Hamilton 1 Celtic 2

Scottish Premier League
Sunday, November 16, 2008
New Douglas Park, Hamilton

HAMILTON ACADEMICALS v CELTIC

PRE-MATCH PREAMBLE:

Celtic travel to the SPL’s bottom club determined to continue a good run of form which has seen them clock up nine league victories on the spin.
A win today at New Douglas Park will allow the champions to re-establish a four-point advantage over second-placed Rangers at the summit.
Hamilton are meanwhile running out against a backdrop of eight games without a win and are two points behind St Mirren at the bottom of the table.

TEAM NEWS:

Injuries continue to impact on the Celtic squad, with Aiden McGeady, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Artur Boruc, Marc Crosas, Paddy McCourt and Chris Killen the notable absentees.
The on-form Scott McDonald was also missing from the matchday squad, with Glenn Loovens and Georgios Samaras continuing their comebacks after spells on the sidelines, taking their places on a youthful bench which includes Scott Fox, Koki Mizuno, Paul Caddis and Paul McGowan, as well as experienced midfielder, Barry Robson.
Gordon Strachan has made just one change to the team which beat Kilmarnock 3-0 during midweek, with Paul Hartley taking the place of McDonald.

FULL TEAMLINES:

HAMILTON ACCIES (4-4-2) Cerny, Canning, Easton, McCarthy, Swailes, McLaughlin, Offiong, McArthur, McClenahan, Neil, Mensing.
Subs: Murdoch, Elebert, Gibson, Stevenson, Thomas, Lyle, Graham.
CELTIC (4-4-2) M Brown; Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Wilson; S Brown, Hartley, Donati, Nakamura; Maloney, Sheridan.
Subs: Fox, Samaras, Robson, Loovens, Mizuno, Caddis, McGowan.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

REFEREE: Steve Conroy
LINESMEN: Graham Chambers, Chris Young
Fourth Official: Chris Boyle

Celtic kick off, with Mark Wilson launching the ball forward and losing possession.

Scott Brown cuts inside and feeds Donati, who just fails in his bid to squeeze past McArthur.

Cillian Sheridan works the right channel, winning the ball and cutting back to the edge of the box, where his low drive from just over 20 yards out is collected by Cerny.

McLaughlin plays a hopeful ball through the middle of the Celtic defence, which is shadowed by Mark Wilson and easily collected by Mark Brown.

Donati robbed of possession at the corner of the Celtic box, ball breaks for Richard Offiong who hits a rising shot at goal, which sails over the bar. Hamilton's first attempt on target.

McClenahan drives in a cross to the near post which is hooked away by McManus, Brown then races forward on the counter attack, but is well-tracked and held up by Trent McClenahan.

Solid tackle by Canning wins possession for Accies, Offiong races to the byline and Hinkel is forced to concede a corner. Neil's delivery is poor, with the ball easily headed clear by Donati.

Stupid, clumsy challenge by Swailes on Maloney, conceding a free kick on the edge of the box on the left. Hartley takes, Caldwell meets the ball in the air, buts sends his header down and wide at the back post.

Good play by Donati to win the ball and clear under pressure down by the corner flag. Sheridan then robs Neil in the middle of the park, setting Brown off on a run, but his return pass is a poor one.

McCarthy tees up McArthur for a shot on goal after breaking forward. The midfielder's shot spins wide from 25 yards out.

Good defending by Caldwell, playing the ball off Offiong to win a by-kick after the striker had been released by a chip from Mensing.

McArthur sends another speculative effort tamely wide of the target after Offiong gets a boot in the mouth from Caldwell

Cross to the back post by Wilson headed down by Sheridan, but hooked clear by the covering defender.

Wilson concedes free kick for challenge on Mensing. Neil takes, Swailes' back post header comes off a defender, ball partially cleared but then fired wide from over 25 yards out by McCarthy.

McArthur lifts a hopeful ball forward which goes out for a Celtic by.

