Celts just do enough

Published 20 Jan 2010 14:00 0 Comments

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killer blow: Niall McGinn's strike ten minutes before the interval is enough to beat Colin Stewart's despairing dive and put Celtic in the driving seat in last night's 1-0 Scottish Cup victory for the Parkhead side. Ton manager James Grady praised his players despite the narrow defeat to the team currently second in the Scottish Premierleague. Picture: Alex Craig

CELTIC were expected to go through to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup, and they did, but in a match in which they had the bulk of possession, they were hardly impressive.

They are, of course, short of numbers these days, several players being on the injured list and having shed others in the transfer window.

Scott Brown and Shaun Maloney in particular might have given them more drive and invention, but it is not hard to see why there is a growing disaffection among their support.

It was as a poor a Celtic team as I have seen.

They were worth their victory in a match which threw up very few clear-cut chances but, if James Grady has his work cut out in trying to create some consistency in his team, Tony Mowbray is not without his own problems. His pressures are greater I would suggest.

Morton began this tie in aggressive style against a Celtic team which began in 4-3-3 formation, with Georgios Samaras playing wide left and Niall McGinn on the right, Marc-Antoine Fortune ploughing a lone furrow through the middle.

Aiden McGeady was left to his own devices in midfield, roaming as he desired, but it was Morton, in a positive 4-4-2 formation, who dictated the early play.

In just five minutes they fashioned an opportunity. Dominic Shimmin played a direct pass forward to Brian Wake, he laid it back to Allan Jenkins, but the midfielder miscued his effort from 20 yards to the right of the target.

Jim McAlister then did well to get the ball in from the left flank in an impressive home opening.

A rare Shimmin error let in McGinn, but his half-hit effort was easily picked up by Colin Stewart.

In 18 minutes a mistake by Glenn Loovens allowed Peter Weatherson a left-foot drive which Boruc blocked.

It was an encouraging start for the hosts, though Neil MacFarlane did well to get a challenge in on Zheng Zhi as he moved forward threateningly.

McGeady's pace and trickery threatened more than it ever delivered and, in 24 minutes, his spurt down the left resulted in a drive wide of the near post.

Zhi was off target with a headed chance before Celtic scored in 35 minutes with a goal more down to defensive frailty than any real creativity.

From a throw on the left, Fortune was allowed to get to the byeline and cross low into the penalty box. Samaras couldn't connect at the near post, but the ball ran on to the unmarked McGinn who side-footed home from close range.

Kevin Finlayson replied with a drive well over the crossbar before Fortune wasted an opportunity at the back post by directing the ball wide from McGinn's excellent cross from the right.

The half ended with Stewart comfortably saving Fortune's acutely angled shot from the left.

Celtic were first to threaten in the second half, Greacen being booked for downing Fortune, then Samaras seeing his drive saved by the Morton goalkeeper at the expense of a corner.

Stewart then got down to save low from McGeady before Brian Wake provided an excellent ball in from the right at the other end, no one showing the necessary anticipation.

In 72 minutes Wake himself had an opportunity only to see his parting effort strike Naylor and go for a corner.

Neil MacFarlane was booked for a professional foul after blocking Samaras and then the Greek striker seemed to have added a second goal for the visitors in 77 minutes. He bundled the ball in at the back post from a Crosas corner on the left, but it was his arm that had made contact with the ball and the 'goal' was disallowed.

Young Ryan Kane was thrown on in place of Wake with 12 minutes to go as Morton sought to grab an equaliser, but it was Celtic who came closest with four minutes of regulation time left on the clock. Samaras supplied the pass inside from the left and the supporting Naylor thrashed a drive which bent at the last second onto the right post and rebounded across the goalmouth.

Brian Graham replaced Neil MacFarlane as Morton threw caution to the wind, Samaras being cautioned after blocking Allan Jenkins' run through the middle.

At the end of a cold Cappielow night it was the Glasgow Hoops who earned their place in the fifth round. Morton at least earned the respect of their biggest crowd for years.

This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 20 Jan 10

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