The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Pars boss proud to make Hoops go the distance
Crawford’s men take cup holders to extra-time for first time in three years CELTIC 2 DUNFERMLINE 1 AET
Stevie Crawford was a proud manager on Saturday as his Dunfermline side were six minutes away from taking Betfred Cup holders Celtic to a penalty shoot-out before James Forrest’s deflected strike earned the hosts a second round victory.
It was the first time Celtic have been taken to extra-time during a 28-match winning run in domestic cup competitions spanning three years, and Crawford was delighted by the efforts of his Championship side.
The Hoops were again slow to get going but Mikey Johnston settled nerves on the back of their midweek Champions League exit with a brilliant curling strike 10 minutes into the second half.
However, Dunfermline equalised through Tom Beadling in the 77th minute and the Pars frustrated their hosts until the 114th minute.
“We came with a game plan and we knew we were going to give up chances to try and restrict Celtic getting the ball in wide areas,” said Crawford.
“We did that very well and restricted them to chances outside the box.
“We got back in the game and went two up front and we have given Celtic a fright.”
Celtic manager Neil Lennon believes the late, late win was all part of the learning process for his summer recruits.
Left-back Boli Bolingoli was recalled after being left out of the Champions League defeat by Cluj, while Christopher Jullien came in to the central defence for Jozo Simunovic, who was a pre-match fitness doubt.
Lennon admitted he had preferred Callum McGregor to Bolingoli against the Romanians partly because the Belgian’s form had been up and down, but it was Jullien who initially struggled against the Pars.
The £7 million summer signing from Toulouse allowed Kevin Nisbet the best chance of the first half after misjudging a long ball but the striker could not hit the target with only Craig Gordon to beat.
Jullien went on to make some risky challenges and missed two excellent headed chances, although he proved a real presence in the opposition box.
But Lennon felt both new defenders grew into the game and told them and his team-mates he was proud of their character after Forrest netted in the 114th minute.
Lennon said: “They did fine after a wee bit of a shaky start but they came on to a really good game as the game went on, so that will do them a world of good.
“It’s a test of character sometimes, not just your footballing ability.
“They have seen great nights, they have seen frustrating games. It’s all part of adapting to life here in Glasgow.”
Celtic hit the target from 11 of their 36 shots on goal but Lennon was happy to see them take some ambitious strikes as Dunfermline crowded the penalty box.
“Sometimes when you have got that amount of bodies in front of you, you have got to take shots,” Lennon said. “I want them to shoot.
“You saw Gerrard, Lampard and Scholes score goals from outside the box and I encourage that from my players.
“Sometimes it’s difficult to play intricately through teams, sometimes a 25-yarder does the job.
“The goalie made some great saves. I don’t discourage any of my players taking shots, as long as they have the belief that they are going to hit the target or work the goalkeeper, because then anything can happen after that.
“Thirty-six shots, we couldn’t have played that badly.
“I’m not massive on stats but the one stat I do look out for is attempts on goal because if that’s round about or over 20 then you are doing something right.”
Celtic have signed Republic of Ireland Under-19 international Jonathan Afolabi on a free transfer.
The forward left Southampton’s academy at the end of last season and had been linked with the likes of Crystal Palace, Lokomotiv Moscow and Wolves.