Leigh Griffiths has relived the 20 minute spell when it looked like Celtic’s Champions League dream could have ended in tears.
After conceding two quick goals at the start of the second half the game opened up with Celtic exchanging chances with Astana.
Griffiths should have killed off any prospect of a comeback when he was presented with a chance in the 68th minute but within 30 seconds of shooting over the bar Craig Gordon was picking the ball out of the net for the fourth time.
That could have been ominous sign with the Celtic striker admitting that until Olivier Ntcham scored things were getting heated on the park.
“We got an earful from the manager telling us to keep the ball and make them run and in the second half for the first ten or 15 minutes we collapsed,” Griffiths explained in a radio interview.
“They scored two goals in quick succession and then I got a chance to put the ball in the back of the net and didn’t do it and about 25 seconds later they go up the pitch and scored.
“I almost fell to my knees to be honest. With my quality I have to be burying that. Later on I scored with my right foot which was a harder chance than the one I missed.”
Griffiths played a key role in Celtic’s qualification for the group stage- helping to turn the away tie in Rosenborg and running Astana ragged in the 5-0 first leg route.
Last season’s group stage largely passed him by due to injury and the form of Moussa Dembele but this time around he’s determined to lead the line and build on his performances against Astana.