Celtic looking good in Champions League

Goals from Kris Commons and Giorgios Samaras last night gave Celtic a two goal advantage against Helsingborgs in the Champions League play off.

The Scottish Champions got off to the best possible start when they scored in the opening two minutes. They benefitted from pressing high up the pitch with Samaras winning the ball on the left before crossing from the left to the back post for Commons to score.

This seemed to put Helsingborgs on the back foot but they recovered and Celtic had to rely on keeper Fraser Forster to keep them in the game. He made a string of fine saves, with the Celtic defence looking a bit ropey at times.

As it looked as though Celtic would be pegged back they scored a second with Samaras being the scorer this time. The big Greek could’ve made it three in the dying stages, he chose to shoot when a square ball to Commons could’ve set up for a tap in.

Despite Neil Lennon’s assertion the game is not over yet it would be a bit of a disaster if they failed to make the Group Stages from this position.

I am sure he will also know if he goes into the group stages with this central defensive partnership they will suffer a few heavy defeats when they come up against higher quality sides.

On the plus side Fraser Forster looks to have matured as a goal keeper and surely must now be pushing for a place in the nextEnglandsquad, although the snooty attitude of the English towards the SPL could hold him back.

As a side note, while Celtic were virtually securing their place in the Champions League group stages Rangers were celebrating a 1-0 victory overFalkirkin the Ramsdens Cup. Is this what they are putting an expensive squad together for??