ANTHONY STOKES could not have chosen a worst day to spit the dummy.
The one thing anyone would have predicted about this game, played in the Highlands, in winter with a kick-off just after noon, thus making it a hassle for just about everyone who wanted to attend, was that it was going to be a hard watch – and a cold one.
And yet the away end was full, the vast majority having got up at the crack of dawn and battled treacherous road conditions to watch an utterly forgettable football game. They were never going to have much sympathy for Stokes being dropped and then going on Twitter to complain about his lot.
Talk about First World problems.
The Irishman’s Celtic career has been in tailspin for a while and now, you have to think, it’s over. He really should look across the dressing room for a lesson in attitude and how to fight your way back into the manager’s plans.
Deila said after the game that Stokes had to changes his way if he wanted to stay at the club. Although it said so much when the Celtic manager paused for a long time when asked whether Stokes had a future at Celtic.
Leigh Griffiths took to Twitter on Thursday night to apologise for his “shocking” performance against Ajax – he was harsh on himself – and he clearly could do with a rest after months of leading Celtic’s frontline on his own because Stokes and also Nadir Ciftci are not deemed trustworthy these days to even play a minimal role.
And yet at the Tulloch Caledonian Thistle, after an hour of chasing lost causes and not really getting anywhere, Griffiths popped up to produce a fine finish in the game’s decisive moment and his 19th goal of the season.
Carlton Cole got a chance to stretch his legs, but Stokes was an observer the same as Ciftci, who at least got stripped. Griffiths is a gem of a striker, but he needs help. We shall see whether that materialises in January in terms of another striker coming in.
As it is, he's doing pretty well at the moment.
Griffiths is no longer a daft laddie. He has cleaned up his act and could well in Player of the Year. Deila must wish more of his players, particularly those who play up-front, were like his man striker because had he not struck when he did, this game may well have ended in a draw.
Celtic are rather plodding their way to the inevitable title, however, there are some good things happening.
It was good to see Scott Allan getting on and again showed some nice touches. Kieran Tierney, who set up the second, and Callum McGregor, who scored the first, also showed up well.
Ronny Deila’s team is not exactly firing on all cylinders, but the fact young Scottish talent is getting a chance is good to see.
And to the game itself where Celtic found themselves in the lead after just seven minutes.
Stefan Johansen was in his own half when he played a pass to McGregor who ran at pace in a straight line towards the Inverness goal. He had Leigh Griffiths to his left, Tom Rogic was on his right, and he opted to send the ball fizzing along the wet pitch and into bottom corner.
The opening 15 minutes was the best period of the game.
A Gary Warren header from a corner came off Craig Gordon’s chest and then Mikael Lustig should have extended his side’s lead when unmarked from a McGregor corner, he put his header over.
But the match, played on a soaking surface, slowed down until the 39th minute when Inverness scored with six minutes of the first-half left.
Stuart Armstrong, who endure a torrid afternoon, gave away the ball in midfield, Liam Polworth passed to Miles Storey who got past Dedryck Boyata and while Gordon saved the first shot, the Cakey Thistle man rolled the ball home at the second attempt.
The second-half never really got going. Nir Bitton went close with a shot, at the other end Warren was even closer with a header.
And then Griffiths made his mark after 59 minutes.
The move began down the left when the bright Allan played an intelligent ball which allowed Tierney to scamper to the left touchline, he dragged the ball across goal and Griffiths sent his unstoppable finish into the top corner.
Inverness almost equalised in the last ten minutes when Lustig was saved an own-goal by Stefan Johansen who cleared off the line. The Norwegian, incidentally, worked hard and was more about himself without being brilliant.
And then with minutes to go, Celtic killed the game.
Griffiths had a great shot beaten away, fell to Cole who was slow to react, three Inverness players got in to block, the ball somehow went into the net, via Danny Devine. It was all a bit mess but they all count, do they not. Job done.
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