AWAY DAY BLUES BANISHED
Celtic had played three games away from home in the cinch Premiership before today – and picked up zero points for their efforts.
So the hard-fought and narrow win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie this afternoon was of massive importance for the Parkhead club.
The Glasgow giants were outplayed by their hosts for long periods of the encounter and the final scoreline was somewhat fortuitous.
But Ange Postecoglou’s men, who don’t play again for a fortnight due to the international break, got the job done and will take confidence from that going forward.
The outcome must be the norm, not a rarity, if they are to reclaim the Scottish title from Rangers this term.
READ MORE: Detailed Celtic player ratings as Kyogo and Jota shine in the Granite City
ANGE ISN’T FOR CHANGING
The calls for Ange Postecoglou to abandon “Angeball”, as the attacking style of football he wants Celtic to play has been dubbed, became deafening after the 4-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday night.
The Greek-Australian coach wasn’t listening. His team persevered with what goalkeeper Joe Hart this week described as a “risky” game plan when proceedings got underway at Pittodrie.
Hart and his defenders passed the ball out from the back under pressure, the full-backs pushed upfield and the visitors committed bodies forward in numbers.
It didn’t, despite the result, work especially well, but it showed that their manager will not be swayed.
KYOGO IS MASSIVE
Kyogo Furuhashi has only been in Scotland for a matter of weeks, but the Japanese striker has become a key man, perhaps the key man, for Celtic in that short space of time.
The Parkhead club posed far less of a threat up front during the month that he spent out as a result of the knee injury he picked up on international duty.
His return to action has coincided with an improvement in the final third by Ange Postecoglou’s side. He was perfectly positioned to head home the opener against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
The 26-year-old has now netted eight times in 11 appearances in the 2021/22 campaign. His manager should wrap him in cotton wool
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