks. Ironically, it was the man around whom many anticipated an explosive contest to centre who was perhaps the only exception.

El Hadji Diouf, jeered to the echo by the Celtic supporters from the first moment he appeared, was the only player who looked to possess genuine belief that this could be Rangers' day. The Senegalese international, for all of the contentious baggage he carries with him, clearly has a level of ability which lifts him above the average SPL player.

Agences de presses

Labels: agenda, Celtic, contract, Lennon, Scotsman, thunder

{ Feb 2 2011 By Hugh Keevins

MISSION accomplished for Celtic as they went eight points clear of Rangers at the top of the table ... and how Aberdeen players must hate the sight of Neil Lennon's side.

They've now lost a remarkable 17 goals to the Hoops in their last four meetings and having to face them with 10 men for all but 80 seconds after Andrew Considine's dismissal proved too much.

A first-half strike by Gary Hooper was followed up by goals from Mark Wilson and Anthony Stokes as Neil Lennon's men rampaged through the defence after a second-half lull.

The manager could even afford to blood 18-year-old defender Lewis Toshney before the end.

The partnership of Wilson and Charlie Mulgrew in central defence is makeshift but has yet to experience a stern test of their capabilities.

Rivals Rangers will surely ask more questions in the Scottish Cup at Ibrox on Sunday.

But Lennon would be content that a night that yielded such high reward included no mishaps as the season reaches boiling point.

The Hoops' season of conflict with officialdom has led to them hiring a QC to represent their interests but they went north with another kind of legal matter in mind. Sod's Law.

Three league and cup wins over Aberdeen this season tempted fate to deliver them a losing blow when they least needed it. And three players, Wilson, Beram Kayal and skipper Scott Brown, were one booking away from a suspension that would put them out of the league clash with Rangers on February 20.

Another unwanted complication for Lennon. What the manager could not have anticipated was a missed penalty from his side and Aberdeen being reduced to 10 men after just 80 seconds.

Hooper's astute pass picked out Brown and his run in on keeper Jamie Langfield's goal was interrupted by a challenge from Andrew Considine.

The referee considered the home player to be the last defender and sent him off before Stokes hit his penalty too close to Langfield and allowed the Dons No.1 a save.

Intensity

Aberdeen were a man down and a break up while the game was still in its infancy but they couldn't take advantage of the situation and fell a goal behind after 12 minutes.

Kris Commons fed the ball to Hooper and he set off on a run towards goal that involved a one-two with Stokes and a lethal finish as the Englishman slipped the ball beyond the advancing Langfield.

Commons' growing influence on the match was enough to see his youthful marker, Ryan Jack, removed after only 16 minutes. Derek Young took his place in a tactical switch to bolster the defence.

David McNamee was then replaced by new signing from Norwich, Steven Smith, as the Dons' back four lost half of its original personnel before a quarter of the game had elapsed.

The early setbacks saw a depleted Aberdeen defending increasingly higher up the pitch and inviting their rivals on to them.

Young was booked for a foul on Commons 14 minutes after getting on as a sub to illustrate the intensity of the pressure his side was under.

Then midfielder Rob Milsom was forced to clear the ball off the line from Stokes following a scramble that had arisen from a corner.

When Kayal struck the post with an angular drive that had beaten Langfield after 40 minutes it was visual proof of the first half having been a one-sided affair.

The meagre margin of Celtic's lead was one of a few surprises contained within an eventful opening period, even if visiting keeper Fraser Forster was forced to make belated stops from Chris Maguire and Scott Vernon in a spirited finale from Craig Brown's boys.

Celtic's need was to translate their dominance into a winning margin and they might have done so five minutes after the restart when Hooper strong-armed his way through and laid the ball on a plate for Commons.

But he blasted the ball over the bar from a tight angle after dwelling too long on his opportunity.

The longer the game went on in that vein the better for Aberdeen as they searched for a chance to punish Celtic while making light of their numerical disadvantage.

Anguish

Vernon was booked for a foul on Hooper and Maguire cautioned for a block on Wilson while the search for equality went on and Milsom tried his luck with a long-range shot struck more in hope than expectation.

It was remarkable that Celtic had been playing 10 men for all but the first minute of the game and yet had grown less of a threat.

