IT WAS another case of rise and shine for Benjamin Nygren as he headed in the crucial winner to get Celtic off to a triumphant start to this season’s Premiership campaign at Parkhead last night.
The Swedish midfielder, the champions’ top scorer with 21 goals in his debut term last time out, was the difference between the sides as visitors Dundee put on a spirited display.
Kieran Tierney had the hosts’ only effort on target in the opening 45 minutes with a rasping left-foot drive which was pushed round the post by Owen Goodman just before the interval.
Seven minutes after the turnaround, Scotland’s title kings put together a good move on the left which saw the Scotland World Cup defender whip over an inviting cross into the box.
HEADSCRATCHER…Martin O’Neill ponders a question. Image courtesy Celtic Player.
Nygren’s timing was immaculate as he raced into space just in front of the exposed keeper to nod superbly in at Goodman’s left-hand side.
The nearest the Hoops came to adding to the scoreline came in the 85th minute when skipper Callum McGregor, neat, composed and in control all evening, surged forward to lash a vicious effort towards goal.
Goodman was left flat-footed and was relieved when the ball thudded against the woodwork and James Forrest blazed the rebound off target.
Reflecting on his side’s performance, Martin O’Neill, speaking to Celtic Player, said: “We won, which is the most important thing.
“I thought we were pretty rusty, although we did create and should have scored a number of goals.
“When you consider the games that we played with high intensity last season, I thought in the first-half we didn’t have that.
HAIL, HAIL…matchwinner Benjamin Nygren accepts the acclaim of the celebrating fans.
“We had to try and force the issue in the second-half, which I think we did and we got the goal.
“Overall, we won. We created a number of chances, but, in all honesty, the win was the most important thing.”
Debut Bhoys Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran will get better with time, but they both showed an eagerness to impress the fans.
The Dane missed three opportunities that he will put away on another night and the Colombian is clearly better suited to an inside role and not stuck on the wing.
Lessons learned – now it’s all eyes on Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Sunday.
IT’S NYGREN BACK IN THE GOAL ROUTINE
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