Celtic ruin linesman’s day, Ange’s thoughts and Jota’s fatigue

Here’s what Ange Postecoglou had to say after that dramatic afternoon up at McDiarmid Park when  it looked like Celtic had dropped two points after conceding two minutes into stoppage time only for Giorgos Giakoumakis to grab the winner moments later. How that goal was celebrated, just like Anthony Ralston’s winner up at Ross County last December!

Sky Sports: Ange, a traumatic finish in the end… how do you sum it up?

Ange Postecoglou: “Well, it’s the nature of football. You know, we should’ve put the game to bed a lot earlier. At 1-0 the opposition always feel they’re in it. It doesn’t take much – a bit of a scramble in the box, they’ve got threats from set-pieces – and we concede late. But credit to the lads, we had to do it a few times last year and it’s good to know if it’s required it’s still there.”

Sky Sports: Does that sum up that continued character in the team?

Ange Postecoglou: “Yeah, well you have to have it during the course of the season. We’d love things to run smoothly but as I said, we should have really finished it off a lot earlier. We waited till the last minute but that’s important too, to show their character.”

Sky Sports: Was there a sense of frustration when that equaliser goes, given that you had chances and to Joe Hart only had a couple of saves to make?

Ange Postecoglou: “It’s kind of the period we’re going through at the moment – creating a lot of chances but not taking them. Earlier in the year we were taking everything that was coming our way. That’s the nature of football, we’ve just got to persevere and persist with what we’re doing. As long as we’re creating the chances eventually they’ll go.”

Sky Sports: Is that an easy mindset to be in, then, because of the positives in creating the chances?

Ange Postecoglou: “I think so. It’s a lot harder when you’re struggling to create chances because then you’re looking for solutions out there. Today we had some really good chances and on any other day we would’ve finished the game off but, during the course of a season, there are going to be games like this and it’s important when they do come along that we show the character we showed today.”

Giorgos Giakoumakis celebrates scoring the winning goal with fans during the cinch Premiership match at McDiarmid Park, Perth. Saturday October 8, 2022. Photo Jeff Holmes

Sky Sports: Joe Hart didn’t have much to do but he did make one brilliant save from Stevie May – how pleased were you for him given the week he had?

Ange Postecoglou: “That’s Joe’s role in our team, you know? Our goalkeeper’s never too busy but we need him for the big moments and he’s always delivered at that time. He made a good save but if we’re talking about missed chances and goalkeeper saves I think the other end’s more important for us.

Sky Sports: How’s Jota, he came off at half-time?

Ange Postecoglou: “Yeah, it was just a bit of fatigue. The plan wasn’t to play him for too long today as he’s played a lot of football so I don’t think there’s any concern there.”

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

1 Comment

  1. Rob O’Keeffe on

    We all saw it,blatant,every time a Celtic player played a ball through,up went wee baldy’s flag,offside or not.
    P.S.Tell Davidson that their ‘goal’ shouldn’t have been allowed,GG not able to jump because his shirt was being grabbed and tell the ref that if a player,already booked,is guilty of a foul for jersey pulling,then it’s another yellow and off you go.The officials in Scotland are so clearly anti one team.