TONY Mowbray's stern defence of his side after this victory might have sounded more robust had it followed a match where they had been required to stretch themselves. Although it was gladly accepted by the home fans, this minor triumph could not disguise the work that still remains to be done at Parkhead. Mowbray, more than anyone, knows what is required, and won't be deflected from his purpose by such wins achieved at a canter against a disappointing Kilmarnock team.
A far greater challenge will come this week in Hamburg, when Mowbray will be required to set up his team rather differently. But the same will apply then as on Saturday – Celtic really have to win. He does, at least, have options, with Marc-Antoine
Fortune fit again and Marc Crosas and Landry N'Guemo looking like a midfield partnership that is ideally suited to the European game, where possession is paramount. Mowbray thought Saturday's victory, with goals from Aiden McGeady, Georgios Samaras and Niall McGinn, showed that confidence has been retained by his side, despite recent poor results. A low was plumbed last week, when Celtic fell at home to Hearts in front of just 19,000 spectators. More attended on Saturday, but, signalling how neither side of the Old Firm divide is a hive of contentment, the stadium was still far from full.
"I don't think there was a lot of difference between Wednesday and today," commented Mowbray. "It's just that the ball went into the net today. We scored a few goals today and that makes it easier for everyone, I suppose.
"I am not being smug, I genuinely judge my team on performance levels," he added. "Most of you are intelligent people. You watched the game on Wednesday, and the performance was very similar. We controlled the game, and created numerous chances."
Mowbray looked ahead to Thursday, and a visit to the SH Nordbank Arena. "Hamburg is a different proposition," he acknowledged. Paddy McCourt, for example, probably won't be detailed to run at the opposition defenders, at least not from the start.
The tactic worked, initially, against Kilmarnock, who seemed surprised when he twisted and turned and then twisted and turned some more. Their surprise was matched only by the level of Scott McDonald's disgust. On at least two occasions the Australian reacted with fury following McCourt's refusal to release the ball more quickly. The Irishman's overall performance was a reminder why he has not featured regularly for Mowbray. He faded badly in the second-half having allowed himself to drift too easily out of the proceedings.
If his attention wandered, he wasn't alone. An already far from full Parkhead began to empty further long before the final whistle. If succour was gained from only a third home victory of the season, then concern was also provided by the suspicion that fans so often championed for their loyalty are discovering alternative ways to spend their Saturday afternoons. Outside the ground a fanzine's front page chided the present board for their lack of ambition. Just 24 hours earlier questions on this same theme had been posed at the club's agm.
One persuasive response to this accusation is the expensively- acquired Fortune. He was gently eased back into action on Saturday after knee surgery. The £3.8 million signing has enjoyed a profitable time away from the team. Some doubts had begun to grow as to his suitability for the job of principal striker. However, a recent run of three successive home matches without a goal saw his introduction being greeted as though a certain Henrik Larsson had decided to reverse his recent retirement decision and return to Celtic. Time will tell whether Fortune truly is the answer, but he looked sharp in his short time back on the pitch.
The game had been won by the time he arrived, with Celtic sent on their way by a fine McGeady goal after just 12 minutes. A blot on the winger's copybook came in the second-half in an incident where he tumbled over in the box following the hint of a challenge from James Fowler. While Mowbray's later complaint that not every clash in the penalty area has to end with a definitive decision was valid, there was little question that McGeady had fallen far too easily to the floor. If he is in danger of garnering a reputation for this, then much of it is his own doing.
Samaras all but sealed the game with a powerful header, but again, perhaps appropriately on Halloween, seemed torn in an eternal struggle between good and bad. Although he was handed the official man of the match award, he took the wrong option more times than the right one, and lost possession carelessly. In fairness, though, he could never be accused of hiding.
Another plus was the performance of McGinn, who stepped in from nowhere to score the game's decisive third goal with 13 minutes left. Having not been listed among the published list of substitutes – a result, apparently, of an administrative error – the player showed how effective a direct run at goal can prove. Although McCourt's artistry had been pleasing on the eye, McGinn's burst through the defence, having been played in by the impressive Andreas Hinkel, resulted in something tangible for Celtic. It will also linger long in the memory for McGinn. He scored his first goal for the club in front of his proud parents, who had travelled over from Northern Ireland.
"I grew up supporting Celtic, but I never thought I would become a Celtic player, and now to score in front of the home fans is extra special," he said afterwards.
"It was the first time my parents have been over to see me play for Celtic. They missed my debut against Dundee United in September because they were on holiday, so it was great to score for them and they were delighted.
I have been thinking about my first goal since I joined the club in January and I'm just glad that it was in front of the Celtic fans as well as my parents."
Kilmarnock never looked capable of ruining McGinn's day, though Kevin Kyle missed a glaring chance to make it 2-1 just before the interval and panicked the Celtic defence on several other occasions. Him aside, this was a day best forgotten by Jim Jefferies and his men.
