Nomme Kalju on remarkable run of tight games

Nomme Kalju are 20 games into the Estonian league campaign, which they were in contention to retain until recently.  Their unexpected win in Macedonia in the last round of Champions League qualification was the only victory in their last five outings, a run of results which sees them sitting 12 points off the pace domestically.

One of the remarkable aspects of their results is their inability to win or lose games convincingly.  In the last three months, 18 or their 19 games have been settled by a single goal, or drawn.  Their three cup games in that period all went to extra time.

The overwhelming takeaway from reading their form is that this team are involved in tight battles for 90 minutes in virtually every game.  Even the last game they lost by more than a single goal, a 0-3 defeat, was level on 81 minutes.

I expect Celtic to get the better of proceedings tonight, but we need to finish the game strongly.  Nomme will be fitter than we are and used to playing to the final whistle.