Alistair Johnston giddy to taste Celtic Champions League magic for himself as he predicts 'it's going to be emotional'

Johnston has only been told what Celtic Park is like on the big Euro nights and he can't wait to get a taste for it for himself.

Alistair Johnston is convinced Celtic can get their Champions League campaign back on track at Parkhead.

The Hoops have back-to-back home clashes in Group E with Lazio and then Atletico Madrid heading to Glasgow after Brendan Rodgers’s side fell to defeat to Feyenoord in their opening encounter. Johnston insisted there were enough positive signs in Rotterdam to believe Celts can make their mark in the section. And he reckons the fan power at Celtic Park can fuel their fightback. Johnston said: “Yes, you can see again what an advantage playing at home is. That crowd (in Holland) was amazing from the moment we stepped out for the warm ups.

"I’ve only been told, I haven’t seen it yet, what Celtic Park’s like on the big Euro nights. It can be intimidating for teams coming to that place. It’s going to be emotional. You’re not just playing against 11 at that point, you’re playing against 60,000 as well. So we’ve got to use that energy with us to really kind of buoy us to that next level of performance.”

Celtic contributed to their own downfall against Feyenoord after holding their own in the first half. A cheap opening goal was followed by a second half collapse when Gustaf Lagerbielke and Odin Thiago Holm were sent off in the space of five crazy minutes.

The Dutch champs make the advantage could and Celtic were left counting the cost. Johnston said: “I do think when we had 11 men on the pitch, I think we probably had the better chances. Of course, they were at home and dictated the game, but we had the better chances in the first half before that free-kick went in at the end.

“Other than that, it felt like we were creating some things, although it wasn’t the Celtic you’re used to with free-flowing football and creating chances every couple of minutes. But it still felt like it was one of those ones where you want to be in Europe, on the road.

“You want to be in these matches where you’re striking distance away. One half chance away from nicking something. So I do think there’s something to take away and we’re excited to play at home, for sure.”

Johnston refused to point the finger at the red card blunder Bhoys – or lay any blame at the door of Joe Hart, despite the keeper admitting he was disappointed not to keep put the free kick opener.

Johnston said: “I think that’s what the Champions League is all about. You’re playing against teams that have quality all over the pitch and any little mistakes, mental errors and things like that an inexperienced group can make, are punished.

“I’m not necessarily saying we’re inexperienced, but we do have a lot of players who were making their Champions League debuts, myself included. The only guy who’s got a ton of them is probably Joe Hart. I think again he played a really good game.

“He made a couple of big saves for us which is what we needed, it helped us stay in it. We were actually in that game. But obviously once you go down to 10 and then to nine away from home you’re asking a lot from yourselves.

“Leading up to that there were definitely some positives for us to take. But at the same time it was definitely a learning curve. I do feel deep down we were able to walk away feeling that we can compete with these teams if we keep 11 players on the pitch.”