Scottish Premier League - Inverness hold Celtic

Eurosport - Sun, 01 Feb 17:51:00 2009

Terry Butcher marked his first game in charge of Inverness Caledonian Thistle with a goalless draw against SPL leaders Celtic.

FOOTBALL Inverness Caledonian Thistle's manager Terry Butcher SPL 2009 - 0

There was little in the way of goalmouth action, although Georgios Samaras should have done better when he headed wide from six yards in the first half.

Both sides looked for a late winner with Inverness substitute Adam Rooney seeing his header pushed over the bar by Artur Boruc, while Stephen McManus volleyed over at the other end in the closing stages.

Celtic captain McManus returned for Celtic who made three changes from the side that defeated Dundee United midweek in the Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final.

Samaras and Barry Robson were also preferred with Glenn Loovens, Marc Crosas and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink dropping to the bench.

Butcher made five changes to the side that lost to Hearts with new signing Richie Foran making his debut. Lionel Djebi-Zadi, Andy Barrowman, David Proctor and Ian Black also returned to the Caley line-up.

Inverness came out of the traps brightly with Dougie Imrie testing Boruc from distance within the opening two minutes.

An offside flag denied Foran a dream start when he acrobatically turned the ball past Boruc two minutes later.

Samaras spurned a great opportunity after 17 minutes when he unsuccessfully tried to find his striking partner Scott McDonald instead of having a shot himself.

McManus was booked for a crude challenge on the lively Imrie as Inverness continued to venture forward at every chance.

The hosts almost gifted Celtic the lead, however, when Shunsuke Nakamura pounced on a slack Ross Tokely clearance but the Japanese midfielder's effort was deflected wide.

Inverness survived another scare moments later when Samaras somehow headed wide from six yards when he looked certain to open the scoring.

Boruc was called into action to keep out a Pavels Mihadjuks header after 29 minutes before Foran failed to keep his diving header under the bar.

Nakamura volleyed over from inside the area and Robson was booked for persistent fouling before the first half came to a close.

Inverness started the second half in positive fashion with Black curling an effort wide of the target within three minutes of the restart.

Celtic made an early change with Samaras making way after 52 minutes for the more aggressive Vennegoor of Hesselink.

However it was the home side that kept pushing forward with Imrie again failing to hit the target from distance after Robson was dispossessed.

Black picked up a yellow card after 58 minutes for a dangerous tackle on McDonald.

Nakamura, who had enjoyed a quiet game by his standards, was replaced by Marc Crosas after 64 minutes.

Djebi-Zadi was alert to clear the danger when Robson played a quick free-kick to McGeady but the Frenchman was well placed to clear the Celtic midfielder's inviting cross.

Inverness made a change after 69 minutes with Adam Rooney replacing Andy Barrowman.

Foran, who was suffering from cramp, made way for Iain Vigurs after 74 minutes after a positive debut for his new team.

Both sides were painfully close to making the breakthrough with Imrie inches away from Duncan's cross while Vennegoor of Hesselink almost connected with McGeady's centre at the other end.

Substitute Rooney almost headed his side into the lead after 82 minutes but Boruc managed to tip his effort over the bar.

With less than five minutes remaining Eric Odhiambo was handed an Inverness debut with Imrie making way, while Cillian Sheridan replaced McDonald for Celtic in a rousing finish.

Odhiambo almost marked his bow with a goal but Boruc made a fine save from the striker's low drive.

There was still time for McManus to have a chance from six yards but his volley sailed over the bar to allow the home side to hold on for a welcome point.

TeamTalk / Eurosport

Comment 123 - 142 of 142

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  1. wee fleck is pish

    From paul, on Wed 4 Feb 12:05PM

  2. i wish there was a site just for rangers bigots and celtic bigots then you could all get together and rant you bile and no other supporters would have to listen to your @#$% you scummy low life

    From paul, on Tue 3 Feb 1:27PM

  3. to all you celtic supporters you are filthy septic smelly disease ridden fuc.ing scum. the famine is over so go home you septic minks, get a job you tinkie low life rats, you bring shame to scotland, why would a true scotsman fly an irish flag ? can you low life answer that question, well i can and a true one would not, so fu.k off back to ireland you pathetic cancer ridden scum

    From kevierudd, on Tue 3 Feb 7:56AM

  4. it took th other fleck years to be a legend.. juniors been playin an hour or two ?thats how easy it is to be a legend at ibrox nowadays..i hope he gets his start next week in a big game..paul g quotes fifa o9 from a computer game quality from th pie !

