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Celtic logo
Scottish Premiership
Aug 24, 2013 at 3pm UK
 
Inverness CT

2-2

Mulgrew (42'), Matthews (82')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Doran (14'), Foran (35')

Live Commentary: Celtic 2-2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle - as it happened

Live coverage of the Scottish Premiership game between Celtic and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
2

Celtic came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw with Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Celtic Park this afternoon.

The visitors took a two-goal lead inside the opening 35 minutes through Aaron Doran and Richie Foran.

Charlie Mulgrew got the Scottish champions back into the game just before half time, before Adam Matthews netted late on to level the scores.

Read how all the action unfolded below:


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Good afternoon. With less than half an hour until kickoff at Celtic Park, let's take a look at the starting lineups for this afternoon's match between Celtic and Inverness Caledonian Thistle...

CELTIC STARTING XI: Forster, Matthews, Ambrose, Van Dijk, Izaguirre, Brown, Kayal, Rogic, Mulgrew, Amido, Watt

INVERNESS STARTING XI: Brill, Raven, Warren, Meekings, Shinnie, Foran, Draper, Doran, Vincent, Ross, McKay

Earlier this afternoon, Celtic tweeted this shot of the team arriving at Celtic Park ready for this afternoon's clash.



The Hoops have racked up the air miles ahead of this afternoon's match, travelling to Kazakhstan for the first leg of their Champions League qualifier earlier this week. Ahead of today's game, Charlie Mulgrew told the team's website: "Everybody has thought a lot about the game. We were very down after the match, all the players and staff. But it's just about being positive now and looking forward to the next game and it's Inverness, and it's good we have a game so quickly to bounce back and hopefully we can do that."

Inverness's main goal threat this afternoon is likely to come from Billy McKay. The club's manager, Terry Butcher, told The Express that he hopes to keep hold of the striker during this transfer window: "I am happy with the way Billy is scoring goals and I'll be even happier after the September transfer deadline when he is still here. We have a Plan B and a Plan C in place but we don't want to operate those. We want Billy here and I have every confidence he will be."

Celtic's record against Caley was good last season, but Butcher's side did manage to sneak a win against the Bhoys at Celtic Park last November, with McKay scoring the only goal of the game. However, their last trip to the champions finished in a 4-1 defeat back in April.

Neil Lennon is without several of his regular first-team members this afternoon, with Georgios Samaras, Anthony Stokes and Kris Commons among those missing though injury.

As kickoff approaches, let's make a prediction! Normally, you wouldn't bet against Celtic at home in the league. However, the lengthy injury list, combined with the long trip to Karaganda earlier this week, will surely be taking its toll on the champions. Meanwhile, Inverness have started the season in red-hot form. I can see this being a 2-2 draw this afternoon.

The players are in the tunnel ready to head out for this afternoon's match.

Celtic get the game underway.

Celtic win another corner, and Mulgrew looks for Watt in the box, but Brill comfortably collects the ball for the visitors. Inverness immediately try to counter, but Izaguirre wins the ball back.

CHANCE! Aaron Doran strikes it beautifully from the set piece, but it dips too late, just heading over the crossbar. Both sides have come out attacking in this first half.

CHANCE! Watt makes a stunning run down the line, getting the better of Shinnie with some flashy footwork, but the Inverness defender manages to block his attempt to cross the ball in. Matthews manages to get the cross in moments later for Balde, but the Portuguese striker heads his effort straight at Brill.

CHANCE! Inverness win their first corner of the game, which Mulgrew puts behind for another corner, but the champions manage to clear at the second time of asking, unleashing Watt on the counter-attack. The teenage striker does all the hard work, but then blasts his effort straight to Brill.

GOAL! Celtic 0-1 Inverness (Doran)

Brill throws the ball out from Watt's effort, and Inverness immediately head down the other end, with Doran picking the ball up out wide before smashing it past Forster.

CHANCE! Mulgrew has a chance to level straight away for the hosts, as Celtic win a free kick around 30 yards out. Mulgrew goes for goal, but his rocket of an effort flies just over.

Celtic weave the ball through midfield with ease, before Rogic picks up the ball on the edge of the box. He has no support ahead of him so goes for goal himself, but he slices it well high. Celtic have responded well since going behind, but can't find the equaliser at the minute.

