SHAME ON YOU YOBS!

Brave Blues put up a terrific display on the pitch but their lunatic fringe manage to spoil things off it

WHAT a crying shame such a brave Linfield display should be overshadowed by a small section of missile-throwing morons at Windsor Park.

How sad a gutsy rearguard action against the Scottish champions will be overtaken by a UEFA inquest into ugly disturbances in the home support.

We should be talking about Paul Smyth’s darting runs, a string of superb saves by Roy Carroll and a tireless shift from David Healy’s men this morning.

But we’re not. Pictures of riot police, snarling PSNI dogs (right) and Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths dodging coins and bottles in the second half will dominate the news agenda.

While some yobs dragged their club towards the gutter – and a hefty UEFA fine – on the pitch, Linfield were a credit to the Irish League.

Yes, Celtic dominated in this comfortable first leg win, but the Big Two giants didn’t disgrace themselves their exalted opponents.

First-half goals from Scott Sinclair and the impressive Tom Rogic eased the Hoops to victory ahead of Wednesday’s return leg in Glasgow.

Under tight security, a small but vocal Celtic support approximately 250-strong, who managed to acquire tickets for the game, were housed in The Kop.

And they saw their heroes take the lead on 17 minutes. Griffiths’ corner was half cleared to James Forrest at the back post and the winger clipped the ball back into the danger area for Sinclair to head home via a deflection.

It was 2-0 to Celtic on 23 minutes when

Rogic rifled home an unstoppable effort from a well worked Griffiths corner drilled low and hard across the penalty area. At the other end, Linfield defender Mark Haughey volleyed a close range effort from a Chris Casement cross over the bar, before Celtic almost added a third through Sinclair.

A goal seemed certain when the former Swansea star latched onto a Rogic pass, but the winger’s angled shot ricocheted off the sprawling Carroll.

Sinclair then forced a superb one handed save from Carroll on 39 minutes, before Swedish defender Mikael Lustig sidefooted a Griffiths corner narrowly wide before the break.

Griffiths had the ball in the back of the Linfield net at the start of the second period, but the linesman had his flag up for offside. Linfield suffered a sickening blow on 51 minutes when left-back Matthew Clarke susagainst tained a nasty leg injury following a collision with fellow defender Mark Stafford.

On the hour mark, a number of missiles – including an empty bottle of Buckfast - were thrown at Griffiths as he prepared to take a corner in front of the South Stand.

Incredibly, the Scotland striker was booked by Spanish referee Alejandro Hernandez for apparent time wasting as he lifted one bottle after it narrowly missed him.

Surely a first in world football. Linfield went close to a late onsolation when Stephen Lowry’s low cross created a moment of pinball inside the Celtic area, while at the other end Northern Ireland keeper Carroll produced a superb double save to deny Moussa Dembele and Lustig.

On the final whistle, riot police lined a section of the pitch after further missles were thrown and one Linfield fan was led away after invading the pitch.

A sad end to an historic night.