CALLUM MAKES HIS CASE
McGregor saves Celtic and shows his Scotland credentials as Hibs’ McGinn produces a masterclass
ON an enthralling return to Celtic Park for Neil Lennon, two potential answers to Scotland’s World Cup midfield plight screamed their claims to Gordon Strachan.
Callum McGregor was not even in the squad and was no closer to being called-up in the immediate aftermath of news on Friday that Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong were out of the Slovakia and Slovenia games through injury.
The first goal and the last say in a dramatic second half rescued Celtic’s unbeaten domestic record and rolled the streak on to 58 games. It also means McGregor can finally turn his mind to Scotland business in the coming week.
However, he will have to go some to hurdle John McGinn in the pecking order. Brendan Rodgers suggested that his opposite number Lennon could be back permanently as Celtic manager one day. On this evidence, there might be more chance of McGinn signing on here first. His man-of-the-match display and two brilliant hits from outside the area formed a career day for the 22-year-old. If Strachan was not watching his squad man in action, then Rodgers could not ignore it.
The Celtic boss saw McGinn inspire the visitors to a second-half display that created the biggest fright the home side have coped with throughout their remarkable run without meeting defeat.
McGinn’s power and drive bossed the midfield area at Parkhead, watched by granddad and former Celtic chairman Jack. This was the most persuasive advert for being able to influence Scotland affairs positively at Hampden on Thursday night
On a day for sensible squad management from Rodgers after a rush of away games at Dundee, Rangers and Anderlecht, there was the luxury of replacing your top scorer with a fit-again £30million-rated talent.
A visitor to Glasgow this weekend, Fergus McCann would have rather eaten his own bunnet than countenance forking out a tenth of that amount on a footballer.
Moussa Dembele was paired with Odsonne Edouard but the latter was withdrawn at the interval and a subdued Dembele made way for Leigh Griffiths after an hour, with the score at 1-1.
Dembele did have a hand in the opener. Taking the ball with his back to goal in the inside-left channel, he latched on to a superb pass from Kieran Tierney.
McGregor read the intent and got on the gallop, connecting with the Frenchman’s lay-off to take one touch then sweetly place a low finish just beyond the left-hand reach of Ross Laidlaw.
McCann’s ‘homecoming’ wasn’t at the centre of attention, though, as Lennon returned. Sporting the black-and-green tracksuit, he looked no different to the figure who operated in the opposite dugout for four-and-a-bit seasons.
As Lennon well knows, that first Celtic goal at Parkhead can be a confidence crusher to the away side. He has preyed on that situation as a player and manager before but despite going behind, his Hibs men had the hosts flustered.
Within four minutes of the start, James Forrest was booked for diving then escaped punishment — which would have been a second yellow — for a strikingly similar incident of simulation.
Hibs levelled early in the second half after McGregor failed to clear Vykintas Slivka’s ball to the edge of the area. McGinn gathered and quickly composed himself 20 yards out. His left-foot strike was clean and clinical, beating Craig Gordon low to his left.
Steven Whittaker then sent in another warning, flashing a header inches over from McGinn’s corner.
When the next flag kick sailed in, Celtic were indebted to remarkable reactions from Gordon to keep them level. Anthony Stokes stooped in the heart of the area to help on the delivery to the back post.
There, Whittaker ghosted on to the ball and was all set to tap Hibs in front from a yard out when Gordon leapt to produce a worldclass, point-blank save on the line.
Celtic were fortunate to be level. The injection of boyhood Hibs fanatic Griffiths and Patrick Roberts was designed to give Hibs more trouble to deal with at the back.
That was brushed off by the buoyant visitors and the superb McGinn. From an Efe Ambrose long ball, Mikael Lustig tried to use the back of his head to clear the lines. It was an ill-judged attempt.
For by the time the Swede tried to recover the situation, he was left floored on the edge of the area as McGinn seized on the half-chance. With a deadly swing of that left boot, he sent the ball flying into the roof of Gordon’s net.
Hibs enjoyed being in front for all of three minutes. Griffiths was given a second chance to deliver deep into the box and the clearance dropped to the unmarked McGregor right on the penalty spot. He calmly steered the equaliser through the traffic with the style of one far more experienced.
A winner should have emerged. Or at least a cast-iron chance for Celtic to prevail from a penalty kick.
Willie Collum was hounded for the award when Scott Sinclair was grappled back by Ambrose as he wriggled into position to test Laidlaw. On the rebound, a hitchkick from Griffiths was blocked by Paul Hanlon’s hand.
If there was one visitor to Celtic Park for whom the home fans would not decry a touch of fortune, however, it is probably Lennon.