PERFECT TIME TO LIFT GLOOM
Clean sheet and loan deal for Forster is the ideal boost for Bhoys
TO RAISE flagging spirits, Celtic turned on the half-time disco lights and welcomed back a returning hero. Without kicking a ball, Fraser Forster’s impact was almost instant.
Before this dogged victory over AIK Stockholm, the Green Brigade issued another of their messages to the Celtic hierarchy. Beneath an image of Peter Lawwell, Neil Lennon and Dermot Desmond, the words: ‘Don’t sleep at wheel’ offered a blunt reminder of the discontent coursing through the Parkhead support with the club’s transfer dealings so far.
The response arrived midway through the first half with the confirmation of Forster’s signature on loan from Southampton. A star in some of Lennon’s most stirring European nights first time around, the former England goalkeeper (below) was sent out to rally spirits with the game goalless at half-time. Amazing the difference a new signing can make.
Placed in a tight spot, Celtic can always rely on James Forrest. The winger scored his fifth goal in five games three minutes into the second half, Odsonne Edouard adding a precious second with a stunning free-kick 17 minutes from time.
In the first half at least, the fragility around Scotland’s champions was hard to miss. Kristoffer Ajer — a central defender — was asked to fill in at right-back in the absence of Hatem Abd Elhamed, prompting supporters to point accusing fingers at chief executive Lawwell and the Parkhead board for the failure to sign reinforcements quickly enough.
Progress to the group stage of the Europa League would no doubt help, a win over Rangers at Ibrox a week on Sunday even more so.
Facing a test of mental and physical strength, Celtic took a significant step towards the first goal by keeping a clean sheet ahead of next week’s trip to Stockholm. Restored to the heart of defence, Christopher Jullien, the £7million signing from Toulouse, played well here.
AIK took heart from their first-half efforts, yet offered little in an attacking sense. The only regret for Lennon was the failure to add a third from a glut of late chances after Edouard’s sublime strike.
As in the morale-damaging defeat to Cluj, Celtic saved their urgency for the second half.
Finding the gaps and the openings to crack through Rikard Norling’s tightlydisciplined 3-5-2 formation needed patience and determination.
Celtic got there in the end, thanks to two players fast becoming priceless. Forrest has now scored against Cluj (twice), Motherwell, Dunfermline and AIK in his last five games. Edouard, once again, proved himself a big-game performer.
The £9m man had the ball in the net from Celtic’s first real attack in 16 minutes, a low finish from a deft Ryan Christie through ball finding the Frenchman in an offside position.
It took a fingertip save from AIK keeper Oscar Linner to deny Celtic the breakthrough four minutes later, a clever Boli Bolingoli cut-back teeing up space for Mikey Johnston’s side-footed low effort.
Edouard deserved a goal five minutes later, the striker displaying strength and control when collecting a Scott Brown pass with his back to goal 25 yards out, before turning his man and forcing Linner into a fine diving save.
AIK’s supporters offered more aggressive attacking threat in that first half than their own team. Kettled into Celtic Park from the city centre by a heavy police presence, the two parties were reacquainted before half-time, a large group of police and stewards gathering around away fans as punches and missiles were thrown. A UEFA fine looks likely. As against Cluj, Lennon had a job to do at half-time. He had to get to work on his players and restore their flagging belief. The impact was instant and obvious to everyone. Two minutes into the second period, Callum McGregor’s drilled left-foot shot from 20 yards was pushed over the bar by Linner. By now, the AIK keeper looked to be having one of those nights. As the rain tumbled down at Parkhead, Celtic had to hope that one would slip through his hands eventually. Mercifully, it didn’t take long.
Credit the muchmaligned Bolingoli for his role in the breakthrough. There’s a school of thought that the Belgian has not looked the most confident of players since pitching up in the close season, but he looked confident enough as he seized possession and surged forward from his own half into enemy territory.
His pass right to Forrest looked likely to be cut out by Rasmus Lindkvist until it took a fortunate break off the shins of the Scotland winger and sat up perfectly for a crack on goal.
A fiercely struck shot appeared to be parried by Linner before the ball dropped into the far corner of the net for 1-0 to roars of relief. At last, Celtic had their breakthrough.
Hopes of prising open the floodgates proved optimistic. The bit between their teeth, Celtic pushed for a quick second, Christie’s direct run ending in a deflected shot being pushed wide by AIK’s goalkeeper.
When Johnston was then brought down 22 yards from goal, the temptation to throw on substitute Leigh Griffiths like a set-piece kicker must have been strong. There was no need. Edouard sized up the distance and curled a superb effort into the top corner. Celtic had some breathing space.
An absolute menace to the visitors, the Frenchman almost laid on a surging third goal for McGregor eight minutes from time, a deft through ball sending the midfielder scampering towards goal before his low shot dragged across the face of goal, inches wide of the far post.
By the end, Celtic took a significant step towards the Europa League group stage. They’re not there yet.
NEIL LENNON last night hailed an ‘outstanding’ performance from his Celtic side — then warned them that AIK had not been killed off yet.
On the day the Scottish champions confirmed a season-long loan for goalkeeper Fraser Forster from Southampton, Lennon’s men delivered a mature European display to ensure they take a two-goal cushion to Sweden next week.
Although effusive in his praise for the way his side exorcised the ghost of losing 4-3 to Romanian outfit CFR Cluj in the Champions League last week, the Celtic manager told his players that they still have work to do to ensure they secure the consolation prize of Europa League group-sage football.
‘It’s an outstanding performance, a great team performance,’ said Lennon after a win secured by goals from James Forrest