Craig Swan

restored so Gary MackaySteven was summoned from the bench to replace Stuart Armstrong.

As Mackay-Steven stood waiting to go on Leigh Griffiths scored – 3-1 up, back in control.

No need to hunt any more. At that stage clarity of thinking would have seen Deila tell Mackay-Steven to sit back down because Celtic didn’t need to twist. They could stick.

But in the chaos and the atmosphere, the mind jumbled, the sub was made and Malmo scored again at the death.

It was a clear case of not reacting to the situation.

Compare that to Rodgers in Astana. He was bold with his starting line-up but Astana got their noses in front and pushed for a second goal – the alarm bells were ringing.

It was frantic. The din was deafening. So was the hostility.

But Rodgers didn’t have his judgment clouded in the mayhem. He saw the need to stem the tide and the introduction of Nir Bitton for striker Moussa Dembele stiffened his team and also released Griffiths to go up front and score.

Too often it’s Scottish clubs who get sucker-punched. Just like Malmo did to Celtic, Birkirkara to Hearts last week and countless others in the past.

This time it was our turn to turn the tables and it was a glorious feeling.

But it didn’t happen by chance. It happened because Rodgers had a clear mind, saw the problem and fixed it.

Which is why Celtic moved heaven and earth to get him. And why they might have a real chance to reach the group stage again and give some prestige back to the Scottish game.