DOUBLE JEOPARDY
Griffiths and Edouard reunite to terrorise Accies’ defence as team-mate Taylor tips lethal duo to revive Celtic’s bid for ten titles in a row
AS hiS side’s form nosedived in October and throughout November, Neil Lennon t hought better of presenting a case for the defence based on mitigating circumstances.
When you have the l argest playing budget in the country, such tales of woe are generally best kept in-house.
No matter the resources at his disposal, though, it’s a matter of plain fact that it took until two days before Christmas for the Celtic manager to be able to revert to the strike force that combined so spectacularly to lead his side to last season’s title.
Not seen in the same starting line-up domestically until the victory over Ross County last Wednesday, the understanding between Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths has not been diminished by time spent apart.
Eventually they were just too clever, too skilful and too ruthless for a hamilton side who gave their all.
The partnership’s renaissance will count for little if Celtic slip up against Dundee United on Wednesday and/or lose at ibrox on Saturday, of course.
But, l i ke an old rock band reforming, they are at least now hitting all the right notes.
Edouard’s back-heel to set up his Scottish team- mate ten minutes after the break was a supreme exhibition of quality in desperate playing conditions.
Whether Gri f f i t h s ’ wel l - documented f i t ness i s s ues combined with Edouard’s absence through Covid has simply given Lennon’s men too much to do in this league race, we shall know by the weekend.
Yet, at this juncture, there are at least the signs that the pair are capable of taking the champions on the kind of lengthy winning run they will require if a tenth straight title is to be realised.
‘it was important last season for us,’ said full-back Greg Taylor of the partnership.
‘ They l ooked good today. i thought they played well together. i think they enjoy it.
‘Whether it’s the two of them together or one is playing or neither is playing, we have lots of strong options. But both scored, so i’m sure they are pleased.’
The fact that both Albian Ajeti and Patryk Klimala were afforded minutes here was welcome for Lennon but didn’t mask the fact that both are back-ups to Edouard and Griffiths right now.
The 22-year-old Frenchman, in particular, was back to something approaching his best.
Weeks ago, the striker’s body language looked all wrong.
And yet, on a day in Lanarkshire when penguins would have been feeling the chill, his attitude was exemplary.
Cleaned out by Aaron Martin as he tried to cross into the box four minutes after the break, Edouard dispensed with the Panenka routine he used in the Scottish Cup final win over hearts to smash a spot-kick away to Kyle Gourlay’s left.
Brian Rice’s Accies had defended commendably up until that point.
Gourlay’s reflexes had denied Griffiths on three occasions, while Edouard had failed to work the hamilton stand-in keeper after a quite brilliant solo run.
But there was no hint of the mental fragility t hat has pockmarked so much of Celtic’s campaign to date once they got the breakthrough penalty.
Edouard’s invention to roll the ball on to Griffiths’ hammer of a left peg was indicative of their growing confidence. Gourlay might feel that he should have prevented the ball going in with the shot being so central but, by then, a depleted home team’s resistance felt almost futile.
The French Under-21 striker instigated the move which saw David Turnbull on hand to prod home the third after his header came back off the post.
The fact that Edouard looked a s hade di s appointed t o be withdrawn by Lennon soon afterwards was telling.
‘ he was superb,’ reflected 23-year- old Taylor, who clearly feels his team-mate is coming back into form at the right time. ‘i’m sure he’ll be delighted with his goal and his performance.
‘i think Odsonne looked right at it and long may that continue.
‘i think it’s a different season for everyone with the lack of fans, the pandemic, and you have to react to people getting the virus unfortunately.’
That hint of regret at the fact Edouard missed t hree key games after a positive test while on international duty is understandable.
But Celtic aren’t yet at the stage where the damage is necessarily irreparable.
To claw back a 16-point gap, with the Parkhead side still with three games i n hand, on an i mproved Rangers side will evidently be the tallest of orders.
Bluntly, a defeat at ibrox on Saturday will move it into the realms of the impossible.
however, you had to admire the way they held their nerve here when more dropped points would have been unthinkable.
Now six games unbeaten, they are certainly hanging in there ahead of the Old Firm crunch.
‘ We knew that i t would be
difficult and the weather obviously played a part i n the game,’ recalled Scotland international Taylor. ‘But I felt that we handled the whole occasion quite well. I thought that we were strong throughout.
‘Even in the first half, we didn’t manage to get the breakthrough but we had big chances. The chances came again second half and we took them.
‘I think it’s been important to build on the last few results. They’ve been positive. We just look to the next one, which is Dundee United.’
A third successive clean sheet in the league allows Lennon’s men to walk a little taller until they tackle that assignment. If Celtic haven’t yet turned a corner, they are at least edging round it.
Asked what the difference has been lately, Taylor replied: ‘I don’t know — getting a wee bit of confidence back, maybe?
‘We were maybe a bit short of confidence. When you’re on a bad run, it’s natural. Slowly but surely, it’s important to chip away and get the three points, which we did against Hamilton.
‘In the tough moments, you see what character all the boys have got. That’s one thing the we’ve got in abundance in this team — lots of character. You don’t win 12 trophies on the spin without massive characters.’
Lennon’s approval at how they eventually ground Accies down was not lost in a wind that howled through the Fountain of Youth Stadium. Outstanding was the manager’s succinct appraisal of what he witnessed.
Celtic’s mid-winter may not be quite as bleak as many had predicted. ‘ Yes, I think he was pleased with today’s performance overall,’ said Taylor.
‘At half-time, I thought it was a strong performance, we j ust didn’t get the breakthrough. We had some big chances.
‘We took them in the second half. And with a clean sheet there i s momentum to take i nto Wednesday.’