Winning strike eases goal worries but don’t just blame the frontmen

The constipated nature of Celtic’s football this season has been blamed on bunged-up strikers in the club’s ranks. There may have been a certain justification to that, but the issue wasn’t as straightforward as might have initially appeared... even before Leigh Griffiths’ dramatic late goalscoring cameo.

Going into last night’s Europa League opener against Rosenborg, there was no doubt that Odsonne Edouard badly needed a goal. With only one in his previous five starts, Celtic’s most expensive signing has hardly been paying off in goals. Yet, the fact the 20-year-old Frenchman retained his place at the apex of Celtic’s attack against the Norwegians told its own story about how the season so far has shaped up, or hasn’t, for Griffiths. The Scotland international has bagged only two goals in his five starts. At the corresponding stage last season, he had netted six times.

It might be further sprinkled into the mix that Moussa Dembele spent the previous night warming the bench for Lyon as they slayed English champions Manchester City at their own home.

The last time Celtic faced a European home game, he wasn’t a near £20 million move agitator but a hot option for Rodgers.

The facts would seem to tell of forward line failings