UNBELIEVABLE
Gordon proved he is best No1 in Scotland after rescuing Celtic from derby disaster SAYS PAT BONNER
FOR Craig Gordon, 2017 was a year when he was both a Celtic Invincible and a muchcriticised mere mortal. Despite being a cornerstone of Brendan Rodgers’ side that has won the last four domestic trophies, the Scotland international’s ball distribution has been the focus of forensic scrutiny.
The loss of 12 Champions League goals over two legs to Paris Saint-Germain left him further exposed in the line of ire.
But Gordon, who turned 35 on Hogmanay, showed perfect timing in using Saturday’s Old Firm match to issue a new year message to his detractors that in 2018 he remains the best goalkeeper in Scotland.
No stranger to an award-winning save, the former Sunderland and Hearts goalkeeper made what was subsequently voted the best-ever stop in English Premier League history when he somehow kept out a close-range effort from Bolton’s Zat Knight at the Stadium of Light in 2010.
This season, he has also made breathtaking saves from Steven Whittaker of Hibs and Louis Moult in Celtic’s 2-0 Betfred Cup final win over Motherwell.
And his commitment to getting Celtic goalkeeping coach Stephen Woods to smash balls at him from close range in training paid off spectacularly once again on Saturday, with fine saves to deny Alfredo Morelos and James Tavernier. Back to his brilliant best, former Celtic and Republic of Ireland keeper Pat Bonner believes Gordon stopped his side tumbling to their first loss to Rangers in almost two years.
‘I have always said Craig Gordon is the best goalkeeper in the country and he proved it again against Rangers,’ said Bonner.
‘He made a couple of unbelievable saves in the game and, while I know Celtic created chances of their own, you could argue he was the reason Celtic managed to earn a point. ‘Both teams had big opportunities and if Celtic had taken some of theirs in the first half it might have been a different game.
‘But when you don’t score, that allowed Rangers to come out in the second half and they played very well.
‘They created some great opportunities but that is why you need a top goalkeeper like Craig Gordon in there. He has the ability to make saves like that and I’m sure his team-mates would have been grateful. But he will see it as just doing his job. ‘Craig has taken a bit of stick this season but I think it has more been down to his use of the ball from the back, as opposed to his shot stopping or his ability to make saves. ‘But it’s an area of his game he has worked hard on and improved in the last 18 months, and I’m sure he’ll do more work on during the winter break.’ In recent weeks Celtic have looked like a team in need of a rest, scrambling draws at Fir Park and Easter Road before losing their long-unbeaten record in a 4-0 loss to Hearts at Tynecastle. Bonner was particularly critical of Mikael Lustig in Saturday’s Old Firm stalemate, while Scott Sinclair was singled out by supporters for ducking out of a tackle in midfield.
But the 57-year-old BBC Scotland football analyst believes his old team are suffering more from mental fatigue than physical exhaustion.
‘In the second half against Rangers, they had an absolute shocker,’ he said.
‘Nothing went right for them in both halves of the pitch. Mikael Lustig had a game to forget and it started with him. He had about 20 passes and 15 of them went to the opposition.
‘The chances Rangers had came from Celtic having possession on the edge of the Rangers box and turning back towards their own goal.
‘In an Old Firm game, the fans don’t like that. They (the fans) also gave Sinclair a bit of stick in the second half when he ducked out of a 50/50 in the middle of the pitch. Celtic fans want to see commitment. It doesn’t matter how well you are playing over the season, they still want to see the players go up and compete against Rangers.
‘But, in the second half, they didn’t compete. They couldn’t control the game and Rangers should have won it. It was a very poor performance for a side that can play better. But tiredness shouldn’t really come in to it.
‘That’s what you get when you are a successful team playing in a lot of competitions. It’s more about a freshness. Celtic need to be refreshed.’
Moussa Dembele’s slow departure from the field, while applauding the fans, left Bonner sure that the French forward will be leaving during the transfer window.
He expects fresh faces to join German defender Marvin Compper, who has arrived in a £1million move from RB Leipzig.
‘You have to say it looked like (Dembele) is away,’ said Bonner.
‘It was a strange walk off when he was substituted on Saturday. There’s been a lot of talk about his future and Celtic are in a position now where they could get a lot of money.
‘They have to weigh it up to see what is the best for the club. Do they want the money in the bank? You still want to see quality players at the club and while he might not have been at his best against Rangers, he’s showed in the last 18 months he falls into that category.
‘He might want to go and try his luck elsewhere, but the one thing for sure is Celtic will make sure they are happy with any deal.
‘I’ve no doubt there will be one or two coming in and the same going out. We will need to see if Celtic bring in players for the Europa League.
‘The question is whether they can do it in Europe. I would think they have enough already to retain the championship.’