Celtic have scored 48 goals in their first 14 league games, having hit the back of the net at least four times in six of those outings. On four occasions, however, they have managed to win by a single goal, most recently on Wednesday night when Ange Postecoglou’s side eked out a 2-1 success away to Motherwell.
It was far from a vintage display, but maintained their seven-point lead over Rangers and demonstrated once again that this team have more than one club in their bag.
“I don’t think it was our best performance of the season or in the past few games, but we stayed in it, never let the result get away from us, and it was a positive win in the end. A great three points,” enthused David Turnbull, the midfielder returning to his old patch.
“Teams are going to throw everything at us, so it’s about grinding out results when you are not playing well. That’s the sign of a good team I think, and we are doing well at the moment. It’s just about continuing the run.
“I don’t think you can go through a full season without teams testing you and challenging you. You get a new challenge every week, and coming back here we knew what we were going to face after playing them a few weeks ago [a 4-0 win in the Premier Sports Cup]. They put up a great fight, and as the manager said, it is about grinding through these games and getting a positive result.”
Turnbull only came off the bench for the final 21 minutes, but delivered what proved to be a key moment, his sumptuous through ball teeing up Daizen Maeda for the sort of clinical finish which has often eluded the Japanese attacker in recent times. That goal put Celtic 2-0 up after 84 minutes, but Ross Tierney’s counter moments later set up a frantic finish.
The champions saw it out to maintain a convincing start to the season in which the September defeat by St Mirren is the only blip, their domestic form holding strong amid a disappointing Champions League campaign.
“There were runners either side so it was about picking the right one,” Turnbull said of his assist. “Thankfully I did that, and it was a great finish from Daizen. It was tough to take in some of the midweek games. We performed well I think, but going into the weekend we took it game by game and didn’t let it affect us. It’s about not getting too down and continuing our run.
“I don’t think many of the boys are tired to be honest. When you are playing these games thick and fast you feel more fit, the more games that come the fitter you get, so boys were thriving off it and getting fitter every game. It’s been good for everybody.
“We’ve not looked at the table too much, in fact I don’t think we’ll look at it all until the end of the season, that’s when it matters. It’s just about knuckling down and getting the results we have been getting so far.”
A consistently standout performer has been Cameron Carter-Vickers, the centre back whose returns this week saw him win a place in the USA World Cup squad. The 24-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur defender has also been influential in a leadership capacity, deputising for Callum McGregor in the regular captain’s injury absence.
“I’m delighted for him. I thought he would have been picked; he’s been a mainstay in our team,” Turnbull said. “You see how well he has done, and since he has had the captain’s armband I think he has taken it to another level. He’s a rock at the back, and hopefully he can go there and make a good impact. We’ve got a lot of big characters in the changing room when Cal’s not there. He’s still chipping in with wee bits before games and after games, but Cameron has done brilliant to step in.
“Cal is maybe a wee bit more vocal before games or whatever, but sometimes it’s not about that. The way he carries himself on the pitch is an example to everyone else.”
Turnbull is sanguine about his own international ambitions having been temporarily put on hold by Celtic’s decision not to release players for the Scotland friendly in Turkey next week. Instead, a full squad, minus those at the World Cup, will travel to Sydney for a friendly tournament. “It’s a big thing for the club. It’s been in the pipeline for a few months now and I’m sure everybody is looking forward to it. It will be a good trip,” Turnbull said.
