Ice-cold Deila has been here before – but hopes Celtic cross the line early
RONNY DEILA is a man of composure, calm and control. It is rare that you see the Celtic manager arrive at a postmatch press conference spitting feathers, stuck for words or unable to offer an explanation as to why something has not quite gone to plan.
Even when angered, the Norwegian is generally cooler than a Polar Bear’s cold bits when articulating what he’s feeling.
Take Friday night, for example. He had just witnessed his team surrender a 1-0 lead and potentially a firm grip on this season’s Ladbrokes Premiership title race. Seemingly cruising at New Douglas Park thanks to a Leigh Griffiths penalty, Celtic then proceeded to shoot themselves in the foot spectacularly.
Not only did Dedryck Boya- ta get himself needlessly sent off – a decision by referee Craig Thomson that Deila agreed with afterwards – but Griffiths would miss from the spot in the second half, while Gary Mackay-Steven also fluffed his lines when through on Hamilton goalkeeper Michael McGovern. This all before Accies teenager Eamonn Brophy came off the bench to steal a point and hand Aberdeen a title lifeline.
Despite all of this, the Parkhead manager was still able to remain pragmatic when assessing his team’s performance.
“I’m disappointed of course, I think we should have won the game,” said Deila.
“We had our chances but didn’t take them. Then a silly a red card and that’s something we have to learn from.
“Dedryck had the feeling that he got the ball but I have seen it and it’s an okay decision.”
There could be several reasons for the Celtic manager’s calmness under pressure, and in some quarters, scrutiny.
One could cast a glance to the team that is running them the closest this campaign: Aberdeen.
As a result of Celtic’s stumble on Friday night, the Dons had the opportunity to close the gap on the league leaders to just four points if they could squeeze their way by a St Johnstone team that has only won one game in their last 11 across all competitions.
No bother, surely? Well, no, as it happens.
With great predictability Derek McInnes’ men could not show their mettle and take ad- vantage of yet another Celtic slip to reel in the Parkhead club.
It is far from the first time this has happened this campaign. When Celtic drew 2-2 with Hearts on December 27, Aberdeen recorded the same scoreline against Inverness. When the Hoops went to a 1-1 stalemate at Rugby park back