Arbroath v Celtic

Arbroath 0

Celtic 1

Matthews 18′

FT 90 +4
HT 0-1

Highlights - Arbroath 0-1 Celtic

By Alasdair Lamont BBC Scotland at Gayfield

Celtic narrowly beat Second Division Arbroath to earn a Scottish Cup fifth-round tie at Raith Rovers.

Neil Lennon's men dominated early on and deservedly went ahead thanks to a fabulous Adam Matthews drive.

But Arbroath refused to buckle and made a real contest of it, Steven Doris seeing a goal disallowed after the break for a foul earlier in the move.

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The match ended with Celtic trying to run down the clock, which was testament to the challenge posed by the hosts.

They could not fashion an equaliser but emerge from the tie - over the two games - with enormous credit.

Celtic have had few tougher tests over the course of the season but started well enough, controlling the early stages, playing an unfamiliar 3-5-2 formation.

Georgios Samaras sent a header straight at Scott Morrison in the Arbroath goal on five minutes and, shortly afterwards, Lassad had the ball in the net, only for the assistant to flag for offside.

Arbroath thought they had levelled in the second half

Ironically, though, the opening goal came just as Arbroath had looked like threatening the Celtic goal.

Paul Sheerin had a shot charged down and Celtic burst upfield, Matthews powering through before unleashing a splendid shot that flew past Morrison and into the top corner.

The breakthrough came on 18 minutes and though Celtic were comfortable, it was another 15 minutes before they troubled Morrison again.

Charlie Mulgrew arrowed a delightful diagonal pass to Samaras, who in turn cushioned it for Lassad and the Tunisian should have done much better than shoot tamely at the keeper from eight yards.

A free-kick early in the second half caused a degree of discomfort in the Celtic penalty area, Stuart Malcolm lunging at the ball to try to poke it over the line, but instead earning himself a yellow card for catching Forster with his raised boot.

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Arbroath thought they had grabbed the equaliser with just over an hour on the clock as another Sheerin delivery caused consternation, with Forster failing to gather and the ball being thumped into the net by Doris, but referee Craig Charleston ruled the effort out for an infringement.

Though Brown and Beram Kayal flashed shots just wide, manager Lennon was not content with his side's display and replaced Emilio Izaguirre and the ineffective Lassad with Victor Wanyama and Gary Hooper.

The finely-balanced nature of the tie was underlined by a passage of play during which Kayal brought out a flying save from Morrison before Arbroath substitute Connor Birse broke free only to see Forster divert his shot wide with his trailing foot.

That was to be Arbroath's final chance, as it turned out, but Celtic could not relax until the final whistle, which they greeted with relief as much as delight.

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (6)

Arbroath

01 Morrison
02 Baxter
03 Hamilton
05 Malcolm Booked
06 Keddie
08 Robertson Booked
04 Kerr Booked (Birse - 76' )
07 Sibanda (Rennie - 73' )
10 Paul Currie
11 Sheerin (Holmes - 76' )
09 Doris

Substitutes

21 Bullock
12 Gribben
14 Rennie
15 Holmes
16 Birse

Celtic

01 Forster
04 Ambrose
06 Wilson
23 Lustig
02 Matthews (McGeouch - 90' )
03 Izaguirre (Wanyama - 65' )
08 Brown
21 Mulgrew Booked
33 Kayal
09 Samaras Booked
11 Nouioui (Hooper - 65' )

Substitutes

24 Zaluska
46 McGeouch
67 Wanyama
07 Miku
88 Hooper

Ref: Charleston

Att: 4,127

Match Stats

Possession 36 64

Shots

2 5

On target

0 2

Corners

5 4

Fouls

9 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:57 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +1:50

Colin Hamilton fouled by Georgios Samaras, the ref awards a free kick. Scott Morrison takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +0:50

Georgios Samaras restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +0:50 Booking

Booking Scott Robertson booked for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +0:01

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Connor Birse by Dylan McGeouch. Scott Morrison restarts play with the free kick. Scott Robertson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Victor Wanyama.

89:03 Substitution

Substitution Dylan McGeouch is brought on as a substitute for Adam Matthews.

84:51

Free kick taken by Paul Currie.

84:51 Booking

Booking Georgios Samaras booked.

84:17

Georgios Samaras concedes a free kick for a foul on Paul Currie.

83:14

Scott Robertson fouled by Gary Hooper, the ref awards a free kick. Colin Hamilton produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick.

77:00

Paul Currie takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance by Mikael Lustig.

75:34 Substitution

Substitution Connor Birse replaces Brian Kerr.

75:34 Substitution

Substitution Paul Sheerin leaves the field to be replaced by Derek Holmes.

74:09

Scott Robertson fouled by Mikael Lustig, the ref awards a free kick. Steven Doris fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

72:56 Substitution

Substitution Daniel Rennie joins the action as a substitute, replacing Lee Sibanda.

72:06

Efe Ambrose challenges Steven Doris unfairly and gives away a free kick. Paul Currie takes the direct free kick.

68:26

Steven Doris fouled by Victor Wanyama, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Paul Sheerin.

64:44 Substitution

Substitution Emilio Izaguirre goes off and Victor Wanyama comes on.

64:44 Substitution

Substitution Gary Hooper replaces Lassad Nouioui.