Celtic 4 - Inverness Caley Thistle 2: Bhoys put on a show for newboy Scott Allan

Leigh Griffiths celebrates his goal for Celtic

SCOTT ALLAN was given a goalscoring treat from his new Celtic team-mates as he checked into Parkhead.

 

But while the new Bhoy sat smiling in the stand at the 4-2 win, perhaps there will now be a nagging worry behind the grin – how will he find a slot in the Hoops all-powerful midfield?

Perhaps if Allan could play in defence he’d be immediately into the team. 

Once again Celtic shipped two sloppy goals with Dedryck Boyata culpable as Ryan Christie and Dani Lopez netted. 

These lapses in concentration cannot be repeated against Malmo in midweek, but at least Ronny Deila has his team looking good going forward.

Before the late wobble, skipper Scott Brown inspired the Bhoys to a deserved win ahead of the Champions League play-off clash with the Swedes.

Goals from Mikael Lustig, Leigh Griffiths and a Stuart Armstrong double put the Bhoys on Easy Street before they dozed off and allowed Caley Thistle to save face with late strikes.

It’s open for debate as to whether or not Inverness would have done better had Gary Warren and Josh Meekings been available.

But those two wily campaigners would surely not have allowed the defence to be so deep in the box when Johansen prepared to swing in a free-kick from the right.

As the ball was whipped in towards the six-yard box, Caley Thistle keeper Owain Fon Williams stood no chance as Lustig got a run on his marker and flicked home his first goal of the campaign.

By the 12th minute Celtic were two ahead. Nir Bitton showed great footwork on the left and from his cross Griffiths pounced.

The striker timed his jump perfectly at the back post to nod the ball down and up into the net. Questions will be asked about Danny Devine’s leap and keeper Williams’ attempt at the save.

 

But there’s no denying the quality of the build-up play and the spring from Griffiths deserved a goal.

Now Caley Thistle were in danger of caving in. Ross Draper was booked for a crude hack on Brown and Carl Tremarco was also cautioned.

Johansen came within inches of a third goal in 24 minutes but his shot rattled off the bar.

Armstrong drilled in a follow-up shot only to see the ball hoofed off the line by Draper.

Griffiths had a couple of sights at goal – one cutting in from the right ended with a shot fizzing over the bar.

Then – from Emilio Izaguirre’s diagonal pass – the striker took a brilliant first touch but was denied by a block from Williams.

Craig Gordon was a virtual spectator although he did look lively to tip over a shot from Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo just before the half-time whistle.

Normal service resumed for Celtic after the break with Armstrong finding his shooting boots.

First he latched onto a clever pass from Griffiths before rifling home a shot from a tight angle 18 yards from goal.

Then he lashed home his second and Celtic’s fourth of the game in 69 minutes with a driving run into the box and a clinical low shot at goal.

By this point Celtic had already whipped off Brown and Lustig with the Malmo game in mind.

Caley Thistle did come good late on as Christie coolly finished following a Boyata blunder. Then, when the Belgian tried to dribble clear, Lopez cashed in to beat Gordon from 20 yards.

The message about switching off for Europe will now be hammered home.