Twenty minutes into the second period Lennon decided it was time for a fresh approach. Paddy McCourt went on in place of Kayal but before the fans' cult hero could touch the ball Commons had the miss that denied Celtic relief from their worries of a sucker-punch.

He rounded Langfield and had only to slip the ball into the empty net but his attempt from a tight angle hit the upright and went behind.

It was anguish for the Celtic player and the cue for derision from the Aberdeen fans who were starting to believe there might be respite from their run of bad luck against their bogey team.

Their dreams were dashed when Wilson got the simplest of goals to put Celtic two in front 15 minutes from time. Commons' corner was inch perfect and the defender rose unchallenged at the front post to bury a powerful header into net.

Stokes put the outcome beyond any doubt with a shot that beat the Dons keeper low at the same corner three minutes later.

Agences de presses

Labels: Aberdeen, Celtic, Daily, Record, Scottish

{

Celtic moved eight points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League table last night with a 3-0 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

The home side had to play virtually the whole game with 10 men after defender Andrew Considine was shown a red card for a foul on Scott Brown in the penalty area inside two minutes. Jamie Langfield saved Anthony Stokes' penalty but Celtic took the lead in the 12th minute through Gary Hooper.

Mark Wilson got the second with 15 minutes to go and Stokes made amends for his penalty miss soon after.

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Labels: Celtic, clear, eight, Hooper, Independent, lifts, points

Celtic beat 10-man Aberdeen 3-0 away on Tuesday to move provisionally eight points clear of Glasgow rival Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League. Andrew Considine was sent off for Aberdeen in the second minute and although Anthony Stokes missed the resulting penalty, Gary Hooper capitalized by putting Celtic ahead in the 12th.


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GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)—Celtic moved five points clear of Glasgow rival Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League with a 3-1 victory at Dundee United on Sunday.

Celtic went into halftime at Tannadice with a 2-0 lead thanks to deflected efforts by top scorer Anthony Stokes and Mark Wilson.

The hosts, who came into the match boasting an 11-game unbeaten run, halved the deficit in the 64th minute when David Goodwillie crashed home a close-range finish.

But Celtic wrapped up the win when Daniel Majstorovic headed in from an inswinging free kick, extending its run to 16 matches without defeat.

Second-place Rangers, which beat Motherwell 6-0 on Saturday, has two games in hand over its cross-city rival.

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{ Celtic moved five points clear of Rangers at the top of the SPL with a 3-1 win at Dundee United, setting up a tantalising Old Firm clash next week.

Deflected goals from Anthony Stokes and Mark Wilson gave Celtic a comfortable 2-0 lead at half time but they were unsure at the back and United exploited that hesitance when David Goodwillie pulled one back in the second half.

United pressed for an equaliser, with Goodwillie denied by Fraser Forster’s save, but Celtic put hopes of a comeback to bed when defender Daniel Majstorovic headed Charlie Mulgrew’s excellent free-kick home with 12 minutes left.

Celtic have now won five league games in a row, lying five points clear of champions Rangers, who have two games in hand.

While Celtic’s first-half goals were fortuitous they were by far the better attacking threat although were not helped by a ragged pitch.

Neil Lennon’s side took a 16th-minute lead when Stokes’ low shot from the left - which United keeper Dusan Pernis had covered - struck the unfortunate Garry Kenneth and flew in.

The hosts saw plenty of the ball, with Craig Conway causing problems on the left, but Forster in the Celtic goal barely saw any action while, down the other end, Kris Commons kicked air when he should have finished.

Wilson made it two on 36 minutes, exploiting hesitant defending by Paul Dixon to meet Scott Brown’s low ball, his finish also deflected in, this time off Sean Dillon.

From that point it was all Celtic, who looked like scoring every time they went forward, failing to find the net after a goal-mouth scramble, seeing a penalty appeal rejected when Stokes went down under Keith Watson’s challenge and Commons again fluffing his lines with a volley.

United, meanwhile, could only muster a cross-shot from Goodwillie that flew wide.

The pattern continued in the second half, with United barely threatening while Majstorovic missed a sitter, heading Commons’s corner wide when left unmarked by slack defending.

But the hosts pulled one back when Conway’s free-kick wreaked havoc in the Celtic box, Brown failing to clear his lines and Forster’s parry dropping to the grateful Goodwillie.

