Scottish Cup
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Firhill, Glasgow

PARTICK THISTLE… 1
(Bannigan pen 90+2)

CELTIC… 2
(Griffiths 12, McGregor 79)

CELTIC overcame Partick Thistle 2-1 in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup this evening (Saturday), to progress to the next stage of the competition. Goals from Leigh Griffiths and Callum McGregor in either half secured a winning start to the new decade for Neil Lennon’s men, despite conceding a late penalty.

The visitors enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening stages, as full-backs Greg Taylor and Jeremie Frimpong capitalised on the space down each wing. On four minutes, the former’s deep out-swinging cross was met by the head of Edouard, but was held by Thistle keeper Scott Fox.

At the the opposite end, Nir Bitton, who started this evening’s game at centre-half next to Christopher Jullien, appeared to injury his hamstring, and was forced to retire early on six minutes. Jozo Simunovic, who last started for the Hoops against AIK Stockholm in a UEFA Europa League qualifier, in turn entered play.

Ahead of the 10-minute mark, Tom Rogic and Edouard forced strong saves from Fox between the sticks, as the Scottish Champions sought to turn the screw on their opponents.

Two minutes later, they got the break they deserved courtesy of Leigh Griffiths. After breaking down the left from deep inside his own half, Taylor found Rogic at the end of the box, he was disposed, and Griffiths battered the loose ball home.

With a spring in their step, Neil Lennon’s men pressed the Jags deeper into the middle and final thirds, as they looked to double their lead. To this end, Edoaurd might have done better on 20 minutes with a close-range effort – 12-yards from goal, after dispossessing Tam O’Ware – but his shot was blocked for a corner. Jullien did well to reach the resulting corner, but couldn’t keep his header down.

As the first half wore on, Celtic manipulated the space in central areas as Thistle struggled to maintain shape. To the home side’s credit, though, they held their defensive line well, and as such, the Hoops’ only clear-cut chance of the last quarter-hour came from a 20-yard Edoaurd free-kick curled into the side-netting.

With two minutes left on the clock, Frimpong had a strong claim for a penalty waved away, before, at the other end, a lapse in communication between Scott Brown and Simunovic saw Zak Rudden burst down the right flank and send the ball across goal for Kenny Miller. The veteran striker sent his effort off the woodwork, and Celtic cleared to ensure going into break in front.

Five minutes into the second period, Jullien was again unfortunate not to extend his side’s lead when he forced a strong hand from Fox from a corner.

The Hoops’ midfield diamond allowed Rogic space in the middle of the pitch, which allowed his to show off some sharp footwork. On 60 minutes, it was the Australian how carved the Hoops' next opportunity when he capped off some great close control with a right foot round the wrong side of the post.

Five minutes after that, Rogic again unlocked the Thistle defence with a neat through ball for Griffiths. The 29-year-old in turn whipped a high ball into the box for Edouard, he fed McGregor inside, but the midfielder’s side-footed effort whizzed wide of the mark.

In the closing quarter-hour, Thistle rarely played with a man outside their own half. They played for the most part with 10-men behind the ball, and while frustrating for Neil Lennon’s men, meant there was little chance of them relinquishing their lead.

On 78 minutes, a smart and quick chipped free-kick from Ntcham found Edouard 20-yards from goal. The 21-year-old Frenchman took the sweetest of touches, before firing a looping drive that Fox tipped onto the bar and out for a corner.

From the resulting dead ball, the ball ultimately fell to McGregor on the edge of the box, whose deflected shot wrong-footed Fox on its way into the back of the net to double the Scottish Cup-holders’ lead.

Amid the goal celebrations, new signing Patryck Klimala replaced Griffiths up top, where he, despite his short time on the pitch, looked lively.

Deep into the second minute of added time, Partick were awarded a penalty when Frimpong came together with substitute Zanatta in the box. Stuart Bannigan took the spot-kick and pulled a consolation goal back for the hosts – in turn delivering a scoreline which did not reflect the dominance of the visitors.

Still, a confident win for Neil Lennon's men, who now progress to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup.

PARTICK THISTLE: Scott, Penrice, O’Ware, McGinty, Bannigan, Miller (Harkins 82), Cole, Robson, MacKinnon (Slater 60), Rudden (Zanatta 69), Saunders
Subs not used: Sneddon, Cardle, Jones, Austin

CELTIC: Forster; Frimpong, Jullien, Bitton (Simunovic 6), Taylor; Brown, Nthcam, McGregor, Rogic (Arzani 85); Griffiths (Klimala 80), Edouard
Subs not used: Gordon, Hayes, Bauer, Hayes, Bolingoli

Website Man of the Match: Tom Rogic

Celtic see off Partick to progress to fifth round of Scottish Cup