‘IT COULD HAVE BEEN EIGHT,’ INSISTS GRIFFITHS

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LEIGH GRIFFITHS reflected on champions Celtic’s rollicking 5-1 runaway success at Ibrox and said: “We could have scored EIGHT!”

The comeback Bhoy, leading the attack in place of hamstring victim Moussa Dembele, scored a scorching second goal as Brendan Rodgers’ team ran amok.

Griffiths lapped up the joyous celebrations with the Hoops fans at the end and said: “It’s a real statement, coming here and playing the way we did.

“For the last 10 minutes, we took our foot off the gas a bit. It was five going on seven or eight, the chances we created.

“We gave Rangers (sic) limited space and played to our maximum.”

The score matched Celtic’s 5-1 win at Parkhead in September and, when asked if this was the most comfortable of the six Glasgow derbies this term, Griffiths replied: “With the way our tactics set up, yes.

“Them playing with a diamond to start with gave us more room on the side and you saw in the first-half how many problems we caused.

“They changed that in the second-half, but we still managed to get on the ball and make things happen.”

Griffiths grabbed his second derby goal in style, rifling home a left-foot finish as he ignored team-mates looking for the pass.

He laughed: “John Kennedy told me I would have got an earful if I’d missed, but I said to him: ‘You saw me do that yesterday!’ There was no way I was passing up that opportunity. 

“And a couple of inches lower with the one that hit the bar just after that and it’s in the net.

“But it’s not just about my performance or my goal, it’s about the whole team’s performance. We were very professional.”

Griffiths, who claimed his 15th strike of the season in the humbling of Pedro Ciaxinha’s team, added: “This was better than the last 5-1 because I wasn’t involved in the first one.

“To be involved in a win like this is massive. We know that if we play to our maximum then no-one can live with us.

“The celebrations felt amazing. I have come here and scored. There was the derby on New Year’s Eve, but unfortunately I didn’t get on the pitch.

“So to be a part of this was massive. I’ve had injury problems, but I’m fully fit now and it is my chance to step up and score.”

We have 3 XXL Jock Stein / Lisbon 1967 t-shirts  remaining at www.cqnbookstore.com where you can also order your copy of IN THE HEAT OF LISBON. 

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