Hamilton Accies miss out point against Celtic

Oct 29 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

MICKAEL Antoine-Curier admitted he was delighted to score against Celtic but insisted Hamilton should have taken a point from Sunday’s tussle.

In driving, icy rain and swirling winds Accies struggled to find their feet for long spells as the Parkhead giants threatened to run riot.

But after striker Antoine-Curier pulled a goal back he sent James McArthur through on Celtic ‘keeper Lukasz Zaluska, only for the Pole to brilliantly deny him with two minutes remaining.

Mickael was satisfied with the afternoon’s work, however. “I think we deserved something out of the game, especially after our second-half performance,” he said.

“We played the ball on the floor and I’ve always said that we’re a great team when we play football.

“Earlier in the season, we were launching the ball but then, before the Dundee United game, we had two weeks to talk about it and I think we’re more of a football team now – that has paid off for me, and it’s more attractive to the fans.

“We lost the game, but I think we did well against Celtic, who are one of the top teams in this league, play in Europe, and have their squad costs millions.

“I was very pleased with my goal – to score against Celtic is a bonus for me and we forced two or three good saves from their keeper as well.

“We worked really hard and nearly managed to get a late goal and nick a point. It was very disappointing not to. James was unlucky, the keeper made a great save.”

Hamilton started the better side in the opening 10 minutes but it was Celtic who opened the scoring with their first chance in 15 minutes.

Marco Paixao inexplicably tried to nutmeg Andreas Hinkel just outside his own penalty area and the German won possession before swinging in a cross that Shaun Maloney met with an acrobatic bicycle kick, sending the ball into the bottom right corner.

Celtic doubled their lead in 29 minutes when Aiden McGeady played in Georgios Samaras and he made his way to the edge of the box before being tackled by James Wesolowski, but the ball broke to Scott McDonald, who blasted past Tomas Cerny.

Accies nearly pulled a goal back in 37 minutes when Paixao’s free-kick on the left was back-heeled by Martin Canning, but Mark McLaughlin just failed to get the crucial touch.

Celtic continued to dominate in the second half but without really threatening.

In 58 minutes, McGeady cut in from the right and fired in a fierce, low effort that Cerny did well to hold.

Three minutes later, Maloney curled a 19-yard free-kick past the left post.

Celtic replaced McGeady with Paddy McCourt in 66 minutes, while both McDonald and Maloney were hooked six minutes later for Marc Crosas and Niall McGinn, respectively.

Those changes coincided with Accies coming right back into the game.

Sub Jordan Kirkpatrick almost beat Zaluska with a deft chip on 77 minutes but the Pole pushed the effort over the bar. Two minutes later, the youngster twisted and turned his way past two defenders before blasting a shot towards the left corner that the stand-in Celtic keeper saved well.

Hamilton pulled a goal back in 83 minutes when Richard Hastings’ free-kick found McArthur, whose shot was turned in by Antoine-Curier.

Five minutes later, Antoine-Curier’s flick-on allowed McArthur a one-on-one with Zaluksa, but the Pole brilliantly clawed his shot away to prevent Accies’ snatching a point.

HAMILTON: Cerny, McClenahan (Evans, 84), Hastings, Canning, McLaughlin, Wesolowski, McArthur, Antoine-Curier, Elebert (Beuzelin, 66), M. Paixao (Kirkpatrick, 39), Mensing. Subs (not used): Murdoch, Neil, Andrews, Gow.

CELTIC: Zaluska, Hinkel, Naylor, McManus, Caldwell, McDonald (Crosas, 73), Samaras, Maloney (McGinn, 73), Robson, Zhi, McGeady (McCourt, 66). Subs (not used): Cervi, Wilson, Thompson.

Booked: McGeady, Robson.

Referee: Iain Brines.

Attendance: 4689.

Advertiser Man of the Match: James McArthur – battled well in midfield and was unlucky not to grab an unlikely equaliser.