CHANCE! Mulgrew builds superbly from midfield before picking out Balde on the edge of the box. The summer signing tries to turn the ball in to level the scores, but Brill makes the save.

SUB! There's an injury concern for Celtic as Beram Kayal pulls up with what looks like a hamstring injury. He hobbles over to the sideline an heads down the tunnel, leaving Celtic down to 10 while Joe Ledley is warming up to take his place.

Celtic win a corner, which Balde tries to smash in, but his strike is blocked. The ball falls to Ledley, but his effort goes behind for a goal kick.

Scott Brown superbly plays his way into the box. Brill tips his cross in away with his fingertips, but Balde gets a chance from the edge of the area, but the visitors manage to clear.

CHANCE! Celtic win a free kick around 35 yards out. Mulgrew delivers it into the box and Ambrose goes for the header, but it just brushes the crossbar as he goes over.

Matthews sends a long ball in, but Inverness quickly clear the danger. However, Rogic is on hand to take is back in for the hosts, winning a corner.

GOAL! Celtic 0-2 Inverness (Foran)

The visitors win a throw in near the corner flag. Meekings delivers it into the box for Richie Foran to head in from the right-hand side of the goal. Forster looks to the assistant referee for an offside decision, but the replays show that Foran was well onside to double Caley's lead.

Despite going behind early on, Celtic had never really looked out of this match, but the second goal has allowed the visitors to take control of the game, stretching the Scottish champions in midfield. It could be a long afternoon for Neil Lennon's men.

GOAL! Celtic 1-2 Inverness (Mulgrew)

And just like that, Celtic are right back in it. Inverness are left scrambling trying to clear a Ledley ball into the area. The Wales international wins it back and find Mulgrew to the left of the goal, allowing the defender to smash the ball in.

Shinnie tries to whip the ball in from out wide, but it's put behind for a corner. Mulgrew delivers but it's put out the other side for another corner, which Caley manage to get away. That should be about it for the first half.

HALF TIME: Celtic 1-2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle

What an eventful 45 minutes! Celtic had the stronger start, but Inverness manages to grab a lead early on, and looked to well in control when captain Richie Foran doubled the advantage. However, a Charlie Mulgrew effort just before half time keep the champions in the game.

Let's take a look at some of the stats from the first half. Celtic had more chances than the visitors, having 10 attempts at goal with four on target. Terry Butcher's men have had just two efforts on target and one which went high. Fraser Forster is yet to make a save for Celtic.

Despite Celtic having so many more chances, the possession was even split. The Hoops will need to see a bit more of the ball after the break if they're to get themselves back on level terms.

Tiredness could become a bit of an issue for Neil Lennon's side. They already looked fatigued from the Champions League adventure midweek, but also have just two substitutes left after Beram Kayal picked up a hamstring injury early on.

The players are starting to head back out ready for the second half.

The action gets back underway at Celtic Park.

Celtic are on the attack straight away as Ledley tears down the left wing before crossing in for Watt, who tries to head past Brill in the Inverness goal, but the keeper manages to palm the ball away. The champions have started with plenty of pace and intent.

Celtic win a thrown in near the corner flag, which Matthews fires towards the box, but Shinnie manages to get the ball away for Inverness. Brown regains possession for the hosts in midfield, as Celtic begin some patient build-up, but Caley make the clearance again.

McKay is fouled in midfield, giving the visitors a free kick. Celtic put the delivery out for a throw in, which Shinnie takes, setting McKay up inside the box, but Mulgrew gets the ball away, and Celtic go on the counter. The ball is crossed in for Scott Brown, but the captain heads the ball well over.

There could be another injury for Celtic, as Amido Balde appears to have taken a knock while helping out in defence. The Portuguese striker has looked dangerous up front since joining the Scottish champions in the summer, he's be a big loss.

Watt wins a thrown in for Celtic near the corner flag. Matthews launches it in again, but fails to find his teammates in the box. McKay leads the counter attack for Inverness, winning a free kick around 25 yards out. Shinnie curls it in looking for Draper, but Izaguirre breaks up the move.

Matthews breaks into the box for Celtic, and wins the home side's first corner of the second half. Mulgrew curls it in across the face of goal, and Balde rises for the header, just missing the target.

