Kris Commons is confident that Celtic will score in Elfsborg.
It took a header from the midfielder in the 76th minute to give Celtic a lead in the first leg tie with next week’s return taking place on artificial turf.
Commons got Celtic off to a flier last season with the opening goal away to Helsingborgs and would love a repeat of that next Wednesday in Elfsborg.
“It could be a vital goal in the grand scheme of things but I do think we can score in Sweden,” Commons admitted.
“Fraser (Forster) could have stayed in the changing-rooms. I don’t think the ball touched his gloves.
“They were happy at 1-0. I think they would have been delighted at 0-0 but we are more than confident about going on the road and getting goals.”
Looking at the 90 minutes Commons added: “It reminded me a lot of how we played against Barcelona.
“We had to give their top-quality players respect, get behind the ball and make us break them down.
“In fairness to them, they probably saw how good we are at home and gave us respect. They would have been happy at 1-0.
Elfsborg boss Jorgen Lennartsson was satisfied with the result saying: “We played exactly as I wanted us to play, especially in the first half. Our defensive performance was excellent. In the second half, we were a little bit too deep and Celtic pressed us more.
“We hoped we could defend well enough to get a draw but we conceded the goal from the kind of situation which we had defended so well in the first half.
“Celtic were the better side, you can’t say they didn’t deserve to win. But we know the tie is still alive. It will be a very different game in our stadium and on our astroturf pitch.
“We have only lost once in 25 games there and we will have the crowd on our side. So I’m totally satisfied with our chances of going through.”
Mo Bangura failed to get the goal that many predicted but Lennartsson was pleased by the loan striker’s performance.
“I thought Mo Bangura was excellent for us tonight,” the Elfsborg coach added. “He showed he is mentally strong after all the pressure Celtic put him under in the pre-game talk. For us, the decision was quite clear to play him because we want to win the tie.
“If Celtic had a player on loan from Chelsea, would they play him against them in the Champions League? Of course they would.”
What is clear from Anthony Stokes’ performance last night, is he not got what is required at this level, and should be confirmation for Lenny a replacement for Hoops is required urgently.
Stokes is a decent player for the Spfl, but in big games he not got the required quality.
What is in my mind also is Uterecht, a 2 nil lead going into the away leg, underestimated them and went with an arrogant attacking 4-3-3 & got humiliated big time.
In Sweden I hope we go with a 4-5-1 with big Sammy leading the line to punish them on the break, I’m sure I heard on radio yesterday this mob not been beat at home since last November.
HH
Well said, I’m sure Lenny will have a good idea what system and players to play.
I would be very surprised if he didn’t play the 4,5,1 system
He has the AstroTurf to take into consideration as well, just read there that since they started using it they only been beat twice in 25 games, that’s an impressive stat.
Aye November 2011 lol
This current team actually have played well on numerous occasions on Astroturf – its quite amazing how many times in the last 2-3 years how many times they played on it so there can be no excuses.
I agree though I wouldn’t play Stokesy and I would flood the mid-field with the addition of Ledley and perhaps Ambrose as well if we can get other CB’s fit – 1 away goal would leave them needing 3, a clean sheet was crucial as pointed out by Lenny.
HH
Spartak was an AstroTurf pitch where we got our 1st away win I believe. I’d leave Ambrose out if I had my way, the fella is a constant accident waiting to happen, type of player who has you watching peering through your fingers nervously.
Lenny will not leave Forrest out, dont understand why cos he to lazy for this type of 5-4-1 system, so I reckon it’ll be Brown/Ledley/kayal/Commons/Forrest. Im not a Forrest or Ambrose fan.
Ledley or Kayal sorry, it’s month of Ramadan so Kayal probably doing his fasting at moment.???
I’m surprised no one has mentioned , they were a shower of dirty b….. Especially Keene. Also we could realistically have scored at least 4 goals. Sammy and izzy were stand outs for me. Ledley focused the team far better when he came on. And I agree stokes never really got going. But neither did Forrest and several others. We weren’t at our best. But we should win over there 2 nil. And finally… Bangura… I would only let him back in paradise so,s he can pick up his p45. HH.
Agreed, they were quite meaty throughout.
Friendlies are one thing, new signings, young hoops coming up, contract negotiatons for current players, as in will they be here next season, are quite another.
These guys are playing to win…….at any cost.
Thoght it was a good performance last night, but the gaping hole was there for all to see
If we had a good triggerman up front we would have netted four or five.
Get it sorted Niel.
HH
We really need Ledley in for this one. He gives us the balance in midfield where others can’t.
I think Stokesy will come good but if its 4-5-1 it’s obviously not the game for him.
As for Astro turf, didn’t Cliftonville have Astro down?
I think we play fine enough on it so I don’t have any real concerns.
Lenny will have his team thought out already, but lets get Ross County out the way first this weekend.
And yeah, they were a bunch of Dirty B**tards! But we have to come to expect that against the underdog teams sometimes.
Artificial surfaces in Moscow, Helsinki and Helsingborg – that should not present us with a problem.
HH
We train regularly on astro at Lennoxtown and we’ve shown in the past that we can perform on it, but Idon’t think there’s much doubt that if you’re playing on it every second game and training on it, as opposed to a team who is not, there is a clear advantage.
HH