CRAIG GORDON goes into tonight’s Premiership game against Ross County in Dingwall looking to preserve his recent excellent record.
The restored goalkeeper hasn’t lost a goal in domestic football for a remarkable 315 minutes since taking over as the Celtic No.1 from Dorus de Vries.
The Dutchman signed for his former Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers from Nottingham Forest in August, but failed to impress during his five-and-a-half match run in the first team following his debut in the 4-1 win over Aberdeen.
De Vries, looked at fault when Celtic conceded two goals at Inverness and dropped points for the only time this season before he conceded a goal to a 40-yard effort against Kilmarnock the next week at Celtic Park. An apparent chest injury forced his replacement at half-time in that match. Gordon came off the subs’ bench and hasn’t conceded a goal in home competition since.
The international shotstopper is still getting used to what Rodgers is looking for in his last line of defence with distribution a key factor.
Gordon, 33, said: “Now I know as he went into it in great detail. It wasn’t something we did straight away, but, certainly over the last wee while, the manager has wanted to get a lot of information into the team.
“And, as we’ve developed as a team, we have gone and worked on a lot more.
“Once I got to see exactly how it was working, I felt a lot more comfortable in being able to do it myself and execute what he wants me to do.”
The Hoops gaffer was clearly impressed with his keeper at Hampden on Sunday and said admiringly: “He played with a real calmness.”
Those complimentary words suggest Gordon is now very much first pick again, but that is not how he sees it.
He added: “It doesn’t really matter. It’s about staying in the team and doing what the manager wants me to do.
“When you are in possession of the gloves or the shirt you want to hang on to it. That’s three domestic clean sheets in a row now, so it’s been pretty good.”We’re starting to form partnerships. It’s been something we’ve been working on for a long time, but it does take time. We feel as though we’re getting there with the positions we’re looking to get in to build attacks.
“That’s something that’s been quite enjoyable to get to know.”
Meanwhile there’s still time to take advantage of CQN’s great offer on the new Andy Lynch book, Hoops Stars and Stripes.
Order today and you will receive a signed copy plus a FREE copy of The Quality Street Gang which was written by Andy co-author Paul Dykes. Both books are signed and both can be yours for only £14.99 plus p&p from www.cqnbookstore.com
Stocks of the QSG book are limited so this promotion will end when we have none left.
