THE smartphones saved the night. Celtic went down in the Europa League last night but they are not out.

A sore defeat to Red Bull Salzburg was tolerable for supporters when texts, tweets and internet searches confirmed their European run will continue into the New Year.

Parkhead's stadium announcer couldn't get the news out quickly enough, and within seconds of

full-time he announced that Celtic had qualified for the round of 32.

They couldn't deliver the win they needed to secure that themselves, but Astra beat Dinamo Zagreb in the other Group D game.

Red Bull and Celtic have been clearly the two strongest sides in the section, and in that order. Red Bull were a goal up after eight minutes and two ahead after 13. It was to Celtic's credit they hauled themselves back into the game thanks to Stefan Johansen's goal for 1-2 at half-time.

The second half was competitive and compelling until Red Bull scored again at the death. It was a night of conflicting emotions: the sober realism for Celtic that they were beaten by a far slicker side, but the joy and satisfaction of a decent achievement. They will be playing European ties until at least the end of February.

At first, they were mesmerised last night. They knew all about the pressing and harrying Red Bull Salzburg would hit them with, but there was far more to them than that. They were quick and intricate and electric in Celtic's half and the pace was too much for Deila's men to handle. Worse, Celtic were too sloppy when it came to pressing themselves.

Red Bull's players peeled off markers, found space and looked for possession while men in green-and-white switched off to their movement and allowed them a ridiculous amount of room and time. They were asking for trouble and it hit them with murderous speed.

Massimo Bruno was able to unload a shot at the edge of the box which spun off a defender and fell for Alan, who hooked a confident finish past Craig Gordon. Conceding a second five minutes later sent a chill around Parkhead, which was quickly converted to raw anger. This time a Red Bull corner was flicked on by Andre Ramalho to Alan, who scored again. One name, two goals.

Celtic were in shock. They were getting as torrid a runaround as they had been subjected to by any of the celebrated names to have graced Parkhead in the modern era. Red Bull might have raced away to 3-0 or 4-0. Martin Hinteregger's header, Peter Ankersen's shot and a Jonatan Soriano effort forced Gordon into saves.

There was a penalty claim when Virgil van Dijk dumped Alan and Soriano deposited the ball in the net straight from a set-piece, but Gordon had the awareness and nerve to leave it because it was an indirect free kick and the "goal" could not stand.

Red Bull's blur of energy and movement had Celtic's defence in all sorts of bother. Van Dijk was exposed and caught out of position, and the unreliability of Efe Ambrose - playing because Jason Denayer had not recovered from injury - further undermined the back four. With the midfield being overrun and Anthony Stokes and Callum McGregor anonymous out wide, Red Bull were threading their way through the Celtic half.

Leigh Griffiths was a surprise choice to lead the attack. Stefan Scepovic and Kris Commons were parked on the bench and John Guidetti's ineligibility for Europa League ties is a running sore after the nonsense of signing him too late to be registered for the group stage. Griffiths grafted well enough but lacked support and when Celtic changed the game with an unexpected goal it was from Johansen's boot. Emilio Izaguirre's cross was met by a sweet volley into the corner. Johansen had scored in a third consecutive European tie and Celtic had a foothold in the game.

The crowd were lifted and in the minutes which followed Red Bull looked surprisingly rattled.

Celtic had needed a response to that frenetic start from Red Bull and, even in defeat, they delivered one. They were sharper and far more forceful in the second half and much of the play was in Red Bull's half.

Griffiths should have buried an Izaguirre cross to equalise but his firm header was too straight at Peter Gulacsi and the goalkeeper saved.

It was almost 3-1 when Soriano opened up Celtic on a counter-attack and rifled the ball across the goalmouth. Alan slid in at the back post but couldn't quite get there and a hat trick eluded him.

Deila shuffled his pack. Johansen came deeper into midfield to replace Mulgrew, with Commons coming on to float as the second striker and Aleksandar Tonev replacing Stokes on the left. Johansen's brilliant backheel played in Izaguirre, who blazed a shot over. In stoppage time the contest ended. Marcel Sabitzer broke through and when his shot was saved the ball skipped up for Naby Keita to head the rebound inside the far post.

The stands thinned out, but there was good news to lift their mood.