After the previous win against Hamilton Accies Stevie Frail seemed a bit irked when I suggested that it had been something of a strange performance from the development side.
Justifying that I pointed out to the changes in the team, some regulars missing and goals scored by two defenders.
It was a different story at Kilmarnock on Monday night, the scoreline said 3-2 but it was an impressive attacking performance, pushing forward from all angles that created numerous chances and corners.
Mentioning my previous question about a strange performance at Hamilton I confidently suggested that it had been a strong display to beat Kilmarnock, and difficult to find fault in- wrong!
“I could (find fault), I thought that we were sloppy, a wobble can kill you in the context of a game,” Frail replied. “It was a poor penalty to give away, it was a strange position to put his hand up, a definite handball (from Jamie McCart).
“The second goal was a poor decision from Jordan (Hart) to shout then not go to collect it. Sloppiness crept into it but for large chunks of the game we were excellent.
“I’m pleased with some of the patterns we produced, from one side to the other, the quick interchanging but we need to be more clinical, if you don’t take your chances it can come back to haunt you.
“There were a few of them guilty of it but for large parts of the game our play was excellent. You could see a lot from the training ground, the movement that we work on and I think that the surface helped (Kilmarnock play on artificial turf).
“I’m not a huge fan of these surfaces but the ball was running true, we could play on the deck knowing that when the ball goes into the centre it’s not going to bobble and run away from you.
“We could take a touch on the ball, the two full-back’s are key to that, young Sam Wardrop on the right was excellent.
“We got 90 minutes from Kieran (Tierney) which was great. He’s just coming back from a long term injury, there are flashes in his game where you can see what he has going for him.
“It’s good to see how the full-back’s played. We’ll change Kieran between left-back and left midfield from week to week but we’re looking at him as a left-back, he has all the attributes to play there, especially for a Celtic left-back.
“Once he gets his real fitness he’ll be able to bomb away all game, he has a willingness to track back and defend, we can see the quality and we were getting a lot out of Sam on the right as well.”
While Tierney and Wardrop develop it’s rehabilitation time for Tom Rogic.
After 45 minutes at Hamilton he got an hour, and a goal against Kilmarnock with Frail delighted to see the midfielder emerge from a year of misery that saw him miss out on the World Cup through injury.
“Tom (Rogic) brings us a lot- I don’t want him in my team I want him in and around the first team,” the Celtic coach admitted. “These games help him, his composure was great, he controls the ball, can see a pass and I’m delighted that he scored.
“He definitely enhances the team, I’m not going to deny that but I’m more pleased for him on a personal basis. When you go through a long term injury it can be soul destroying, he’ll appreciate what it is to be back playing again.”
Either side of Rogic’s goal Joe Thomson and Aidan Nesbitt scored at Kilmarnock, Celtic are in action at Falkirk today, kick off 2pm and face Hibs at Celtic Park on Thursday night in the semi-final of the SFA Youth Cup.
