STRAIN GAME

McGregor taken out of firing line by boss Deila

RONNY Deila last night admitted he left attacker Callum McGregor out of Celtic’s Scottish Cup win over east Kilbride following charges of drink driving.

The 23-year-old midfielder is the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal after he was arrested on suspicion of driving over the legal limit in Glasgow in the early hours of Friday.

and McGregor was absent from the Parkhead squad as they reached the Cup quarter-finals yesterday with an uninspired 2-0 win over lowland league minnows east Kilbride in airdrie.

leigh Griffiths scored his 29th of the season before Colin Kazim-Richards claimed his first for the club early in the second half.

Quizzed on McGregor’s absence afterwards, however,

Deila admitted: ‘There has been a lot of pressure on him over the last few days. He was not ready to play in the game today. ‘This is a matter which is in the hands of the police. The timing wasn’t perfect but what’s done is done.’ The charges against McGregor (right) topped off a wretched week for the champions, a League Cup semi-final defeat to Ross County swallowed swiftly by the resurrection of a title race following a 2-1 defeat in Aberdeen. Relieved to avoid any further mishaps against East Kilbride, Deila said: ‘We could have played better but we went through and that’s the most important thing. We wanted to score more goals and we had our chances. Normally, we should have scored more. ‘But no one will remember that if we win the Cup. ‘It would have been very hard if we had lost today. So it was a crucial victory. But I was quite comfortable during the match. ‘I give a lot of credit to East Kilbride. They fought really hard and tried to play football as well, which was positive. ‘You never know in football, but it would have been the biggest surprise for years. But it didn’t happen and I’m very happy for that.’ Kazim-Richards was selected in a 4-4-2 formation beside Griffiths up front and marked his first start with a close range tap-in in 50 minutes. ‘We have to have a Plan B when we have two strikers who can suit each other. I think Leigh and Kazim could be very good over time.’ Charlie Mulgrew also made his comeback from longterm injury and lasted 77 minutes on the artificial surface of Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium where the match was played because East Kilbride’s K-Park was deemed unsuitable. ‘It was tough for Charlie,’ Deila admitted. ‘It was his first game for a long time and he needs time. He works hard and I’m happy to have him back but we have to be patient with Charlie.’ Meanwhile, East Kilbride boss Billy Ogilvie could barely contain his pride after the cup minnows restricted the champions to two set-piece goals. ‘It’s difficult to put into words how I’m feeling. I’m so proud of them, but it goes way beyond that. ‘They worked ever so hard and their discipline to our plan was great. ‘When you make Celtic score their goals from set-pieces you must be doing something right in open play.’ A taxi driver by day, Ogilvie admitted: ‘I will be sitting in the back of a taxi rather than the front driving tonight. ‘I’ve had a fantastic experience today. Now I’m going out for a meal with my family and I’ll have a couple of glasses of wine.’