DANGEROUS AND OVER THE TOP...
Aggressive Alloa crossed the line, declares Giakoumakis as Celtic march into the last 16
DESPITE a late Alloa goal, Celtic’s hopes of Scottish Cup progression never looked in any real peril in Clackmannanshire.
But Giorgos Giakoumakis believes the Parkhead players were put in constant danger at the Indodrill Stadium by the overly aggressive approach of Barry Ferguson’s League One side.
Liel Abada and Yosuke Ideguchi both limped off during a crunching Saturday night encounter with Mouhamed Niang’s challenge on Japan midfielder Ideguchi particularly eye-watering.
But it was the loss of captain Callum McGregor to a nastylooking face knock after an accidental midfield collision with Adam King that was of most concern to Ange Postecoglou.
For Giakoumakis (pictured), who scored the opening goal to take the sting out of an encounter with the Wasps, the over-zealous approach of the hosts as they attempted to bridge the gulf in class placed Celtic’s players at risk.
‘The game against Alloa was out of the limit, it was too dangerous — the duels, the markings,’ said the Greece international striker.
‘We had to get through it and take the win and, if it was possible, to stay away from harm. We didn’t achieve that part.
‘I can say that the opponent did not have the quality that we do.
‘That is normal, with all the respect. They had to try to run more than us and be more aggressive in the duels.
‘Sometimes they crossed the line and the markings were a little bit more tough.
‘Should we have been given more protection by the referees?
‘I don’t want to speak about the referees! I will never speak about the referees!
‘We should take care of ourselves, too. It’s our job.
‘In the end we are just really happy that we won and we are in the next round of the cup.’
Alloa were first to threaten
when Niang robbed Tony Ralston but Conor Sammon’s long-range effort from near the halfway line dropped over the bar.
A £2.5million signing from VV Venlo last summer, Giakoumakis has endured a miserable, injuryplagued time in Scotland so far.
But on his first start since October he wasted no time showing off his penalty box prowess as Celtic took the lead on 14 minutes.
Liam Scales sent over a delicious delivery from the left and Giakoumakis volleyed deftly into the top-left corner of the Alloa net.
Sammon then found himself through on goal but his thumping shot was well blocked by Joe Hart.
And it was effectively game over before the break when Abada’s sweet 22-yard strike rose beyond David Hutton and into the same corner of the net that Giakoumakis had found earlier. However, in a recurring theme, Celtic’s dominance was not rewarded with goals and that left Postecoglou’s men vulnerable. And Sammon pulled a goal back with 12 minutes remaining, neatly nodding into the net after a fine cross from the right by substitute Jon Robertson. It was a lapse in concentration in the Celtic defence that the returning Christopher Jullien should help remedy. The Frenchman was on the bench on Saturday but injuries meant he was unable to make his first appearance since colliding with the post during a 3-0 win over Dundee United on December 30, 2020. Despite looking to have set up a thrilling finish, Alloa were unable to threaten further and Celtic will host Raith Rovers at Parkhead in the last 16 next month. The return to the scoresheet of Giakoumakis was timely given the striking problems that Postecoglou is facing.
With Kyogo Furuhashi injured and Daizen Maeda heading for Japan’s imminent World Cup qualifiers, the 27-year-old is set to get his chance against Hearts, Dundee United and in the Old Firm derby at Parkhead on February 2.
There was another attacking boost for Celtic as fit-again Portuguese winger Jota arrived as a 52nd-minute substitute, adding to the eight minutes he managed against Hibs seven days ago.
Despite a goal return of two in his three starts since moving from the Netherlands, Giakoumakis is now hoping January can be the start of his season.
But last season’s top scorer in the Eredivisie is still not over missing a late penalty in a 0-0 home draw with Livingston back in October.
‘I am very happy I got the goal,’ he said. ‘I am back after a long time and the most important thing for me is that I am fit, I am healthy and that I helped my team get into the next round.
‘From now on, I start my season. I hope I can be healthy until the end of the campaign. My goal when I started with Celtic was to try and get a run in the team as the main striker.
‘I tried to push a lot but I missed pre-season. After that I had surgery on my injured knee but now I am back, I am fit and healthy and I am really happy about that.
‘Three starts and two goals is a good return? I’m not happy about that.
‘It could have been three starts and three goals but I missed the penalty!
‘That’s something that’s really on my mind. But I will try to move on and I hope from now on I will score in every single game and help my team.
‘Have the Celtic supporters not seen the best of me, yet? I’m not worrying about that!
‘If I’m fit and healthy I will be a player that the fans love.’
We tried to stay away from harm...we didn’t achieve that bit