Inverness CT 1-3 Celtic: Carlton Cole forces untidy own goal on his debut as champions recover from Europa League hangover

It was a day for lifting Celtic strikers up from their knees. Spiritually in the case of Leigh Griffiths. Literally where Carlton Cole was concerned.

In the aftermath of the Europa League loss to Ajax, top scorer Griffiths took to Twitter to indulge in some self flaggelation, apologising profusely for his finishing. Slamming Celtic back into the lead following a spirited hour from Inverness, redemption was quick to arrive.

The champions sealed the points with a decisive third goal in 85 minutes and there was a half-hearted attempt to claim it for Carlton Cole, the debutant substitute. Nobody was buying it, possibly not even the man himself. 

Carlton Cole (2nd left) is caught in a scramble in the box, which led to an own goal from Danny Devine

Cole was involved in a bizarre goal that saw Devine deflect the ball into his own net for Celtic

Former Chelsea and West Ham striker Cole was making his debut for the Scottish champions

MATCH FACTS AND TABLE

 

Inverness CT: Fon Williams, Meekings, Warren, Devine, Williams, Tansey, Draper, Polworth, Vincent, Vigurs, Storey

Subs: Sho-Silva, Esson, Raven, Wedderburn, Horner, Mbuyi-Mutombo

Goals: Storey (39)

Celtic: Gordon, Lustig, Simunovic, Boyata, Tierney, Johansen, Bitton, Armstrong, Rogic, McGregor, Griffiths

Subs: Izaguirre, Ambrose, Ciftci, Mackay-Steven, Allan, Cole, Bailly

Goals: McGregor (7), Griffiths (59), Devine OG (85)

Bookings: Bitton 

Referee: Willie Collum (Scotland)

 

‘It would be hard to stop Carlton from claiming that goal,’ claimed Calum McGregor, scorer of the first after eight minutes.

‘The boys were all delighted for Carlton because he’s a lovely big guy.

‘Even without playing, he’s been a massive help to the boys in his short spell here.’

Perhaps so. But the ball still came off the boot of Inverness defender Danny Devine last after Cole fell on his backside trying to turn it in from eight yards. Embarrassment, as much as pain, forced his teammates to haul the striker back to his feet nursing a seriously bruised ego.

Seven points clear Celtic can laugh now but this was a game which followed a mildly familiar pattern. A barnstorming start, an early goal, then a wobble.

The renaissance of McGregor continued apace when the midfielder, preferred to the likes of Scott Allan – and Anthony Stokes – was allowed all the time in the world to run at the Inverness defence in the eighth minute.

He produced a top drawer finish, smashing the ball low past Owain Fon Williams into the bottom left hand corner from 20 yards. 

But credit Inverness. Like so many of Celtic’s opponents they saw the vulnerabilities. The Scottish Cup holders played their way back into the game strongly and, but for a fine Celtic second changing the game, they might have taken a point.

They could have been level within two minutes. Gary Warren’s thudding effort was blocked by the chest of Craig Gordon in front of the travelling support who had defied arctic conditions just to get there.

Days like this pose questions of the sanity of people who follow Scottish football as much as the people who organise it. 

Hoops midfielder Callum McGregor retained his place to  score the visitors' first goal

Celtic opened up a seven point lead over Aberdeen following a 3-1 victory against Inverness CT

Inverness forward Miles Storey (right) celebrates after opening the scoring for the hosts

Blizzards on the A9 made the 200 mile journey north from Glasgow a hazardous, slow, slippery affair. The trip home was little better. Inverness itself was fine, the the game after a 7.30 morning inspection.

The home team were glad it was when they claimed their equaliser in 40 minutes. It came from slackness by Stuart Armstrong in his own half, the Celtic midfielder losing possession to Liam Polworth. 

A through ball for Miles Storey was promising, but not calamitous for Celtic, until the on-loan Swindon striker muscled his way past Dedryck Boyata.

Jozo Simunovic managed to get a sliding tackle in to knock the ball towards Gordon but the keeper’s block couldn’t prevent Storey from collecting the loose ball and calmly taking his time before sliding his seventh goal in 13 games into the unguarded net.

The second half was a slightly different story.

Celtic needed more urgency, more tempo. By and large they found it and the introduction of Allan for Armstrong in 55 minutes was a significant factor.

Anthony Stokes (centre) takes his place in the stands ahead of Celtic's clash with Inverness

Stokes took to Twitter to vent his anger at being left out of Celtic's 18-man squad

The former Hibs man was largely forgiven his Ajax late faux pas for one reason. With him in the team Celtic are better and the words of Deila afterwards suggest he has taken his chance after a slow opening to life in Glasgow. 

‘Scott was a big, big player at Hibs. He knows it was a big step for him to come to Celtic,’ the manager said. ‘He knew that he had to be patient and work hard and he has never ever said something to me that he needs to play. He just keeps on working in training. Then he gets the chance in the end. Now his fitness is very good. He will get games, like he did today.’

Allan was instrumental in the Parkhead side reclaiming the lead on the hour, but the bulk of the credit must go, once more, to young Kieran Tierney. 

The teenage full-back is both calm in defence and dangerous in attack. He collected an Allan pass at the byeline before hooking a perfect low ball across the face of goal for Griffiths to ram home from close range for his 19th goal of the season.

‘Leigh has been brilliant this season,’ said Deila. ‘He scores almost every game. Yes, he had some chances against Ajax but every striker misses some chances. He worked hard, he has a good attitude and that is really what you can expect from every player every time. Ups and downs in performance will happen, but again he has bounced back today and I am happy for him.’

With the breathing space of a second goal Deila introduced the lesser spotted Cole for his substitute debut.

Leigh Griffiths celebrates having put his side back in front as the champions took control

Celtic manager Ronny Deila (2nd right) has blasted Stokes' behaviour as 'disrespectful to his team-mates'

The former West Ham veteran has a bit to go yet. A clipped McGregor cross gave him his first touch of the ball in 65 minutes, a downward header bouncing down before Fon Williams tipped it over the bar. But Celtic, now, looked more like it. 

Inverness, an oddly inconsistent outfit this term, were not done yet. Stefan Johansen had to hook a dangerous corner off the line.

But the champions secured the points in the dying minutes with a mildly bizarre, effort. A ferociously struck Griffiths shot from the edge of the box was parried by Fon Williams, the ball falling to Cole eight yards out.

A fit Cole would have buried it. A rusty, gameless Cole half connected, fell on his backside then watched as the ball came off Devine for an own goal.

‘He needs time,’ said Deila. ‘He hasn’t played since May. He had one game against Livingston. He has been training more now, but there is a lot more to come from Carlton.’