Celtic TV caught up with Matt O’Riley and Alistair Johnston after the game against Dundee at Celtic Park and both men were happy with the outcome in the end up. It was a very strong second-half showing from the boys in green and white which softened the insipid initial first-half display as the sides went in 0-0 at the break.
Matty managed to get on the scoresheet again and Ally should have had at least two goals but for the woodwork! He even joked about his inability to find the net and suggested he should leave it to players like his teammate whom he was stood right beside. The Canadian international admitted the team talk at half-time centred around not letting this one become a repeat of the St Johnstone game a few weeks back too.
Celtic v Dundee – cinch Premiership – Matt O Riley is congratulated by Kyogo Furuhashi after scoring the third goal of the game during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park on Saturday September 16, 2023.Photo Andrew Milligan
Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, the Canadian internationalist said:
16th September 2023 Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland Scottish Premiership Football, Celtic versus Dundee Malachi Boateng of Dundee challenges for the ball with Alistair Johnston of Celtic Photo ActionPlus David Young
When we went in 0-0 at half-time, we realised we couldn’t let another 45 slip by and drop another couple of points. So I think it was really good.’
“I thought the subs brought something as well and, again, we stuck to our principles. We knew what we wanted to do and they tired out, but that’s down to our football. So we’re really happy with the result and it could have been more goals and I think some of us are disappointed! But at the end of the day it’s three points so we can’t complain.”
On his two near misses with the Dundee goal, he remarked: “There was a spell put on me and I was not going to score out there! I could have played another 90 minutes of football out there, but again, I’m better when I just clear the space for guys like Matty (O’Riley) to come into it and put them away.
Celtic v Dundee – Celtic players celebrate on the pitch after the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Saturday September 16, 2023. Photo Andrew Milligan
“It’s another progress that I want to take into my game is getting into that box and filling that space and hopefully adding a couple of goals because it would be beneficial, but at the same time I’m a defender first so I think the guys won’t hold that against me too much.”
Paul Gillespie