Sport

Strachan hits back at Celtic's critics

SCOTTISH SOCCER: CELTIC MANAGER Gordon Strachan hit back at the club's critics after his side eventually found their goal touch…

Mon Apr 14 2008 - 01:00

SCOTTISH SOCCER:CELTIC MANAGER Gordon Strachan hit back at the club's critics after his side eventually found their goal touch in the 4-1 Scottish Premier League win over Motherwell at Fir Park yesterday.

Strachan had stressed the only thing missing from his side's play in recent weeks was goals and was rewarded for his patience when his side chalked up a convincing win in Lanarkshire to set them up for Wednesday's Old Firm clash at Celtic Park.

Victory closed the gap to leaders Rangers to four points, and although the Ibrox side have two games in hand, the champions have the chance to put the pressure on with a win at Celtic Park in midweek.

The Celtic boss could not resist having a dig at media and disgruntled Celtic fans, whose criticism reached a peak after last week's 1-0 home defeat by Motherwell.

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"Someone said that (today) was a great performance. I had to remind them it was a totally committed performance, which was fantastic, and we finished," said Strachan. "That just shows you what goals can do. It can turn a fully committed - and I'm delighted with the commitment - into a great performance.

"I know you don't like it, but you'll have to put up with it. I can show you we had far more chances last week and played far better football. Their goalie had more saves, but we didn't score.

"I've no idea if the players were stung by criticism. It doesn't come up in my conversation. It's not worth my while. Who is criticising them? Is it worth listening to? I'd never use that for them. They are more intelligent than that."

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink silenced the critics that have been on his back in recent months by grabbing a double in an impressive performance. Stephen McManus and Scott McDonald also notched for the visitors with Motherwell's consolation coming when McManus helped a Ross McCormack shot into his own net.

Rangers dumped Partick Thistle out of the Scottish Cup. Goals from Nacho Novo and Chris Burke saw the Ibrox club safely through the quarter-final replay at Firhill into a last-four meeting with St Johnstone, with both teams bidding to meet Queen of the South in the final.

On Saturday, Queen of the South reached the final for the first time with a dramatic 4-3 victory over Aberdeen at Hampden Park.