Griffiths lets sloppy defence have it after reaching 99 not out

AS sharp with his tongue as he is in front of goal, Leigh Griffiths didn’t miss his defensive colleagues after his 99th Celtic goal helped his side into the quarter-final of the Betfred Cup.

The Scotland striker led the line for Brendan Rodgers’ team against AEK Athens in midweek but Celtic’s chances of Champions League participation were undone by two preventable goals in the Olympic Stadium.

With Kristoffer Ajer suspended and Dedryck Boyata refusing to travel to Greece, Brendan Rodgers was denied his preferred defensive pairing and his team slumped to a 3-2 aggregate defeat. Although starting centre-backs Jack Hendry and Jozo Simunovic were not the only culprits, Griffiths pointed to basic errors for leaving the team in a position where they must now win a play-off to qualify for the Europa League.

‘We dominated going forward and on another night we’d have scored three or four,’ said Griffiths, who opened the scoring in the 3-1 win over Partick Thistle.

‘But it’s about defending. And if we can’t do that properly we don’t deserve to be in the Champions League.

‘If we can’t defend simple crosses, we don’t deserve to be there. It was two basic errors. If we defend properly we’re in the play-off.’

Rodgers has intimated that Boyata will be given a chance to rejoin the squad in time for this week’s game against Lithuanians Suduva.

An apology will be required for that to happen and Griffiths insists such an act of contrition will be accepted.

‘We’ll welcome Dedryck back next week,’ he added. ‘The manager and everyone above us will deal with the matter internally.

‘There will be no resentment. Odsonne (Edouard) missed the game on Tuesday as well and there’s no resentment there.

‘We need to move on. We’ve got a massive game Thursday and if Dedryck comes back in, we’ll welcome him back.’

Griffiths admits he’d love to reach his century of goals in Marijampole.

Although Edouard is still short of fitness, he could face competition from Moussa Dembele for a starting jersey after the Frenchman joined him on the scoresheet from the bench at Firhill.

‘Moussa is back from injury and the gaffer’s easing him in,’ he said. ‘You need your best players fit, so it’s great to have him back.’