Postecoglou acts coy over player-plus-cash swap involving Nisbet and Griffiths
Free-scoring Celts don’t intend resting on their laurels
Ange Postecoglou last night teased fans when asked if Kevin Nisbet was soon to be joining Celtic’s goal-hungry side.
With another half-a-dozen hit in their demolition of St Mirren yesterday, the Hoops made it 24 goals from their last six games.
That is a huge boost ahead of the crucial clashes against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League qualifier on Thursday, and next Sunday’s High Noon Premier League meeting with Rangers at Ibrox.
On the day the Hoops confirmed the £2.5-million arrival of full-back Josip Juranovic from Legia Warsaw, they were strongly linked with Hibernian hit-man Nisbet (left) in a player-plus-cash swap for the out-of-favour Leigh Griffiths.
Postecoglou, though, was singularly coy when quizzed on the subject, describing it as: “In the basket of uncertainty that I don’t really dip my hand in.”
CELTIC 6 Abada (17, 22), Turnbull (28, 44, 84), Edouard (62) ST MIRREN 0
David Turnbull grabbed the first hat-trick of his career as Ange Postecoglou’s side continued to build momentum ahead of the crucial clashes with AZ Alkmaar and Rangers.
With another half dozen scores in a slick display, the Hoops moved their goal total to a formidable 24 in their last six games.
And if their latest haul came against an opponent handicapped by the early sending off of Alan Power, there was, as Turnbull commented, plenty here to further bolster confidence.
“It’s a huge week for us but we are playing brilliantly,” said Turnbull.
“We will focus on Thursday first. Alkmaar are a good side, you saw they played well here.
“We have to combat that and play the way we know we can. We want to get the result we need to qualify.
“We feel we’re ready to go and win both games. It’s a huge week, Thursday, Sunday, against two good teams. But the way we’re playing at the moment, we fancy ourselves against anyone.
“It’s just about taking that into the games and we’re looking forward to it.
“The manager won’t change the way we’re playing for these two games. This is the way we want to play. He’s drilled that into us so we’ll go and play the way we have been, looking to get a result.”
Celtic wasted no time getting into their stride when Anthony Ralston produced a stunning through ball to send Liel Abada scampering behind St Mirren’s backline. The winger cut back to Turnbull who took a touch then fired a shot on to the post.
It was just a taster of what was to come.
St Mirren escaped that time, but their resistance quickly crumbled with Abada and Turnbull going on to be the central figures in Celtic’s win.
Abada started the scoring off, skipping inside Scott Tanser before unleashing a terrific drive that Jak Alnwick could only push into his goal.
The teenager then added a second with a smart header from Greg Taylor’s cross, directing the ball down into the ground and up into the net.
Sandwiched between the goals was the sending off of Alan Power who was given a straight red for a reckless tackle on Turnbull.
His victim took a minute to get up but did not stay rattled long.
He grabbed Celtic’s third with a sweet, swerving strike from outside the box and then their fourth, pouncing to volley home from close range when Alnwick was only able to parry Abada’s cross into the area.
The interval some respite for the hard pressed visitors but not all that much with number five arriving soon enough on the teams return.
With Kyogo Furuhashi seemingly intent on finding new ways to almost, but not quite, score, Odsonne Edouard took matters into his own hands.
Collecting a pass from the Japanese, he reacted coolly after his first shot was blocked by Joe Shaughnessy to slot the ball into the corner.
It earned him a loud chorus of the familiar Stone Roses tribute, “I want to
be Edouard” but the biggest roar came when Turnbull completed the scoring when prodding home from a through ball by Tom Rogic.
“It’s my first ever hat-trick. I’ve been close a few times but I was delighted to get that third one, it was a great feeling,” he said.
“I still think there’s more to come from me. Today was a great game for me personally and the team.
“But we’re playing brilliantly well at the moment.”
As for St Mirren?
They had a goal disallowed in error when the score stood at 2-0. Curtis Main put a final touch on Greg Kiltie’s netbound effort.
The officials believed Main had been in an offside position but TV analysis showed Ralston had played him on.
The absence of a consolation goal will have been, well, little consolation to manager Jim Goodwin.
Forced to self-isolate at home after testing positive for Covid, he will surely have found this a tough watch. Even with the benefit of a little bit of distance.