WHEN YOU NEED A GOAL, YOU CAN RELY ON GRIFFITHS
If Celtic had a poacher in their starting line-up, Kieran Tierney would have had three assists last night. At least.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers had given his frontmen a little leeway during the week when he said that their lack of goals was partly down to a paucity of service, but they could have no complaints on that score against Rosenborg as Tierney continually hit the byline and flashed quality deliveries across goal. The only problem was that nobody was there to gobble up the chances, with Edouard pulling out or being posted missing altogether at the crucial moment.
It isn’t only the strikers to blame for the Celtic’s current difficulties in finding the net, with their play at the moment all too often slow and predictable, but they could really be doing with their £9million man stepping up.
As it was, it was left to the man who climbed off the bench to show him how it’s done, with Griffiths getting into the area take the one chance that fell his way.
MIKAEL LUSTIG IS A WEAK LINK
The Swede has been a tremendous servant to Celtic through the years, but there have been signs that he is beginning to creak a little on the European stage, and again he was exposed defensively here on several occasions.
He had an early scare when he was outstripped for pace by Issam Jebali and then hung out a desperate leg after being beaten by the Rosenborg attacker in the box, but thankfully for him the referee booked his opponent for simulation.
Still, the warning signs were there, and the crowd were getting noticeably edgy any time the full-back was isolated one-on-one.
To be fair to the 31-year-old, he still swung in a few decent deliveries and contributed going forward, but better sides will expose his defensive shortcomings.
CELTIC’S MIDFIELD ISN’T FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS
Celtic captain Scott Brown was his usual self against the Norwegian champions, putting himself about and keeping play ticking over, but the creative outlets from the middle of the park were nowhere near as influential as they have been.
After his petulant showing and dismissal at St Mirren on Friday night, Olivier Ntcham was again out of sorts, being casual in possession and too easily dispossessed at times. Tom Rogic struggled to make much of an impact before taking his now traditional leave just before the hour, and perhaps the only surprise was that Ntcham wasn’t the other player to make way as Brendan Rodgers made that double change.
TOO EARLY TO JUDGE FILIP BENKOVIC AND DEDRYCK BOYATA AS A PAIRING
The fledgling central-defensive partnership was given its second outing, and they did most of what was asked of them as they recorded their second clean sheet out of two. Boyata did have a couple of nervy moments in the first half as he reminded everyone of the flaws in his game, giving the ball way in a dangerous area and momentarily losing his head as he desperately tried to atone, but thankfully for him he got away with it.
Benkovic looked tidy enough, using the ball well and making a couple of decent interventions when required, but the fact that the visitors showed little to no ambition of getting forward on the night, it is difficult to say just how they might fare when they come up against sterner tests that surely await – particularly on the road – in this competition. Still, a 100% clean sheet record is a start, no matter the opposition or their intent.
NO APATHY FROM CELTIC SUPPORT FOR EUROPA LEAGUE FOOTBALL
It may have been a little flat on the field as Celtic entered the group stages of the Europa League, but the stands were a lot fuller than may have been expected given the disappointment of missing out on the Champions League for the first time since Brendan Rodgers’ arrival at the club, and the supporters did their best pre-match to give the place the feel of one of those magical European nights at Celtic Park.
The fact that it fell someway short for the most part was more to do with the flat performance on the park seeping its way into the stands rather than the other way about.
Before the end, the locals were making their frustrations clear at their suddenly shot-shy side, but when Leigh Griffiths popped up with the late winner, they celebrated with such gusto that it could have been any of the continent’s giants who were in town.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here