Gordon hoping draw delivers domestic bliss

CRAIG GORDON has urged Celtic to use a gutsy Europa League point in Amsterdam as the springboard for a domestic recovery. Heavily cri t i ci s ed f or t he weekend defeat to Premiership leaders Aberdeen at Pittodrie, manager Ronny Deila restored Kris Commons to his starting line-up and reaped the rewards.

A key player in the first-half goals for Nir Bitton and Mikael Lustig, which placed the Parkhead side within touching distance of a rare away win in a European groupstage game, the attacker’s only blemish was the concession of the free-kick from which Lasse Schone swept the ball through a ruck of bodies and into the net for 2-2.

Relieved to emerge f rom a trying, testing period of individual and collective questions, however, Gordon said: ‘I think we can use this as a springboard to kickstart our season.

‘We have not played consistently as well as that. At times we have done well, but tonight we lasted very well and that was a fairly decent performance.

‘If we can take that back and work as hard as we did, then we will be better in the domestic games, as well.’

The Amsterdam ArenA was a difficult venue for new £3million centre-half Jozo Simunovic to make his debut. The Croatian produced a decent, promising performance in a defence unhinged only by Emilio Izaguirre’s second booking 17 minutes from time.

‘ The defence needs time to settle, it always does,’ continued Gordon. ‘Jozo did very well tonight. It’s a difficult place to make your debut and that was a decent defensive performance.

‘Not just from the back four, but from the guys in front, as well. They were working back to close the spaces down, so we can be happy with our night’s work.’

The Scotland goalkeeper had a reasonable view of the Izaguirre tackle which forced referee Luca Banti to flash his red card.

‘You slide in like that you are always going to take a chance,’ said Gordon of the second booking.

‘I certainly wasn’t arguing at the time. He had two or three fouls and perhaps he could have stayed on his feet a little bit longer. But that’s the type of player he is.

‘He likes to get in about things and make tackles. Unfortunately, he mistimed that second one.

‘The fact he slid in — when you do that in Europe, referees do tend to get their cards out.’

In the final 15 minutes, Celtic flew by the seat of their pants. Schone did damage to Celtic’s Champions League hopes two years ago — scoring both at home and in Glasgow — and so it was here, emerging from the bench to smash a free-kick through a ruck of bodies and into the net.

‘We dug in and sat deep and tried to soak up as much as we could,’ said Gordon. ‘I didn’t see a lot of the free-kick. It came through everyone and I don’t think anyone got a touch in the end.

‘I just tried to spread myself to cover every angle and everyone ended up missing it, and it went in the back post.

‘When you get a ball as good as that, you spread yourself, hope for the best and hope it hits off you.

‘You just look for that wee bit of luck but I didn’t on this occasion and it found the back of the net.’

Gordon could do little about the first goal, a team effort finished with style by Viktor Fischer.

There could be none of the scrutiny which followed his failure to deal with Aberdeen’s winning goal on Saturday.

‘I was fine after Pittodrie,’ the Scotland keeper insisted.

‘I’m not bothered if I was singled out for criticism — I don’t pay much attention to it. I just get on with what I’m trying to do.’