Counter-attack is the way tonight, Steve Clarke

These days are often tense, but I doubt you or I are too stressed right now.  If we went 0-2 up tonight, my overriding emotion is likely to be annoyance that we were presented with a flicker of hope, before it is inevitably dashed.  Celtic will go out of Europe tonight, of that, there is no doubt.

Having accepted this, there is still plenty for us to gain from Valencia.  We need to learn how to play against better teams.  We will not always win against them, but losing 5, 6 or 7 goals is unnecessary at any level.  Drubbings like this can be prevented by being more defensively aware.

With Forrest, Sinclair, Burke, Weah and Edouard, we have all the ingredients necessary to be a polished counter-attacking team.  Let’s defend our box and see what happens.

I feel for Steve Clarke, the Kilmarnock manager who was clearly upset and humiliated by sectarian abuse thrown his way at Ibrox last night.  After the game, he reflected that it was a bonus his children and grandchildren did not have to live in this environment.

Steve left a different Scotland for London in 1987.  For what it’s worth, I think this form of sectarianism is less prevalent than it was in the 80s.  It remains in pockets, but huge swathes of the country have no affinity with it and are embarrassed by it.  I do not encounter it in my professional life and it is never directed to me in my personal life, although I hear it on the streets in the evening.