Celtic star Greg Taylor was keen to highlight the positives from Celtic’s 2-1 win over Motherwell at Celtic Park yesterday, but also insisted that his side can play significantly better than they showed against the Steelmen.
Though Ange Postecoglou’s side were much the better team than their Lanarkshire opponents and thoroughly merited the three points on the balance of chances created, it was an oft-edgy ninety minutes courtesy of Josip Juranovic’s own-goal before half-time that brought Steven Hammell’s Well level.
Reo Hatate scored Celtic’ eventual winner will a long-range stunner, and Taylor was glad to see his side show their grit to hold out after the Japan international’s goal to seal a crucial three points.
Speaking to Celtic TV, he said: “I think we had chances, certainly in the first-half we created good moments, but when you’re only 1-0 up and you don’t manage to get the second then that can happen.
“It was a good goal from Reo to put us into the lead and thankfully we managed to hold out from there.
“It was good in spells but we got a wee bit scrappy at points in the game, probably their goal sums up the point I’m talking about but the boys hung in well and it’s an important three points.”
With games coming thick and fast before the Scottish Premiership breaks for the World Cup, the left-back stated that that his side are capable of showing more than they did against Motherwell.
He said: “We have an important spell in a short period of time now, there’s a lot of games. It’s just about rest and recovery and that’s what we’ll we do but thankfully we got the three points but we know we can be a lot better than that today.”
Important victory going into fixture-dense period for Celtic
Whilst it didn’t show Celtic at their free-flowing best, yesterday was a critical three points for the champions to regain their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
With three of the next four league games away from home, including tough-looking visits to Hearts and Livingston, a reaction to defeat in Paisley last time out was a necessity, and on that front, Celtic delivered.
Postecoglou’s side will be anxious to cut out the individual errors that have led to opposition goals in recent weeks, with most of Celtic’s goals against so far this season – the Real Madrid game aside – being largely self-inflicted rather than as the result of sublime play from their opponents.
The Hoops will need to be on their toes in their next game away to RB Leipzig in the Champions League, as they look to put clear daylight between themselves and their Bundesliga Group F rivals.
In other news: Greg Taylor, Kyogo and Ben Siegrist steal the show as Celtic post hilarious FIFA content
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