Peter Houston’s side sensed a miracle comeback, which was so nearly completed when substitute Ki Sung-Yeung gave the ball away, Goodwillie’s low finish kept out by a fortunate Forster, who nearly let the ball through him.

The fightback was ended though when, with 12 minutes left, Mulgrew put in a superb curling ball from the right that Swede Majstorovic dived in to meet with a low bullet header that nestled in the bottom right.

There was still time for a comedy miss from Hooper, who tripped over his own feet when set to finish from six yards out, while the former Scunthorpe striker had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside seconds later.

The momentum is now with Celtic, who know that a home win in next Sunday's Old Firm clash will put them in the driving seat for the title.

United, meanwhile, stay sixth although have four games in hand on most sides around them.

Reda Maher / Eurosport


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{ Lennon's side will now face Rangers seven times this seasonCeltic manager Neil Lennon hailed his side after they twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Rangers at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup fifth round.

"I though we were the better team. After a ropey start we got a grip of the game and the midfielders were outstanding," he told BBC Scotland.

"We told them we believe in them and to be fair they believe in themselves.

"We kept taking the game to Rangers. The belief, character and quality we should today was top drawer."

Rangers went ahead through Jamie Ness within three minutes, before Kris Commons levelled the match at 1-1.

Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster conceded a penalty and was sent off for bringing down Steven Naismith, and Rangers went further ahead before half-time when Steven Whittaker netted the spot-kick.

Celtic captain Scott Brown curled the equaliser, before Naismith was shown a second yellow for simulation.

Forster's dismissal divided opinion, but Lennon said: "It was a fair decision. I couldn't complain.

We'll take a lot out of today, but we're delighted at the progress the players are making

"It came from us being slack and playing square balls where we shouldn't have been, at a period when we were in control of the game."

And Lennon was impressed by his team, who still managed to outplay Rangers for spells despite being a man down.

"After Brown's goal, which was a touch of quality, I thought there was only going to be one winner," said Lennon.

"On the balance of chances perhaps a draw as a fair result, but on the balance of football played I thought we were immense.

"I wouldn't say it was a typical Old firm games - but one of the better ones I suppose.

"We'll take a lot out of today, but we're delighted at the progress the players are making."

The two teams will meet again at Celtic Park in March to determine who will travel to Inverness in the quarter-finals.

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Labels: better, Celtic, Lennon, Rangers, Sport

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Daniel Majstorovic is on course to be fit for Celtic’s Scottish Cup showdown with Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.

The Swedish defender has declared himself raring to go for the crunch clash after coming through training unscathed at Lennoxtown this week.

The centre-half’s involvement in the Glasgow derby match had been in doubt due to the hamstring injury he picked up last month.

However, Majstorovic today revealed he is optimistic about starting for Neil Lennon’s side in their third meeting of the season with Walter Smith’s men.

Fellow Scandinavian stopper Thomas Rogne has also predicted he will have shrugged off the calf strain he picked up against Aberdeen last weekend in time to face Rangers. The news is a massive boost to the Parkhead club’s chances of recording their second straight win over their Ibrox rivals.

Lennon was forced to field full-backs Charlie Mulgrew and Mark Wilson in the middle of his back four in the SPL game against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Tuesday.

He said: “I’m getting better and I’m back on track. I’ve had good training and after today and tomorrow we’ll see what is going to happen for Sunday.

“I’m not used to this, it’s my first injury for a long time. But I’m feeling good now.

“We just need to be careful not to take any risks. This will be a very important game for us, it’s one of our targets for the season.

“I played in big derbies in Greece, but in those matches it was home fans only because it is too dangerous, that’s a big difference at Celtic-Rangers games.”

However, Majstorovic has backed Mulgrew and Wilson to do a job for Celtic if he and Rogne fail to recover in time. He added: “Charlie and Mark don’t play regularly in central defence, so I was a bit wary on Tuesday night, but they played really well.”

Meanwhile, Rogne is prepared to let adrenalin take him through the match even if he isn’t 100 per cent fit. The Norwegian said: “It’s getting better by the day,

“If it keeps on going like this, hopefully I am able to play.

“In these games if you’re not 100% fit in your body you’re always going to get your mind into the game so your adrenalin will keep you fine.

“I’m not sure you have to be 100% – because it’s such a massive game you are really up for it.”

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