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GORDON STRACHAN – THAT WAS LIKE A CUP TIE
By The Lone Gunman
After watching Celtic battle back from a one-goal deficit to Motherwell at Fir Park to win 2-1, Gordon Strachan was both delighted and relieved to have emerged victorious, with Celtic opening up an eight-point advantage over the Huns, who have four games in hand in their congested fixture itinerary.
The Celtic Manager had witnessed a dismal first-half display from Celtic, with Motherwell the better side, though the Hoops improved in the second period, but only after Chris Porter's header had opened the scoring for the home side in the 60th minute.
However, Celtic then staged a determined and impressive fight-back immediately after conceding the game's opening goal, Scott McDonald equalising merely seventy seconds later with a header from a Shunsuke Nakamura cross.
It was Skippy's 30th goal of his prolific debut season in the Hoops.
With all three points absolutely vital for Celtic's continuing Championship challenge, Georgios Samaras' point-blank header from a superb Barry Robson corner kick in the 79th minute gave Celtic a 2-1 lead and the Hoops survived an extremely tense final few minutes to record the all-important victory.
Post-match, Gordon Strachan said: “Shunsuke Nakamura was mugged for the first 15 minutes, but then put in a fantastic cross for Scott McDonald to level.”
Gordon Strachan continued: “Either team could have won, but fortunately we got the break of luck.”
Gordon Strachan added: “That takes the pressure off us for a wee while until Rangers play.”
The pressure is indeed now on the Huns who trail Celtic by eight points, with Celtic having two League matches remaining compared to the Huns' six matches, the first of which in their congested fixture list is at Easter Road on Sunday.
Gordon Strachan summarised Celtic's pressure-intensifying win at Fir Park, which was the epitome of ‘ugly wins'.
Gordon Strachan said: “It was like a cup-tie, a nervy game. It had everything you don't want to see in a game of football.”
Gordon Strachan continued: “We played better football when Motherwell beat us 1-0, but no one is interested in that. People are just interested in winning.”
Gordon Strachan added: “But we will continue to try and play football the way it is meant to be played and hopefully win at the same time.”
Two more Celtic wins – against Hibs at Celtic Park next weekend and against Dundee United at Tannadice on the final day of the season – and we'll see if the Huns have the bottle to win five of their remaining six fixtures.
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