    From zzgus f, on Tue 3 Feb 12:37AM

  5. Wee Flecky's gonna run riot against that defense LOL!!!

    From World Record 52 Champions, on Mon 2 Feb 11:27PM

  6. david w the famines over y dont u go home ya mick get it up yi

    From n.haig123, on Mon 2 Feb 11:21PM

  7. Just a wee quick bit of info. The 2009 fifa best club team standings. Rangers 25 Celtic 43................LOL Scotland's best team by a mile. Can i hear 52n counting

    From Paul G CHAMPIONS, on Mon 2 Feb 9:23PM

  8. The singing by the celtic fans at yesterdays game in inverness is beyond sectarian .Its inciting terrorism @ a time when islamic fanatics need no goading .After the events at glasgow airport when a good rangers fan protected all thos tims agaist their terrorist friends, u would think they would be grateful,but no not this mob of low brow neanderthals.Im sure our zero tolerance police force will take the appropriate action this time against the repeat offenders.No decent minded celtic fan wants associated with this horrible terrorism ,that has nothing to do with football and nothing to do with scotland .

    From lightspeedmorpheus, on Mon 2 Feb 8:17PM

  9. point 138 take that pic aff

    From JAMESM WATP, on Mon 2 Feb 4:37PM

  10. Scottish Premier League - Inverness hold Celtic

    From west_of_sneck, on Mon 2 Feb 4:35PM

  11. f**k sake thats the first time a huv tae agree wae a hun! wits the world cummin tae? f**k off back to ur epl ya engish poofter!!

    From GLASGOW REPUBLICAN, on Mon 2 Feb 4:30PM

  12. point 134 your epl is p.ish the 2 best supported teams in britain dont want to be ther , ya stupid english in breed

    From JAMESM WATP, on Mon 2 Feb 4:22PM

  13. point 127 aye paul they seem tae have come out the woodwork

    From JAMESM WATP, on Mon 2 Feb 4:19PM

  14. f**k you ya english pri*k!! we should have never stopped bombing yous!

    From GLASGOW REPUBLICAN, on Mon 2 Feb 4:11PM

  15. dont want the old firm to join the EPL they have disgusting filthy fans who cause trouble everywhere they go dont want them signing their sectarian bile in england us english hate your filthy scabby jocks/ENGLISH SAM

    From john, on Mon 2 Feb 3:46PM

  16. when Ranngers fans sing songs they are branded bigiots when the tims sing songs we are told that they are folk songs we all heard the filth they were singing at the game yesterday its was sectarian bile/ MUGGLESS THE RAT

    From john, on Mon 2 Feb 3:38PM

  17. dont worry celtic fans at least you have that guy who failed at cardiff city whats his name willo flop/ MUGGLESS THE RAT

    From john, on Mon 2 Feb 3:32PM

  18. your coming to get us??? in ur dreams wee man!! we can smell ur filth coming a mile away! no surrender??? wit a joke u'v surrender for the past 3yrs scumbag!! 1 FENIAN IS WORTH 100 OF YOU SCUM!!!!

    From GLASGOW REPUBLICAN, on Mon 2 Feb 3:27PM

  19. The makers of the xfiles are heading over to scotland to thank celtic for inspiring their new programme...The torbet Files.Peter lawell loved the idea so much he's printed up some t-shirts with the monster's image splattered all over it next to a picture of a rather disgruntled looking priest.NO SURRENDER ! WE'R COMING TO GET YOU HAHAHAHAHAHAAA

    From nice_mr_mofo_bastard, on Mon 2 Feb 1:49PM

  20. Celtic and Rangers are Mickey Mouse teams in a Mickey Mouse league. Year in, year out it's the same biggoted pish from the lot of you in-breeds and the same 2 teams contesting an embarassment of a trophy. Just read some of the brain washed @#$% that comes out on here from you tvvats. You're not supporters, you're a disease that has plagued Scotland for too long. Just scum with a PC.

    From crispyduck, on Mon 2 Feb 1:42PM
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