| Pleased as he was with the Parkhead performance, however, boss Jim Duffy did accept his team now need to add points to their good football.
It is now two months since the last league victory and, while administration and the loss of 15 players whose contracts were terminated means there are mitigating circumstances, when he travels to Aberdeen on Saturday, the manager will be looking for a return to winning ways.
“Every team goes through a spell where they do not pick up points. We are going through one now and, because of all that has happened, it is understandable, but we still want to be winning again as soon as possible,” said Jim.
“We believe we can, and the way the players have been playing in recent games shows that. On Saturday, I was delighted with everything except the result.
“Celtic have a phenomenal Parkhead record, but we gave them a lot of problems and, with a break in front of goal, we could have taken something.
“Their league position shows how strong Celtic are just now, so we have to be encouraged by how we played, and while the great spirit the boys have been showing was again there, so, too, was a lot of good football.
“However, we are not getting carried away. We did not win and we know that we have to tighten up a bit at the back.”
Today’s training session took place with a depleted squad. Weekend goal hero Mark Fotheringham is in Portugal with the Scotland Under-20 squad and the likes of Tom Hutchinson, Bobby Linn and Dougie Cameron, who saw action in the Under-21s against Celtic yesterday, only did light work.
Also still missing was injured striker Steve Lovell. His damaged knee is responding well to treatment, but, at this stage, he looks to have no chance of being ready for Pittodrie.
At Dundee United, the big injury worry is centre-half Chris Innes, who had to leave the field in the win over Livingston on Saturday because of a groin strain.
“It looks like Chris could be struggling for Partick this Saturday. The defence has been very solid and he has been strong for us since he came here, so it would be a blow if we had to do without him,” said boss Ian McCall.
With Danny Griffin receiving praise for his attitude as he tries to battle back to win a top-team place, he would seem the most likely replacement if Innes does miss out.
After watching the Under-21s lose away to Livingston yesterday, Ian pointed out he does have a few options available to him. “It was one of those bizarre games that our Under-21s seem to be involved in. They should have won about 5-1, but managed to lose 1-0 and I do not know how they do it.
“There were a few good performances, though, and as well as Danny doing quite well, Stuart Duff looked very good. If Chris does not recover there are one or two ways I could go.” |
