DEREK MCINNES praised the Celtic attack after his side were beaten 2-0 by Neil Lennon’s quadruple chasers. The three-in-a-row Scottish Cup holders will face Heart of Midlothian in next month’s final after goals from Ryan Christie and Moi Elyounoussi sealed the win against Aberdeen.
McInnes was gracious in defeat as he praised the Celtic attack for spooking his side with their movement. Tom Rogic’s revival and Odsonne Edouard’s return to the side has coincided with an upturn in form along with the tactical change to 4-2-3-1. After a draw last weekend, McInnes told STV that he wanted to strike the first blow in the game but the movement of Odsonne Edouard
“We lined up with a really attacking team. We have had a lot of benefit from that and we wanted to strike that first blow.
“Matty Kennedy carried the fight with some great crosses and Sam Cosgrove missed a couple of chances at that back post area, if he had the benefit of a few games he might have made more of them.
“Ryan Hedges had a chance when through and we tried to get to their back lot but the trade off with so many attacking players in the team is that you have to deal with the threat of Elyounoussi, Rogic, Christie and Edouard and probably for a 10 to 15-minute spell we never quite managed that.
“Their movement spooked us a wee bit more than it did last week and I think Edouard is a big part of that. I don’t think we quite dealt with that.”
Edouard returned from a positive COVID test last month to make his first start and despite not getting on the scoresheet, he showed some menacing signs that he could be nearing his best.
Ryan Christie opened the scoring with a thunderous effort from the right hand side that left Joe Lewis with absolutely no chance and McInnes acknowledged the brilliant hit.
“Christie’s goal was a brilliant strike and will rightly be applauded.
“But when he takes that step inside he’s got to be confronted with an Aberdeen shirt. We were too deep. Joe Lewis has no chance with it.
“Last week those spaces were tighter and that type of shot was given no encouragement. I do think Edouard and Elyounoussi had a lot to do with that, with our back lot sinking a little.
“The second goal is untidy, I think Rogic hits an unusual cross. It seems to come out of nothing. It was a 15 minute spell where the top end of the pitch caused us problems.”
Celtic will now play Hearts in the final on December 20 with a chance at clinching a Quadruple Treble.
