Hoops fans hail Gamboa as he heads off a disaster
The Celtic fans’ banner read: “Back the manager – or back to mediocrity.”
For a while, this Hoops performance was no better than bang average.
Back to back defeats by Hearts and AEK Athens have seen a Champions League exit and a clamour for new signings at Parkhead.
Just when it looked like things were going from bad to worse, Cristian Gamboa stepped from the shadows to brighten Celtic’s week.
The Costa Rican has been little more than a bit-part player for Brendan Rodgers since he arrived from West Brom two years ago.
He’s been unable to shift Mikael Lustig from right-back during the club’s double Treble campaigns and looked to be on his way out of the club.
But by supplying Moussa Dembele and Tom Rogic for two vital goals yesterday, Gamboa’s case for jumping ahead of the Swede might never be stronger than now.
Certainly, by loudly singing his name from the stands it appears the Hoops faithful would like to see him getting a run.
Rodgers’ men looked to be cruising against the Jags – without being brilliant – thanks to Leigh Griffiths’ 99th goal in a Celtic shirt.
But when Alan Archibald’s Championship side levelled through Andrea MbuyiMutombo in the second half a dose of panic set in.
Thankfully for the fans and the manager, Gamboa took matters into his own hands with two rampaging runs to tee up Dembele and Rogic and finally put the game to bed.
After booking a Betfred Cup quarter- f inal berth, Griffiths is now desperate to hit the century of goals against Suduva in the Europa League play- off – despite Dembele’s return to fitness.
He said afterwards: “I’ll take any goal regardless of whether it’s a tap in or a 30-yard screamer.
“I got the goal early for 99 and was thinking if I get one more chance I’ll stick it away but it wasn’t to be.
“But it’s driving me on to get the 100 so I’m looking forward to Thursday and if I get a chance I’m confident I’ll take it.
“Hopefully I’ll get there eventually. Moussa is just back from injury and the gaffer’s easing him back in.
“It’s great to see him out there fully fit. As a striker, I want to be selfish but you need your best players fit so it’s great to have him back.”
Rodgers might have been wary about ringing the changes after the Champions League exit in Athens.
He couldn’t afford any slip-ups here but he was brave enough to give a few fringe players some much-needed game time. Craig Gordon, Jozo Simunovic, Lustig, James Forrest and Callum McGregor were all dropped to the bench.
Kieran Tierney was carrying a knock and was in the stand with the fans. Opportunities were given to Scott Bain, Gamboa, Scott Sinclair, young Mikey Johnston, returning hero Emilio Izaguirre – and Kris Ajer was back at the heart of defence after a ban. Even against a new-look Celts side, Thistle gaffer Alan Archibald knew it would be a tall order and feared a Hoops backlash after the week they’ve had.
The gulf in quality was evident from early on at Firhill as Celtic got into their stride.
Scott Brown and Olivier Ntcham bossed midfield while Rogic was giving young James Penrice the toughest test of his career in front of Thistle’s back four.
Sinclair and Johnston looked lively on the flanks, as Griffiths prowled around the sixyard box. Rogic fired an early warning when he got on the end of the striker’s cross – but the big Aussie was denied by a decent Cammy Bell save.
There was nothing the keeper could do about Cel t ic’s opener on 18 minutes, though.
Sinclair skinned Christie Elliott on the left wing and found Griffiths unmarked to slot the ball home.
At that point, you feared Partick might be on the end of a doing but they composed themselves and l imited Rodgers’ men to few clear-cut chances.
The closest the holders came to increasing their lead was in first-half injury time when Ntcham unleashed a long- range str ike that clipped the top of the bar.
The first 45 had fizzled out after Griffiths’ strike and while it was still 1- 0, Thistle were in the game.
They breathed a sigh of relief when Sinclair’s curling effort flew inches while sub Dembele almost scored with his f irst touch as he outmuscled Tam O’Ware and fired off a volley that stung
No major decisions to make for the man in the middle and got most calls pretty much spot on in an eventfree afternoon.
Only booking for Storer was correct after a tough challenge on Celtic skipper Brown. Tried to let the game flow which was appreciated by both sets of players.
CRAIG THOMSON: 7
Bell’s palms.
Everyone knows it’s at the other end of the pitch where Celtic are vulnerable and their defence looked ropey again as Thistle levelled.
Spittal knocked a long ball down to sub Aidan Fitzpatrick whose terrific control took him past two Hoops defenders.
He slipped Mutombo in on goal to beat Bain with a low shot.
The equaliser stunned Celtic but they responded almost immediately by going in front again.
Gamboa worked a bit of space with Forrest down the right and Dembele prodded his cross past Bell with his thigh.
The Costa Rican was at it again for Celtic’s third. He bombed down the flank, this time providing an assist for Rogic whose volley gave Bell no chance.