BBC Sport - Football - Morton 0-1 Celtic (original) (raw)
McGinn claimed his third goal of the season in the win over Morton
Celtic booked their spot in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup with a narrow away win over First Division Morton.
Morton looked the livelier side from kick-off and Peter Weatherson tested Artur Boruc with a strong drive.
The visitors struggled to get going, but took the lead on 35 minutes when Niall McGinn rifled the ball in from Marc-Antoine Fortune's cut-back.
Celtic went on to dominate the second half and Lee Naylor hit the post, but they were unable to add to their lead.
Celtic now travel to play Stenhousemuir or Dunfermline in round five.
Dunfermline have appealed their expulsion from the cup for playing an ineligible player, with Stenhousemuir the team who stand to benefit if the Pars are unsuccessful.
Far from being overawed by their SPL opponents, Morton, perhaps buoyed by the 10,000-strong crowd, put Celtic under some early sustained pressure.
With four minutes on the clock Allan Jenkins had a clear sight at goal but badly mis-hit badly from 18 yards.
Celtic struggled to find fluency in the opening stages with only Aiden McGeady promising top create anything. But he found himself closely guarded by the home side.
The visitors' first effort was 15 minutes in the making, when McGinn cut in from the right, but the Northern Irishman's left-foot shot was woefully weak and did not trouble Ton goalkeeper Colin Stewart
At the other end Weatherson showed how it should be done, forcing Boruc to beat the ball away when the Englishman struck a powerful knee-high drive from 20 yards.
That effort was indicative of the way Morton were matching Celtic and more.
But, despite not having threatened the home goal, Tony Mowbray's side took the lead 10 minutes before half-time.
Fortune shielded the ball strongly to the by-line, drilled it back to the penalty spot where McGinn took one touch to control and then another to lash the ball high into the net past Stewart.
Celtic upped their game after the break and dominated possession and territory. But it took until nearly 60 minutes before Georgios Samaras was able to test Stewart, who produced a strong one-handed save from the Greek's 25-yard drive.
But for all their dominance in the second period Celtic huffed and puffed to add to to their lead.
Samaras did bundle the ball into the net with 13 minutes to play, but referee Craig Thomson ruled out the effort, saying the ball had come off the forward's hand.
Morton rarely made a foray into the Celtic box, and when Brian Wake did manage to jink his way towards goal he found Lee Naylor alert enough to block his shot.
And Naylor was so unlucky not to seal the win with three minutes to go when he watched his thumping 18-yard volley clatter off the inside of the post with Stewart beaten.
Seconds later, Fortune's control deserted him just a few yards from goal, but the solitary goal was enough send Mowbray's men into round five.
Celtic manager Tony Mowbray:
"It was a competitive game and we knew that would be the case, but it's 'job done' for us.
"In cup football you've got to get in the next round and we've done that.
"There were a few too many balls bouncing over our heads in the first half for my liking.
"But in the second half we saw it out pretty comfortably, and they didn't trouble us too much.
"But again tonight we missed some good opportunities and we need to be more clinical to make the scoreline reflect the balance of play."
Morton co-manager James Grady:
"The goal we gave a way was a very cheap one. Fortune's marked on the wrong side so it's a basic error.
"But I'm proud of all my players; they gave everything.
"We always knew it was going to be difficult but for the majority of the match we competed well.
"With a wee bit of luck we might have got that goal to get us a replay.
"We're in the First Division, and if the players give us a performance like that then we'll win most Saturdays."
Live text and stats
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Scottish Cup
| Home Team | Score | Away Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morton | 0-1 | Celtic | FT |
| (HT 0-1) | |||
| McGinn 35 |
MORTON
CELTIC
Possession
- Morton 38%
- Celtic 62%
Attempts on target
- Morton 2
- Celtic 7
Attempts off target
- Morton 2
- Celtic 7
Corners
Morton 6
Celtic 13
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+1:17 The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.
Correction - 89:02 Allan Jenkins fouled by Darren O'Dea, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by Kevin Finlayson, clearance made by Glenn Loovens.
89:02 Darren O'Dea gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Allan Jenkins. Kevin Finlayson takes the direct free kick.