CHANCE! Izaguirre threads the ball through midfield for Ledley, who looks to cross the ball in towards Balde, but it's put out for a throw. This time, Watt manages to get the cross in to the Portuguese forward, but his finish goes just inches high of the crossbar.

BOOKING! Balde picks up the first yellow card of the game for charging into the Inverness keeper while he was lining up a goal kick. A silly challenge from the striker.

BOOKING! Celtic patiently build in midfield, before Brown passes the ball out wide toward Izaguirre, but the defender fails to control the ball, gifting Inverness a thrown in. However, Raven is deemed to have been time wasting while lining up the delivery, and he joins Balde in the referee's book.

Tony Watt is wiped out on the edge of the area by Warren. Mulgrew curls in the free kick, but Doran gets the ball away for the visitors, before McKay goes on the counter attack. However, he finds his way blocked so passes to Ross, who just seems happy to keep possession.

Tony Watt shows some impressive footwork to get a cross in, which Raven heads behind, knowing the Balde was waiting to pounce in front of goal. Mulgrew takes the corner, but it's an easy take for Brill.

PENALTY APPEAL! Celtic are bearing down on the Inverness area, but Warren gets the ball away, allowing Doran to run at Forster's goal. He gets ready to line up his strike, looking for his second goal of the game, but a physically challenge from Van Dijk sees him knocked to the ground. He looks to the referee for a penalty, but he doesn't get it.

Ledley puts the ball behind, giving Inverness their first corner of the second half. They take it short before Doran blasts it in for Draper, but he can only put the ball behind to give Celtic a goal kick.

Mulgrew whips a dangerous ball in for the home side, but there's no-one there to get on the other end of it. Izaguirre tries to force it back it, but Draper clears the danger.

SUB! Celtic make a second change, bringing Mikael Lustig on for Virgil van Dijk.

CHANCE! Some clumsy defender from Shinnie gives Celtic a free kick on the edge of the area. Matthews drills it in low, but Raven clears it for Inverness. Lustig tries to take it back in, but it's put behind for a corner. Balde tries to head it in, but Brill safely makes the save.

SUB! Tom Rogic makes way for Bahrudin Atajic.

GOAL! Celtic 2-2 Inverness (Matthews)

Scott Brown sends the ball forward to Adam Matthews, who has looked threatening all afternoon, and he lashed it past Brill to level the scores. Celtic are pressing for a winner now.

SUB! Inverness make their first change, bringing Marley Watkins on for Aaron Doran, who opened the scoring.

CHANCE! Lustig comes so close to giving Celtic the lead for the first time, as Izaguirre delivers the ball, allowing the Swede to climb high for a header, but it goes just wide. It's been all Celtic since Matthews' equaliser.

CHANCE! Torbjorn Agdestein, who has replaced McKay, goes for goal from just outside the box, but he gets his foot under the ball, and is rises high above the crossbar.

Both sides have three minutes of stoppage time to find a winner.

Watkins takes the ball into the box for Inverness before pulling it back for Adgestein, but Mulgrew is back to get the ball away. Celtic immediately go on the counter attack, but it goes behind for a goal kick, which Brill takes his time to take.

Warren concedes a free kick around 20 yards out, which Charlie Mulgrew is lining up, but his delivery is deflected behind by the wall, giving Celtic a corner in the final seconds of the game.

Mulgrew whips it in, but Brill comes off his line to take the ball, and that will be the last action of the match.

FULL TIME: Celtic 2-2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle

A late goal from Adam Matthews helps Celtic come from 2-0 down to share the points with Inverness Caledonian Thistle. The result means there are no teams left in the Scottish Premiership with a 100% record.

As expected, the Bhoys lengthy injury list combined with their Champions League trip midweek meant that Neil Lennon's side weren't at their best this afternoon, while Inverness played superbly for much of the first half.

The result leaves Inverness at the top of the league table, but the Hoops have a game in hand. That's all from Celtic Park this afternoon, but stick around for reaction to this, and all of this afternoon's matches. Thanks for joining me this afternoon, goodbye.

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Written by
Sian Cowper
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Inverness Caledonian Thistle's William McKay celebrates his goal with teammates on November 24, 2012
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