Celtic boost qualifying hopes

Celtic’s quest to reach the knockout stages of the Europa League is in their own hands following a 1-0 win over Rosenborg in Trondheim last night.

The Hoops commanded the first half at the Lerkendal Stadium but did not take the lead until the 42nd minute when forward Scott Sinclair headed in a cross from winger James Forrest.

There was little excitement after the break with Brendan Rodgers’ side less convincing yet they managed the club’s first away victory in the group stages.

Celtic moved on to nine points and a draw in their final Group B fixture against unbeaten Salzburg, who qualified with a 1-0 win over RB Leipzig, at Parkhead next month would be enough to secure European football after Christmas.

Before what is sure to be a big European night in Glasgow on December 13, Celtic play Aberdeen in the Betfred Cup final on Sunday as they look to clinch the first part of what they hope will be a domestic treble-treble.

For the penultimate Europa League encounter, fit-again midfielder Tom Rogic replaced Olivier Ntcham, who dropped to the bench along with returning skipper Scott Brown.

With the Norwegian Cup final against Stromsgodset on Sunday to look forward to and his side effectively out of the Europa League after four defeats, Rosenborg boss Rini Coolen was aiming to be “smart” with his squad.

But he started with arguably his strongest side, including former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner.

Many home fans had stayed at home with the 21,000-plus capacity stadium far from full as Sinclair asked the first question in the third minute with a rightfooted drive which Rosenborg keeper Andre Hansen saved comfortably.

The composed and confident visitors slowly built momentum and in the eighth minute Rogic fired a left-footed drive over the bar.

Ryan Christie’s deflected shot from 20 yards in the 17th minute earned Celtic their first corner from which Rogic’s shot was blocked by Tore Reginiussen.

Hansen saved two efforts from Australia international Rogic and an angled drive from Forrest before striker Odsonne Edouard fired just wide.

In the midst of Celtic’s control, however, Rosenborg wideman YannErik De Lanlay forced himself past Sinclair and Kieran Tierney but his delivery across Craig Gordon’s six-yard box found no takers.

But Celtic got the goal their dominance deserved three minutes from the break when Forrest picked Sinclair out with a delightful cross to the back post, leaving the Englishman to head in from three yards out.

The home side looked more lively at the start of the second half, with Celtic centre-back Filip Benkovic cutting out a dangerous Birger Meling cross, a reminder that there was still work to be done.

Celtic continued to find their way forward but all too often the final pass was delayed or wayward.

In the 66th minute Leigh Griffiths, who had scored on his return as a substitute at Hamilton on Saturday after a six-week absence, replaced Edouard with right-back Cristian Gamboa taking over from Mikael Lustig.

Coolen’s side began taking risks and in the 75th minute attacker Samuel Adegbenro headed a Vegar cross from Vegar Hedenstad a foot over the bar.

Brown replaced Forrest for the fraught final stages and what at one stage looked like a comfortable night for the Glasgow side became a grind until the final whistle.

Rosenborg: Hansen, Hedenstadt, Hovland, Reginiussen, Meling, Jensen, Trondsen (Vilhjalmsson 65), Konradsen (Denic 45), de Lanlay, Bendtner, Adegbenro (Levi 77). Subs not used: Ostbo, Soderlund, Reitan, Serbecic.

Celtic: Gordon, Lustig (Gamboa 65), Benkovic, Boyata, Tierney, Forrest (Brown 76), McGregor, Rogic, Sinclair, Christie, Edouard (Griffiths 65). Subs not used: Bain, Hendry, Hayes, Ntcham.

Referee: Halis Ozkahya (Turkey).

AP. Scott Sinclair, third right, celebrates with team-mates after scoring.