Ismaila Soro's goal led to questions over Benjamin Siegrist relationship in Celtic dressing room

Ryan Christie has revealed that there was both delight among the Celtic squad for Ismaila Soro over his first goal for the club and mirth at the circumstances that brought it about.

Ismaila Soro's strike in the 3-0 win over Dundee United that Ryan Christie revealed had his team-mates joshing with him. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)

In his fifth start, the Ivorian netted with a curling long-range drive to set Celtic on their way to a 3-0 victory over Dundee United that sends them into Saturday’s pivotal derby at Ibrox following six straight successes. The 25-yard strike beat Benjamin Siegrist in the Dundee United goal despite the keeper seeming to dive in precisely the direction the ball was travelling, which led to questions for the 22-year-old in the Celtic dressing room afterwards.

“A few of the boys were asking if the goalie is his best friend,” said Christie, with tongue-in-cheek. “He caught it well, it popped up nice for him to come off the side of the boot, and it was always curling away from the goalkeeper. A great strike from him and obviously when teams come in and sit deep against you, you need to sometimes have shots from range to pull them out a bit so it’s even better when they fly in.”

Christie knows that feeling well since he has developed a penchant for goals in such fashion. However, he believes he must defer to Soro for now because he hasn’t crafted any outside of victories in the semi-final and final of the Scottish Cup in recent months. “I would have been [proud of Soro’s goal]. Mine these days just fly into the stands so I’ll leave the shooting to him,” he said.

The recent performances of the midfielder, and fellow United scorer David Turnbull - who has netted four times in six recent starts - have proved restorative to a previously ailing side and left Christie in no doubt that both are ready to start an encounter of the magnitude Celtic face in Govan. One they cannot afford to lose with Rangers currently boasting a 16-point lead in the Premiership. “They are absolutely ready, I don’t see why they wouldn’t be,” Christie said. “They couldn’t be in a better run of form, are full of confidence. With David also getting his goal against United and scoring recently, and there is no better way to be going into such a big game.”

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