GRIFFITHS: ‘LAY OFF THE BOOS’

LEIGH GRIFFITHS has made an urgent pleas for the Celtic fans to lay off the boos.

The Hoops players came under fire from of a section of the support as they were humiliated 3-1 by an average Molde side in Norway on Thursday.

It was a nightmarish Europa League encounter that was dominated by the angry clash between Kris Commons and the Celtic backroom team after the player reacted furiously to being substituted with 14 minutes remaining.

There was strong support who shared the the midfielder’s anger at being removed by boss Ronny Deila. Commons, at least, was putting in a shift and was the scorer of the team’s solitary goal.

Deila and a number of players, including his fellow-Norwegian Stefan Johansen, were on the receiving end of some verbal abuse from the travelling support enraged by the paltry efforts from the team against a side that is ranked seventh in their national league.

Griffiths said: “I can understand it. They have paid good money to come and watch us and we didn’t perform.

“They have got to express their frustration, but I don’t think it was the best of times, especially how close they were from the bus to the entrance to the ground.

“Some of the criticism they gave us was a bit over the top. Just the way they were shouting at the boys. The boys are already hurting from getting beat. We don’t need fans shouting and bawling at us from two or three yards away.

“It doesn’t make it any easier for us.

“I put my headphones on. We got told there were fans outside giving us a bit so I just put my headphones on and tried not to listen to anyone. But when you are on the bus you can hear what the fans are saying and I think the stick the manager got was a bit unfair.”

And the player has insisted that the dressing room remains behind the beleaguered boss.

He said: “Of course, it is just one bad result. If we go and beat Dundee United, people will be talking about how well we performed in that game and looking forward.

“It is all about the next game. It is Dundee United next, they will be looking at the Molde game and thinking they can beat us at Parkhead, but we want to get revenge and Dundee United is a good opportunity for us.”

And the striker has also maintained that getting out of the group and making it into the latter stages of the Europa League is not beyond the team, despite picking up a mere two points from a possible nine in their first three games without a win.

He said: “We still have a chance to go through, although it is going to be hard for us. We need to win our next two games at home and then we have to go to Fenerbahce and get something.

“There is always pressure on us to score goals. We win as a team and lose as a team.”

Commons offered a public apology yesterday afternoon for his behaviour and Griffiths was reluctant to reveal exactly what was said within the confines of the dressing room with regards to the matter.

He added: “It is one of those things. Whatever was said behind closed doors stays there. Kris made an apology this morning, the boys are down just now, but we will come in tomorrow raring to go and beat Dundee United on Sunday.”