88:24 Centre by Andreas Hinkel, Headed effort from inside the area by Georgios Samaras misses to the right of the goal.
87:11 Marc Crosas takes the free kick.
87:11 Substitution Neil MacFarlane goes off and Brian Graham comes on.
87:11 Unfair challenge on Georgios Samaras by Ryan McGuffie results in a free kick.
86:15 Marc-Antoine Fortune takes a shot. Save by Colin Stewart.
85:37 Lee Naylor produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that hits the post.
83:49 Free kick awarded for a foul by Allan Jenkins on Glenn Loovens. Free kick taken by Artur Boruc.
83:22 The ball is sent over by Kevin Finlayson, Marc Crosas manages to make a clearance.
82:22 The assistant referee flags for offside against Marc-Antoine Fortune. Colin Stewart takes the indirect free kick.
79:11 Free kick awarded for a foul by Allan Jenkins on Darren O'Dea. Marc Crosas takes the free kick.
78:39 Corner from the left by-line taken by James McAlister, clearance made by Darren O'Dea.
78:00 Substitution Ryan Kane is brought on as a substitute for Brian Wake.
77:07 Georgios Samaras is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Colin Stewart takes the free kick.
76:12 Marc Crosas takes a inswinging corner.
75:56 Niall McGinn crosses the ball, clearance made by Stewart Greacen.
74:15 Lee Naylor sends in a cross, Headed effort from close range by Georgios Samaras goes wide left of the goal.
74:15 Booking Neil MacFarlane receives a yellow card.
74:01 Neil MacFarlane concedes a free kick for a foul on Georgios Samaras.
73:45 Centre by Kevin Finlayson, Darren O'Dea manages to make a clearance.
73:05 Unfair challenge on Kevin Finlayson by Darren O'Dea results in a free kick. Ryan McGuffie takes the direct free kick.
71:39 Brian Wake takes a shot. Blocked by Lee Naylor. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by James McAlister from the right by-line.
70:55 Corner taken right-footed by James McAlister.
Correction - 70:22 Glenn Loovens challenges Brian Wake unfairly and gives away a free kick. Alan Reid crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by Georgios Samaras.
70:22 Free kick awarded for a foul by Glenn Loovens on Brian Wake. Alan Reid takes the direct free kick.
69:11 The official flags Marc-Antoine Fortune offside. Indirect free kick taken by Colin Stewart.
68:39 Georgios Samaras gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Allan Jenkins. Stewart Greacen restarts play with the free kick.
66:42 Corner taken by Lee Naylor, Darren O'Dea has a header from inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.
66:28 The ball is swung over by Andreas Hinkel, Stewart Greacen manages to make a clearance.
Correction - 65:09 James McAlister concedes a free kick for a foul on Georgios Samaras. Zheng Zhi restarts play with the free kick.
65:09 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Georgios Samaras by James McAlister. Direct free kick taken by Georgios Samaras.
63:41 Peter Weatherson challenges Lee Naylor unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Darren O'Dea.
61:46 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Lee Naylor played to the near post, Alan Reid makes a clearance.
61:21 Centre by Peter Weatherson, Artur Boruc makes a save.
60:02 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marc Crosas by Allan Jenkins. Artur Boruc takes the free kick.
58:43 Aiden McGeady takes a shot. Save by Colin Stewart.
58:03 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Lee Naylor, Stewart Greacen manages to make a clearance.
Correction - 57:43 Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Colin Stewart makes a save.
57:43 Georgios Samaras takes a shot. Save by Colin Stewart.
55:53 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Lee Naylor, clearance made by Stewart Greacen.
55:22 Aiden McGeady takes a shot. Stewart Greacen gets a block in.
52:29 Outswinging corner taken by Lee Naylor from the left by-line played to the near post, Colin Stewart makes a save.
51:41 Unfair challenge on Andreas Hinkel by Allan Jenkins results in a free kick. Marc Crosas delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, clearance made by Ryan McGuffie.
51:29 A cross is delivered by Lee Naylor, Dominic Shimmin manages to make a clearance.
50:15 Free kick crossed left-footed by Lee Naylor from left wing, clearance made by Ryan McGuffie.
50:15 Booking Stewart Greacen is booked.
