GORDON SALUTES HIS DEFENCE

CRAIG GORDON hailed the Celtic defence for helping him to an eighth successive domestic appearance without conceding a goal in the 3-0 win over Inverness Caley Thistle.

The Scotland international keeper has not lost a goal to Scottish opposition since St Johnstone scored two goals in a 4-2 defeat against the Hoops in Perth on August 20.

Gordon kept out Alloa in the team’s 2-0 Betfred League Cup quarter-final three days before he replaced the injured Dorus de Vries at half-time in the 6-1 romp against Kilmarnock on September 21.

The Dutchman received an injury trying to prevent the Killie goal before Gordon took over the No.1 position.

Since then, he has had shut-outs against Dundee (1-0), Motherwell (2-0), Sevco Rangers (1-0), Ross County (4-0) and Aberdeen (1-0) as well as the Highlanders on Saturday.

He has now gone seven-and-a-half games without being required to pick the ball from the back of the net in Premiership and League Cup action.

And the popular 33-year-old shotstopper believes his fellow-defenders have contributed massively to the fact he has gone so long without losing a goal on the domestic front.

He said: “It is a great record. However, it is not just me, but the guys in front of me who have been doing so well to limit chances and we done that again at the weekend, We were in control against Inverness and ran out worthy winners.”

Gordon will head tonight to join Gordon Strachan’s Scotland squad for Friday’s make-or-break World Cup qualifier against England at Wembley. 

But his international place looked in jeopardy when Brendan Rodgers paid Nottingham Forest £400,000 for his ex-Swansea keeper De Vries and handed him a quickfire debut in the 4-1 victory over Aberdeen on August 27.

The Irishman’s belief in building from the back with the goalie playing a significant role with his distribution appeared to count against Gordon who had been the regular No.1 for two years under former boss Ronny Deila.

Gordon added: “I have adapted quite well. We have managed to get out well. We have a few options for me to look for and it is a really enjoyable way for me to set up for the game.

“It keeps me thinking about what is in front of me and I am putting the ball into the areas the players need.”