Celtic 2 - 0 Inverness CT: Celts make case for (new) defence

SOMETIMES the result is all that matters, sometimes it can mask ills. Sometimes it matters a lot but cannot hide underlying problems. Yesterday Celtic got the three points they wanted to stay within four points of Rangers but they couldn’t disguise all of Celtic’s woes.

It was like a cruel tease. A kind of Jim Bowen-esque “this is what you used to have”. There in the dug-out stood Johan Mjallby, the epitome of the type of centre-back Celtic are desperately in need of, while out on the pitch the uncertain, heartstopping partnership of Glenn Loovens and Daniel Majstorovic hammed their way through proceedings displaying the kind of casualness the Udinese representatives in the stands will be delighted to report back.

They are the Europa League opponents on Thursday night and heaven help the home fans if the same central backs make the starting line-up. For all Celtic posted a comfortable win in this one and a clean sheet, the scoreline shouldn’t be allowed to disguise the very obvious frailties which still exist in the heart of the rearguard. Inverness, sitting bottom of the SPL, almost exposed them on a few occasions, players far more gifted will undoubtedly prove more grateful.

“They made a nervy start and let the balls bounce and weren’t getting to the ball first,” said Celtic manager Neil Lennon, who admitted it had been a far from vintage performance. “I thought they improved as the game went on but against better teams and better opposition we would have been punished. We need to brush up on that. We started off nervy but once we got a foothold in the game we were better.”

From the first few minutes when long balls forward caused panic, to the second half where easy balls in behind were treated with a dangerous level of indifference, drawing gasps and heckling from the anxious support, the need for another defensive rejig ahead of Thursday was desperate, the desire for improvements in that department come January apparent to all. The fans, like Lennon, know only too well that it is an issue which has dogged the club for a few years and it still hasn’t been resolved. It will need to be if the manager hopes to win his first title come May. And he does. Desperately.

“I think we are looking to bring players in regardless of the injuries. I think Emilio [Izaguirre] should be fit and Cha and Kelvin Wilson should be fit by then. But there are a couple of players coming out of contract at the end of the season and they will need replacing.”

Wilson has been ruled out for eighth to ten weeks after a scan revealed a tear in his Achilles tendon. But in the meantime the reappearance of Charlie Mulgrew is expected on Thursday. Thomas Rogne is also close to contention, while the knock picked up by striker Gary Hooper yesterday should not rule him out of the European fixture.

They went into this one seven points behind their rivals, who had built on the Old Firm win of last weekend, bouncing back from the League Cup shock to cruise to a 4-0 victory over Dunfermline in the day’s early kick-off and capable of going 13 points clear by next Sunday if Celtic didn’t better Inverness. It meant there was no real room for mishaps. Inverness offered a few scares early on and there were one or two wee breaks in the second half to test the Parkhead nerves. By then the home side were two goals up but even had Richie Foran’s 80th minute header gone in, matters could have ended differently. Fraser Forster, who had looked uncomfortable behind the defence, finally proved his worth, though, producing a great save to keep his clean sheet.

On days like yesterday the men strung across midfield and bustling up front should always be good enough to mask the deficiencies behind them. In a performance which never soared anywhere close to the scintillating style they produced in their last home match against Motherwell, the midfield ensured that the points would stay at Celtic Park. Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager Terry Butcher was dismayed that the first goal came from his side’s throw in, the second from a break from their corner kick. But both were well executed and necessary given the early nuisance Gregory Tade was making of himself hustling the Celtic defence.

Joe Ledley got the first in the 28th minute. The Welshman, who had missed the Old Firm game, marked his return to SPL duty with a lovely strike, capitalising on a delightful Beram Kayal pass infield.

The next came five minutes later and this time it was Ki Sung-yueng who was the provider, picking up a loose ball down the right flank and playing it into the path of James Forrest, who found the net.

Lennon said: “They were two great goals and I was very pleased with the two individuals and their performances today. I was hoping Stokes would have scored with his chance just after half time as that would have rounded off a brilliant individual run from James as well, but without being brilliant it was a very good result.”

That Stokes opening came in the 51st minute but was blasted over, leaving Celtic unable to plump up the two goal cushion. Butcher’s men had played their part, but spared Celtic a nerve-jangling finale.