TalkCeltic - The Ultimate Celtic FC Forum

Celtic increased their lead to four points at the top of the SPL despite only managing a draw at Inverness. On a wet and windy afternoon, Celtic came from behind to get a point but their performance on the day was largely dissapointing. ICT have now taken points from every team in the SPL including taking points from Ibrox and Tynecastle so this result should not be taken out of context.

Inverness had he perfect start as they caught the Celtic defence napping by snatching the lead after only 31 seconds. Player manager Craig Brewster flicked on Ross Tokely's long throw and Craig Dargo was allowed to swivel and fire the ball in off the far post, giving Boruc absolutley no chance. Dargo did not catch his shot cleanly but the player certainly wasn't complaining as he celebrated his seventh goal of the season.

Celtic did not look comfortable in defence and were fortunate that Stephen McManus was only booked when he hauled down Dargo as the striker charged towards goal. Many...

Celtic showed great courage and fighting spirit to come from behind at Pittodrie to return to the top of the SPL table. On a miserable day in Aberdeen, Gordon Strachan would have been thrilled of the way his team responded after conceeding the first goal against his former club. The victory, Celtic seventh consecutive away win of the season now opens up a monumental 17 point gap over arch-rivals Rangers.

Celtic manager Strachan made three changes from the side that lost to Dunfermline last weekend. The trio of Ross Wallace, Shunsuke Nakamura and Maciej Zurawski replaced the injured duo Mo Camara and Chris Sutton, while Alan Thompson was benched following his poor form. Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood was also forced into making changes. He brought in Winter and Andrew Considine for Darren Mackie and Russell Anderson. His inspirational captain suffered a migraine in the dressing room prior to kick-off and so was late withdrawal.

Celtic enjoyed early dominance and Zurawski had the...

Celtic strolled to an easy win over Rangers at Celtic Park this afternoon to heap more misery on manager Alex McLeish. The victory stretches the Bhoys lead over their old-firm rivals to a massive fifteen points despite never getting out of second gear. Rangers recent record is shocking - only two wins in twelve games and with difficult matches against FC Porto and Hibernian away to come in the following week, the end is near for McLeish.

Gordon Strachan named the same side that had comfortably beaten Rangers only ten days earlier and his team got off to the best possible start with a goal after only twelve minutes. A careless ball by defender Alan Hutton gifted Shunsuke Nakamura possession of the ball and the Japanese star found Shaun Maloney in space. The Scottish international broke into the Rangers box and superbly found John Hartson for an easy finish. The goal set Celtic Park wild and immediately gave Rangers an uphill struggle to take anything from the game.

Rangers...

Celtic comfortably reached the CIS Cup Semi-Final with a straight-forward 2-0 win over Rangers at Celtic Park. The result saw Gordon Strachan win his first old-firm match as manager which puts Celtic in a great position to pick up the first piece of silverware of the season. The scoreline heaps more pressure on Alex McLeish as his team's current form is abysmal having failed to win in nine out of their last eleven games.

An unchanged Celtic team from the weekends' defeat of Falkirk took to the field and started in a confident manner. Aiden McGeady who kept his place despite the availability of Alan Thompson was the first to test Stephan Klos in goal. His drive was easily dealt with by the German stopper. He also just failed to pick out John Hartson with a cross to the back post.

The initial stages were tight as Rangers pressing game was disrupting Celtic's flow. It took a piece of individual brilliance to brake the deadlock. Shaun Maloney picked the ball up just inside the...

Celtic achieved what Rangers and Hearts have both failed to do by winning at the Falkirk Staduim. The comfortable victory moved Celtic back to the top of the league and saw John Hartson score his 100th goal for the club.

Aiden McGeady who had not started since the 4-4 draw with Motherwell on the opening day of the season started the game as if had had been ever-present this season. The youngster made a couple of promising runs down the left flank but his final ball let him down.

Shaun Maloney who was playing as a striker due to Sutton's injury was first to get a glimpse of goal. After a nice move he blazed his shot over the top after connecting with a Paul Telfer cross. The Scot decided to take the shot early instead of taking a first touch and this was his undoing.

Celtic were looking comfortable and enjoying the bulk of possession. And it needed a a timely interception from Stephen O'Donnell to prevent Shunsuke Nakamura reaching another McGeady cross for a certain tap-in...