Celtic manager Ronny Deila heaped praise on Craig Gordon last night after his goalkeeper's match-winning performance in their 1-0 defeat of Dinamo Zagreb.

The Scottish champions are now top of Europa League Group D, on four points along with Red Bull Salzburg, after Gordon's fantastic display frustrated the Croatians and protected Kris Commons's decisive early goal in a bright and entertaining game in Glasgow.

"Craig was unbelievable," said Deila. "I said to him there in the dressing room after that we have to thank him for saving any goals. Celtic have had good goalkeepers in the past and Craig shows how important that is. He has been an unbelievable signing. He can't do much better. What he has shown us is fantastic and we can work on how he plays the ball with his legs - that can be better - but apart from that he is a fantastic goalkeeper. He is calm and he gives confidence to the defence." When he was asked if he thought Gordon was Scotland's best goalkeeper, he replied: "That's hard for me to say. I think I will concentrate on Celtic. He is a very good goalkeeper."

Celtic now face a double-header against the Romanians, Astra Giurgiu, who lost 2-1 to Red Bull Salzburg last night. The two two progress from the group and Celtic are increasingly confident of being able to claim a place in the round of 32 and still be in Europe after Christmas. Their next game is at home to Astra on October 23.

"We have a good chance now. At home it's unbelievably important to win and the crowd, the fans, were fantastic, staying behind the team for 93 minutes. That's why Celtic win so many games here at home. We have to keep on.

"Every game is different and we are looking forward now to playing Astra. It was an important game today. If we could win we could push and get control of the group and push the others. The average points needed by teams in the last three years to go through is 9.8. It looks like three teams are equal and it is going to be a fight to the end.

"I think when you see the second half they were better than us and had their chances. In the first we had chances but it was even with the ball. The first half was very good and we equalled them but in the second we got tired and didn't look like we could keep up the pressure or keep the ball.

"I think it's important to say also that Wakaso [Mubarak] and [Aleksandar] Tonev hadn't played a lot of matches. They started well and then we got tired. So when we see the good periods we had tonight that's what we need for 90 minutes if we are going to be competing at this level. But you can see we have the level when we are on top."

Gordon admitted he was "delighted" that his latest impressive performance had secured three points for Celtic, after a similar showing against Red Bull Salzburg two weeks ago helped them to a draw.

The former Sunderland and Hearts goalkeeper, signed as a replacement for Fraser Forster this summer, said: "I'm delighted with that. It's only the third clean sheet [since he joined the club] and let's hope we can continue that.
"They're always special occasions, European nights, and it's a great three points. We needed that."
The only goal came in the sixth minute when Emilio Izaguirre's pass, Commons' dummy and Anthony Stokes' return ball set up the ex-Derby midfielder to slot neatly home. 
Gordon said: "It's a great goal. They're the things strikers work on all the time, getting in behind the defence, and it's a good finish."
Dinamo Zagreb coach Zoran Mamic said: "I thought we were the better team. But congratulations to Celtic. We were very good in the second half and we made many chances.
"I am sure it will be better for us when we play Celtic in Zagreb. Maybe that will be the game which decides first and second place in the group."