50:09 Marc-Antoine Fortune fouled by Stewart Greacen, the ref awards a free kick.
49:47 The ball is swung over by Kevin Finlayson, Glenn Loovens makes a clearance.
48:42 Corner taken by Lee Naylor from the left by-line to the near post, Neil MacFarlane makes a clearance.
48:27 Outswinging corner taken by Lee Naylor, clearance by Stewart Greacen.
47:43 Unfair challenge on Zheng Zhi by Alan Reid results in a free kick. Andreas Hinkel restarts play with the free kick.
45:43 The ball is crossed by Andreas Hinkel, save by Colin Stewart.
45:01 The second half kicks off.
Half Time
45:00+0:17 The match has reached half-time.
43:01 Lee Naylor takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Stewart Greacen makes a clearance.
42:48 The ball is sent over by Niall McGinn, clearance by Dominic Shimmin.
42:30 Peter Weatherson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marc Crosas. Marc Crosas restarts play with the free kick.
41:18 Marc-Antoine Fortune takes a shot. Save made by Colin Stewart.
39:33 Aiden McGeady crosses the ball, clearance by Dominic Shimmin.
38:15 The assistant referee signals for offside against Marc-Antoine Fortune. Indirect free kick taken by Colin Stewart.
37:49 Kevin Finlayson challenges Lee Naylor unfairly and gives away a free kick. Aiden McGeady restarts play with the free kick.
37:15 The ball is swung over by Niall McGinn, Shot by Marc-Antoine Fortune from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.
36:17 Effort from just outside the area by Allan Jenkins goes over the bar.
36:05 Centre by Allan Jenkins, clearance by Glenn Loovens.
35:24 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Glenn Loovens by Brian Wake. Direct free kick taken by Glenn Loovens.
34:19 Assist on the goal came from Georgios Samaras.
34:19 GOAL - Niall McGinn:Morton 0 - 1 Celtic Niall McGinn scores a goal from inside the box high into the middle of the goal. Morton 0-1 Celtic.
34:11 Georgios Samaras delivers the ball,
30:38 Lee Naylor produces a cross, Headed effort from inside the area by Marc-Antoine Fortune misses to the right of the target.
28:27 Corner taken by Lee Naylor from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Ryan McGuffie.
28:18 A cross is delivered by Aiden McGeady, Ryan McGuffie gets a block in.
27:44 Corner taken by James McAlister, clearance made by Darren O'Dea.
27:10 Georgios Samaras concedes a free kick for a foul on Kevin Finlayson. Kevin Finlayson delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, Andreas Hinkel makes a clearance.
25:13 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Lee Naylor, save by Colin Stewart.
25:03 The ball is delivered by Niall McGinn, blocked by Alan Reid.
24:16 Aiden McGeady has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
23:29 Foul by Brian Wake on Lee Naylor, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Marc Crosas.
22:44 The ball is crossed by Kevin Finlayson, clearance by Andreas Hinkel.
21:56 James McAlister takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, Georgios Samaras manages to make a clearance.
21:33 The ball is sent over by James McAlister, Andreas Hinkel gets a block in.
19:58 The ball is crossed by Lee Naylor.
17:53 Peter Weatherson takes a shot. Artur Boruc makes a save.
15:20 Niall McGinn takes a shot. Save by Colin Stewart.
14:39 Brian Wake is ruled offside. Glenn Loovens takes the indirect free kick.
13:40 Allan Jenkins concedes a free kick for a foul on Marc-Antoine Fortune. Artur Boruc restarts play with the free kick.
13:04 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by James McAlister, clearance made by Glenn Loovens.
12:16 Georgios Samaras delivers the ball, clearance made by Allan Jenkins.
11:16 Corner taken left-footed by Lee Naylor to the near post, clearance made by Brian Wake.
10:23 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Lee Naylor played to the near post, clearance made by Brian Wake.
6:15 A cross is delivered by Kevin Finlayson, save by Artur Boruc.
5:57 The ball is crossed by James McAlister, clearance made by Glenn Loovens.
4:27 Allan Jenkins produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.
2:36 Zheng Zhi challenges Kevin Finlayson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Neil MacFarlane takes the free kick.
0:00 The referee gets the game underway.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
