Rodgers keeps treble dreams alive after ruthless second half
THE very real prospect of Celtic completing what would be only the fourth domestic treble in their 129-year history – on the 50th anniversary of their historic European Cup triumph – has been exciting their supporters for some time now.
The possibility of St Mirren repeating their 1987 Scottish Cup triumph 30 years on, however, was not one many, or indeed any, of the Paisley club’s longsuffering fans will have considered. Just surviving in the second tier has been the limit of their ambitions during what has otherwise been a wretched campaign.
Yet, for nearly an hour at Parkhead yesterday, the 2000 or so diehards who had made the short journey through to Glasgow will have dared to dream. With some justification too.
Jack Ross’s side took the lead in the 13th minute when Harry Davis, the Crewe centre half who is on loan at St Mirren until the end of the season, rounded off a delightful move. They could easily have forged further in front in the second half.
Stephen Mallan looked on in disbelief as his free-kick was turned onto the underside of the Celtic crossbar by Moussa Dembele and somehow stayed out. After surviving that scare, Celtic we have played, without any shadow of a doubt. They have good organisation and Jack has obviously gone in there and made an impact.
“We played Alloa at Celtic Park when he was manager, so I had an idea of his coaching ability.”
Rodgers admitted his side, who had fallen behind at a free-kick, had been fortunate not to fall two goals behind in the second half.
Elsewhere, Rodgers admitted that were immense. Brendan Rodgers had replaced the industrious but ineffectual Gary Mackay-Steven with Patrick Roberts at the start of the second half and then taken off the equally anonymous Nir Bitton and put on Leigh Griffiths. His changes certainly had the desired impact.
Mikael Lustig levelled when he nodded a Roberts free-kick in, Scott Sinclair whipped a spectacular solo effort into the top corner, Dembele rounded off from close range and Griffiths scored his first goal since returning from injury.
“The game needed the substitutions,” said Rodgers afterwards. “I know what their qualities are and what they can bring to the game. Sometimes we use them, sometimes we don’t. But what it shows is that I have a very strong squad.” Craig Gordon, the Celtic and Scotland goalkeeper who was the subject of two failed bids from Chelsea in the January transfer window, has agreed terms with the Scottish champions on a threeand-a-half year extension to his current deal.
“I think Craig’s contract is done,” he said. “I’m led to believe everything is agreed. It’s just a case of the formalities and signing paperwork.”
It is impossible to say the Scottish champions, who are now undefeated domestically in 33 consecutive games, wouldn’t have done the same even if they had conceded again. They certainly responded emphatically to falling behind to both Motherwell and St Johnstone this season.
Yet, neither Rodgers nor Lustig were being in the slightest bit condescending when they praised the quality of their opponents’ display. “There aren’t many teams who come up here and are really disciplined and actually play really good football,” said Lustig. “It is really strange that they are at the bottom of the Championship. They played a really good game. If they had got to 2-0 it would have been tough.”
With the league a formality, Celtic are now just two games away from completing the treble. They won the League Cup, league title and Scottish Cup in 1967, 1969 and 2001. It is hard to see anyone preventing them from emulating their predecessors.
“We have a big chance,” said Lustig. “Yes, we have two tough games left. We have been to Hampden this year and played really good football. Hopefully we can continue that.”
Still, the match yesterday was a stark reminder that upsets can happen. “It showed how difficult it is to win a game of football,” said Rodgers. “It showed that if you fall below the standards expected and don’t have the characteristics in your squad to turn it up and go again, it can be very difficult.”
Celtic’s attention will return to the league now and to the fourth meeting of the season with their near neighbours Rangers in what is now also a dress rehearsal for their cup semi-final.
Who plays in central midfield alongside Scott Brown, behind lone striker Dembele and out wide is unclear. But Roberts and Griffiths did their cause no harm yesterday.
Eboue Kouassi, the Ivorian midfielder who joined Celtic in a £2.8m transfer from Krasnodar in January, made his debut yesterday, but it is unlikely he will feature. The same is true of MackaySteven. “Bless him, young Gary worked very hard,” Rodgers said.
“But he could have played for 10 hours. I thanked him for working hard, but said it was not his day.”