It was great to see Celtic emerge from their recent coma! With the chips down the real Celtic returned with style to put Zenit St Petersburg to the test.
With the exception of 45 minutes against Hearts it has been laboured viewing since the turn of the year with little to suggest that the team was capable of recapturing the flair, excitement and goals of last season.
Pressure was on Brendan Rodgers, he had been criticised after the three home defeats in the Champions League but had stuck firmly to the line that being in Europe after Christmas was a sign of progress.
With virtually a full team sitting in the treatment room options were limited but from that there were still big decisions to be made.
Jozo Simunovic retained his place despite a nightmare against Partick Thistle while the flair of Charly Musonda and Scott Sinclair was left on the bench.
The team responded to the circumstances and turned on the sort of determined display that has been too infrequent this season, glimpsed at away to Aberdeen and Anderlecht and at home to Bayern Munich.
Next week’s trip to Russia will be an even more demanding test but with last night’s 90 minutes behind them the team can fly out with belief.
There wasn’t a failure in the team, the substitutions worked well with the fans heading home happy that last season’s heights look like being recaptured with the supporters and players back performing in unison.