RONNY Deila is often depicted as taking a softly-softly Scandinavian approach when it comes to disciplining his errant players but sometimes such a stance comes with ancillary benefits. Callum McGregor did not play for Celtic during the four-week period between his arrest for drink-driving in early February and the handing down of a 12-month ban at the start of this month. Some managers, especially those with squads as well-stocked as Deila’s, would have used that as a reason to bench a player for the foreseeable future. The Norwegian, though, took a different tack, reintroducing McGregor to the side for Celtic’s first match following his conviction against Morton in the Scottish Cup last weekend and retaining him for this league encounter against Partick Thistle. On both occasions, McGregor not only played well but scored. Perhaps there is something in the arm-around-the-shoulder method of dealing with miscreants after all.
Celtic had several strong performers at Firhill in what was undoubtedly their best league display in weeks. McGregor was probably the most impressive of the lot. Operating as the central figure in the three-man forward line behind striker Leigh Griffiths, the 22 year-old created two early chances for first Griffiths and then Kris Commons, and dragged a shot of his own wide of target. It would take until the 54th minute before his endeavour was belatedly rewarded when he moved Celtic two in front, a goal that effectively sealed the victory. Taking advantage of a terrific pass from Gary Mackay-Steven and with his marker Callum Booth caught out of position further up the pitch, he raced into the Thistle penalty box, skipped round an attempted tackle by Dan Seaborne before finishing well beyond Tomas Cerny. It was the mark of a player making the most of a second chance.
“It was a big incident and I let a lot of people down, including the manager,” said a contrite McGregor. “But he’s shown great faith in me by putting me back in so I’m trying to repay him with my performances. I’m grateful to him for doing that. I’ve got a great relationship with him. He trusts me and I trust him so it was great that he put me back in. All the lads have been great with me as well. I’m delighted to repay them too as I let them down as well. It’s a fresh start for me in many ways.”
His manager had no gripes with McGregor’s attitude either. “He has been very good the past two or three months,” said Deila. “He had a break because of other circumstances but I think he is showing a lot of confidence on the pitch and he played very well today. He also scored again - that’s important.”
Celtic have come to rely heavily on Griffiths for goals this season although they almost had to make do without him here. A calf injury threatened to preclude his involvement but the Celtic medical team patched him up, sent him out and Griffiths duly scored. The goal arrived just before half-time, Seaborne unable to cut out Mackay-Steven’s cross, allowing the striker time to take a touch and finish past Cerny. It had the effect of appeasing an away support that was starting to grumble, and also knocked the stuffing out of Thistle who had thought they had got to half-time with their clean sheet intact. It was Griffiths’ 35th goal of a stellar personal season. “He was close to not playing so credit to him and the medical department,” revealed Deila. “It was important for us.”
Thistle had threatened only sporadically in the first half – Liam Lindsay had a 30-yard thump that was pushed away by Craig Gordon, while the goalkeeper also repelled a poked effort from Kris Doolan following the striker’s mazy dribble – so when McGregor scored Celtic’s second there seemed little way back. A glimmer of hope, however, arrived six minutes time when they were awarded their first penalty in 18 months - ironically by Stephen Finnie, the same referee who gave the last one – after Erik Sviatchenko had a tug at Steven Lawless’ shirt.
Sean Welsh quickly got over the shock to tuck away the kick for Thistle’s first goal against Celtic in seven games. It had the effect of sending pangs of anxiety coursing through an away support that had previously been enjoying a comfortable Celtic display, albeit one marked by too many missed chances. Thistle, though, could not take advantage of the late reprieve and minutes later were reflecting on a third defeat in a week, albeit all against the top three sides in the division.
“In the first half we were in the game and had a couple of chances but then we lost a terrible goal at a terrible time,” said manager Alan Archibald. “So that was very disappointing. In the second half once they got their goal we sat off them and you can’t do that against Celtic.”
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