Helsingborgs crashed to their third defeat in eight days when they lost 3-1 away to Djurgarden this afternoon.
Age Hareide’s injury ravaged side fell behind to a sixth minute goal from Erton Fejzullahu who went on to complete his hat-trick with goals in the 31st and 79th minutes after Nikola Durdic had equalised for the visitors.
HIF fielded the youngest ever defence in the history of the Swedish league consisting of Krafth Emil 18, Joseph Baffo 19, Loret Sadiku, 21, and Jere Uronen 18, all of whom have played international football at u-19 or u-21 level.
“We have full confidence that they will deliver,” Hareide said before the match. “It is about making them ready to become top players and so that they can compete with those already there.”
Looking back on the defeat from Celtic he added:”We had more possession than Celtic and made more passes that they did so I think we’re doing everything right apart from the mistakes that destroyed us.
“It was an evening of bad luck. The guys did a fantastic job and I am proud of what they delivered. Now we use it to build and become even better as a team, both in attack and defence.”
After watching his own teenager, 18-year-old Tony Watt, star against Inverness Caley Thistle Neil Lennon admitted that the striker had played his way into his thoughts for the return match with Helsingborgs.
“He has given himself a good chance,” the Celtic boss admitted. “But it’s such a huge game to throw a rookie in there. I don’t know, I’ll think about it, but I have an idea what the team will be.”
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The more this guy Hareide opens his mouth, the bigger the fud he confirms himself to be.
He should be managing Sevco Franchise after Fat Sally inevitably gets his jotters.
In all honesty I think they have a right to feel slightly aggrieved at the result on Tuesday-how many times have we seen Celtic waste good chances (which come few and far between, especially in away European ties) and pay the price. The difference was we took our chances whilst their defence did look a bit lightweight-imagine what a Sutton or a Hartson would have done to them?
Now Bhoys, let’s show them what a REAL European night at Paradise is all about, where far bigger and better teams than Helsingborgs have come a cropper over the years. Then we can forget about hard luck stories and look forward with eager anticipation to Friday night’s draw.
I agree with you completely. We were very lucky not to be punished on more than a few occasions during the first leg. I mentioned elsewhere on this site that we have been in the same position on many occasions – playing better, more chances, more possession but couldn’t seal the deal and we’ve been robbed.
We had slack defending and a better team will see right through it, IF we get through to the next round. It may even be HIF who take advantage of it.
It’s not a sure thing but let’s hope that the awe of playing at Celtic Park will intimidate the hell out of them and inspire our team to a victory!
I’ve obviously missed something, here..but who won 2-0..which strikers took their chances, & shock keeper did what he’s paid to do? I might as well be reading the DR! I appreciate you not tempting fate, but I’ll be amazed if we don’t win by AT LEAST, the same score on Wednesday…have a bit of faith HH x
You obviously did miss something, that mob cut through our defense 6 or 7 times if they had a decent stricker it could have been 3-1 the first half celtic where a joke the first half. need to play much better on tue, and if we play like that in the cl then you can forget about finishing 3rd.
There run not going to get any better. Just wait until they have to face a big name champions league team at paradise. Haha. I’ll never tire of hearing that.
Can’t remember many euro games where we scored two, hit the bar twice and had two 1 on 1’s with the goalie. It’s a myth that we were lucky. 3-1 Celtic would have been a fair result.
Mulsiebhoy, Icould’nt agree more mate somethings you read on here are shocking it as if people don’t like us winning am fed up saying it yes we carried a bit of luck but so did they we could have scored again just as much as they could of got one, so it was in my eyes a great night and nothing to be ashamed of. hail hail
Without a doubt some very indifferent performances in the 1st half at HIF but more like a seasoned european team in the 2nd…. The problem ive got is we were playing HIF that have some young promising players…. Now think if that was some other team with a reasonable pedigree! The chances they had would have been like a dummy to a baby for an experienced strikeforce! We have a very good team, improving from last season yet weakened by departures but still to play a 2nd leg with some key players missing!! I never want celtic to lose but people on here that talk of Celtic losing are realistic, we do not play like barca… we just like to think we do! HH!