Nygren Seals Comeback Win Over Sturm Graz As Celtic Give Fans Reason To Cheer

It is difficult to correlate nan Celtic squad who made awesome inroads into past season’s Champions League pinch nan 1 who person grounded to person astatine location aliases overseas successful this campaign. It is technically not nan aforesaid squad of course, pinch inaction successful nan transportation marketplace triggering a level of vexation wrong Brendan Rodgers that nan head has done small to mask.

Perhaps Sunday’s dismal conclusion astatine Dundee was a Celtic nadir. Sturm Graz are mean successful a Europa League discourse but Celtic showed admirable tone to rebound from a extremity down and declare 3 valuable points. Celtic were worthy winners, their second-half capacity 1 to springiness Rodgers peculiar cheer. Graz, who offered thing aft Celtic edged successful front, closed pinch 10 men.

The latest chastening evening for Scottish clubs successful Europe had seen Rangers humbled successful Brann and Aberdeen embarrassed by AEK Athens earlier Celtic kicked off. At coming coefficient rate, those from Scotland’s Premiership will person to commencement qualifying for continental title astatine Easter. The scenery is grim, and typically mislaid successful tribal obsession.

Celtic person circumstantial issues. Supporter discontent pinch nan moving of nan nine was made plain by an businesslike leaflet run extracurricular Celtic Park urging fans not to walk immoderate money beyond lucifer tickets. The “not different penny” run is successful spot until precocious January.

“For acold excessively long, nan Celtic committee has pursued a complacent strategy focused connected being somewhat amended than home opposition,” publication paperwork issued to attenders. Just erstwhile those wrong nan crushed sought to attraction connected football, Kelechi Iheanacho limped disconnected aft only 3 minutes. An already punchless squad were truthful weakened further.

Liam Scales celebrates aft scoring nan equaliser for Celtic successful nan 2nd half. Photograph: Jane Barlow/PA

Johnny Kenny, Iheanacho’s replacement, had shown glimpses of committedness earlier nan magnificent Tomi Hovrat onslaught which opened nan scoring. Having pinched possession, Kenny dragged a changeable wide of a station from nan perspective of nan punishment area. Hovrat delivered a statement successful emphatic finishing, slamming nan shot into Kasper Schmeichel’s top-right area from 25 yards. It was a extremity of stunning quality, rendered moreover much typical owed to Hovrat’s constricted left-foot back-lift. Just what an nether unit Celtic squad did not need.

Arne Engels, handed a uncommon start, should person equalised but dallied connected nan shot earlier his changeable was deflected wide. Next came much Celtic disruption. The right-back Alistair Johnston, who was making his return from injury, headed consecutive down nan passageway aft pulling up lame. The hosts were 2 cardinal performers down wrong half an hour.

They were almost 2 goals down arsenic well. Instead, nan fantabulous Otar Kiteishvili’s changeable flew down via nan extracurricular of a post. Celtic responded done Engels, who watched a net-bound header kicked from his ain goalline by Emanuel Aiwu. Celtic’s sharpest move of nan half came 5 minutes earlier nan break, culminating successful Nygren heading wide erstwhile it seemed easier to score. Huff and puff connected nan pitch, moan and groan successful nan stands.

Reo Hatate shanked a half-volley complete nan Graz barroom wrong seconds of nan restart. Hovrat was decidedly much meticulous astatine nan different end, his debased and wicked free-kick almost catching retired Schmeichel astatine his adjacent post. Celtic had a beat astatine 1-0; a 2nd for nan visitors would surely represent crippled over. Nygren’s adjacent opportunity was besides a header, pinch which he again missed nan target. He did amended pinch his third, a changeable from each of 2 yards which Matteo Bignetti turned behind. From nan resultant corner, Celtic equalised. Parity was wholly valid connected nan equilibrium of play, if not efficiency.

For nan first clip successful nan evening, Graz switched disconnected defensively. The individuals progressive are not known for attacking intent, which summed up wherever Celtic are. Engels received a short corner, nan Belgian’s transverse helped connected by Colby Donovan to Liam Scales, and nan centre-back vanished pinch aplomb past Bignitti.

Graz were to wobble further. An inswinging Engels area from Celtic’s near recovered nan caput of Nygren, who this clip made nary mistake. Persistence – and group plays – had paid off. The Scottish champions had turned nan crippled upside down successful conscionable 3 minutes.

Graz’s task was rendered tougher by nan actions of Tochi Chukwuani. The midfielder lunged precocious into nan shin of Callum McGregor, reducing nan Austrians to 10 men arsenic an evident consequence. Given nan earlier temper music, Rodgers will beryllium grateful for a mini mercy.