Sheridan goes down, having taken a bang on the face from Canning. Donati takes possession at the drop ball, Celtic go forward, but Cerny collects a speculative ball down the right channel.

Promising cross by Nakamura cleared by Hamilton, who then counter. Offiong is robbed of possession by Caldwell, with Brown coming out to gather the loose ball under pressure.

Celtic break forward with Hinkel looking for the cross, but opting to shoot. The shot is saved and Celtic get a corner. Nakamura takes and Sheridan's header is deflected over. Hartley takes, Caldwell almost makes the connection at the back post, but the ball bobbles down to the bottom corner where it is collected by Cerny.

Nakamura attempts a cheeky chip from over 20 yards after being teed-up by a Hartley lay off. Cerny collects with ease.

McArthur slides in with yet another late challenge, this time catching Wilson. Celtic lose possession, Accies counter and their bench and coaching staff scream for a free kick as Caldwell slides in with a well-timed challenge to rob Offiong after the striker got past McManus.

Maloney shot curls away from goal, sailing well wide of the target.

HALF TIME - Hamilton 1 Celtic 1

SECOND HALF - Celtic make one change at half-time with Wilson off and Barry Robson on at left back.

Nice play by Donati and Robson on the left before Hamilton win back possesssion.

Promising break for the byline by Sheridan, who unfortunately runs it out of play.

Celtic corner, taken by Hartley, ball breaks for Brown on the edge of the area, his shot goes well wide.

Mark Brown out to collect a long ball forward by Neil.

Maloney wins a corner for Celtic. Nakamura takes, curled in to back post with his left foot. McArthur clears McManus's header.

Nakamura wins a free kick after a crude challenge by McClenahan. He then overhits the set piece which is easily plucked out the air by Cerny.

Caldwell incurs the wrath of the Hamilton players after refusing to put the ball out with Offiong down. This despite the fact that Hamilton themselves played on moments earlier. Ridiculous complaints that ignore the basic facts of the matter.

McArthur concedes a free kick for a stupid foul on Hartley. His free kick is then cleared by Mensing.

Free kick given to Celtic after two midfielders slide in at the back of Hartley. Hamilton fans now screaming and baying at every decision that goes against them, right or wrong.

Gary Caldwell takes a bang on the head as he tries to get on the end of a Hartley corner, curled in to the near post.

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Official Attendance: 5550

Easton hits a long ball down the left flank, which is completely overhit. Ball goes out for a Celtic by.

CELTIC SUB - Nakamura off, Georgios Samaras on.

Hartley drive from over 25 yards out goes well over the bar, but almost hits the cameraman, positioned on the scaffold behind the goal. So close, but so far!

McArthur down and receiving treatment after fouling Robson as he plays the ball forward.

Promising move by Celtic, with Donati and Brown at the heart of it. Ends when Hinkel's ball in behind the defence is hooked away.

CELTIC SUB - Final by sub for Celtic - Paul Caddis on for Massimo Donati.

Great block by McClenahan to deny Brown after Celtic built patiently and create an opening. Hartley takes resulting corner, right foot delivery to the back post, but the whistle goes for a handball by McManus.

HAMILTON - Alex Neil off, David Elebert on.

Another promising and composed attack by Celtic. But a heavy touch for Hinkel, just as he prepares to swing the ball in, allows Hamilton to clear the cross.

Hartley concedes a free kick, over 25 yards up the right channel. McClenahan takes, ball headed clear by McManus.

Hinkel cross hooked away at the near post by Swailes. Celtic follow up with a shot from Samaras which is blocked.

Hamilton sub - Offiong off, David Graham on.

World class save by Cerny, getting down and getting his hand to a glancing header from Samaras, after the striker flicked a Hinkel cross at goal! Great save!

HAMILTON SUB - Third and final sub for Accies - Swailes off, Joel Thomas on.

FULL TIME WHISTLE SOUNDS - after four minutes of additional time.
FULL TIME - Hamilton 1 Celtic 2!