Gordon values lessons learned from setbacks
THE official Invincibles DVD was flying off the shelves at the club superstore. Banners proclaiming the team’s unbeaten Treble were draped on the front of the main stand at Celtic Park. Behind the scenes, Brendan Rodgers was preparing his team for the inevitable defeat that would bring to an end Celtic’s unbeaten run.
The record wouldn’t go until December but Craig Gordon well remembers the manager’s words during a pre-season address to his reconvened squad.
If the team was to achieve another clean sweep of Scotland’s domestic honours, then the reaction to that first loss would be crucial.
When it came, the fall was brutal, with Hearts issuing a punishing 4-0 lesson at Tynecastle just before Christmas. Celtic’s response was emphatic as they picked up 19 of the next 21 available Premiership points.
The mindset will again come in useful this week, as the squad absorbs the disappointment of passing up the chance to clinch the title at Easter Road yesterday.
Rodgers’ team still have four more fixtures to wrap up the league and when that formality is completed, Gordon is in no doubt that post-Tynecastle run will have proved the most crucial phase of the campaign.
‘We knew it was likely we would suffer a defeat as no run lasts forever,’ says the goalkeeper. ‘Sure enough, when that did happen we bounced back.
‘When we lost to Hearts, we won three games in a row and didn’t concede a goal. That is the sign of a team that will win the league and dominate — and that’s what we did.
‘It was important that when we did have setbacks, we took it on the chin and came back strong. We spoke about that in pre-season.
‘When we gathered on the pitch at Tynecastle, the manager told us we’d have to deal with the consequences over the next few days. But he also said we’d come back stronger and be a better team for it. He had prepared for that moment and made sure we came back fighting.
‘We kept together as a tight-knit unit. We made sure it didn’t start a run of defeats.’
Celtic did lose again in early February, this time to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
Gordon sees no coincidence in the fact that Killie should land that Rugby Park blow, given their all-round excellence under Steve Clarke.
Similarly, he believes the fact Hibs and Motherwell have each managed to take points off Celtic on more than one occasion is the sign of a league on the up.
‘A lot of teams have improved this season,’ he said. ‘You have to look beyond the top two or three. Rangers and Aberdeen were up there last season. This season the strength in depth of the league goes even lower than that, so you are facing more difficult games.
‘Hibs are a better team, so are Kilmarnock. Motherwell lost a striker in Louis Moult and then replaced him really well. They had a blip but are a very strong team again.’
It is not just the three defeats that have slowed Celtic this season but an unexpectedly high number of draws.
‘With the improvement in the league, everybody is dropping more points,’ says Gordon. ‘There are more competitive matches and it’s because a lot of teams have really stepped up their game.
‘Last season we had an exceptional record. I doubt it will ever be done again.
‘We have certainly done well. To lose three in around 90 games is incredible. We have to be happy with this season, too. To be so close to another three trophies is an incredible achievement.’
A year ago Scott Sinclair was ready to sweep the boards at the various player of the year award ceremonies. The winger’s form has dropped off this term but Gordon still expects a team-mate to be crowned best in the country.
Currently in his testimonial year, Scott Brown has been Celtic’s driving force and the man to haul the team through.
‘Josh Windass has a lot of goals for Rangers this season, he’ll probably get some votes,’ muses Gordon. ‘Looking at Kilmarnock’s run, Youssouf Mulumbu has been important. I know he’s not played the whole season but what he’s done for them, he could even get a few off the back of that.
‘At Hibs, Dylan McGeouch and John McGinn have done so well in midfield.
‘In our team, you’re looking at James Forrest and Scott Brown and perhaps even Kieran Tierney might get a few. I’d expect it to go to a Celtic player and that’s not just because I’m here. They have both had fantastic seasons.’
There’s a certain school of thought that while Brown may have a shot at winning the football writers’ award, his unpopularity among his fellow pros may make him less likely to win the PFA Scotland equivalent.
‘You don’t have to like him to vote for him as the best player,’ retorts Gordon. ‘He deserves the votes on his football. I don’t think it’ll bother him one little bit that he’s not liked. In fact, he’ll probably enjoy it.
‘He’s put in so much effort for such a long period of time. To still be going strong, leading the team and dominating games the way he does in his testimonial year, it would be a great honour for him to be rewarded at this stage in his career. It would be nice to see him get it.’