Match Pictures | Matches: 2020 – 2021
Trivia
- UEFA Cup / Europa League Group H – Game 6
- Final group game, already out of the competition. Celtic bottom of the group regardless of this result. Disastrous ‘campaign’ in Europe.
- Celtic went into this game with a draw and five defeats before it in a row!
- Ex-Celt Timo Weah scores against Celtic tonight, and he spoke very well of Celtic in the post-match interview. He also didn’t overcelebrate his goal, saying he was showing his respect to the club. It was his first goal in his first start for Lille.
- David Turnbull scores his debut goal, and Soro was excellent in the match too, with good words for Henderson too. Have they played into a starting role going forward too?
- Lille have only lost once this season, so a surprising win for Celtic.
- Two days before this game, Celtic release a statement giving further backup to Lennon. The support is angered, across the board the support wants change, and it’s creating friction between board & fans.
- Banners from supporters such as “Sack The Board” etc hung around outside the ground.
- Happy Hanukah to Celtic player Nir Bitton and all others of the Jewish faith on this day.
- Willie Young former Aberdeen and Arsenal legend lost his battle with Alzheimer’s, RIP.
Italian football legend Paolo Rossi dies aged 64, best remembered by fans for his performance at 1982 World Cup where he was the top scorer and eliminated Brazil from the competition with a memorable hat-trick. RIP
- Rugby World Cup winner Steve Thompson and seven other former players claim the sport has left them with permanent brain damage – and are in the process of starting a claim against the game’s authorities for negligence. Could have implications for football too.
- Paris St-Germain’s Champions League game against Istanbul Basaksehir postponed till next day after it was abandoned on Tuesday with a match official accused of using a racist term towards one of the away side’s backroom staff. Istanbul allege fourth official Sebastian Coltescu used the language towards their assistant coach Pierre Webo.
- Report:
- Hatem Abd Elhamed looks to be heading for the Celtic exit; could leave the champions in next month’s transfer window to be reunited with his family in his homeland.
- Interest in Jeremie Frimpong with Southampton and a number of English Championship clubs understood to be monitoring his situation.
- What happened to the teams who beat Celtic in Champions League qualifiers: 2018/19: AEK – Finished bottom of group on 0 pts; 2019/20: Cluj – Eliminated in Play-off round by team who finished bottom of group with 2 pts; 2020/21: Ferencvaros – Finished bottom of group with 1 pt.
- Covid:
- Turnbull having recovered from Covid played a blinder in this match. All are happy.
- Falkirk to drop a tier, good news. Everywhere else no change in Scotland, although some hospitality can reopen again and so on.
- First vaccine given out in the UK.
- London possibly to go into lockdown
Summary
French media: Les Progres described Celtic as a “team much more inspired than its last place in the group might suggest”, while La Voix Des Sports read: “… against an opponent who had nothing more than his honour to save in the Europa League. But Celtic have pride.”
(TG67 on twitter)
After tonight’s performance I wonder if Neil Lennon feels the same way I did the day I was locked out my house for 5 hours only to find my keys in my inside pocket.
(JBC of TCW)
Thankfully Celtic have ended the barren streak of results, just in time for the upcoming postponed Scottish Cup final.
Big positives is overnight sensation Turnbull, and great performances by Soro, Klimala and Henderson. Ajeti gets a mention for a bit of ‘simulation’ that all have laughed at.
However to the arch-sceptic this was a dead rubber game, and clearly there was not much that was to gain from this. Celtic had already been humiliated repeatedly in Europe this season, and this closes the chapter for another year. The real challenges now were as much off field as on field with a disgruntled support at what is seen as the asleep at the wheel management of the club.
David Turnbull: “A great night to make my first start in Europe and a great result to top it all off. I’m proud of all the boys and absolutely delighted. I try to create chances, score goals and get as many assists. Hopefully I keep them coming.”
Teams
Celtic:
65Hazard
35Ajer Substituted forWelshat 87’minutes
2Jullien
4DuffyBooked at 70mins
30Frimpong
Substituted forHendersonat 30’minutes
12SoroBooked at 90mins
42McGregor
93Laxalt
14Turnbull
Substituted forRogicat 87’minutes
27Elyounoussi
11KlimalaBooked at 58mins
Substituted forAjetiat 78’minutes
Substitutes
1Barkas
3Taylor
8Brown
9Griffiths
10Ajeti
18Rogic
22Edouard
29Bain
52Henderson
53Harper
57Welsh
Goals:
Jullien (21′ minutes), McGregor (28′ minutes pen), Turnbull (75′ minutes)
Assists: Turnbull (21′ minutes), Ajer (75′ minutes)
Lille:
16Maignan
27Niasse
Substituted forBambaat 71’minutes
6José Fonte
Substituted forBotmanat 45’minutes
3Embaló Djaló
29Bradaric
10IkonéBooked at 2mins
Substituted forLihadjiat 66’minutes
8da Silva RochaBooked at 58mins
24Soumaré
Substituted forAndréat 66’minutesBooked at 90mins
22Weah
Substituted forMandavaat 78’minutes
9DavidBooked at 84mins
12Yazici
Substitutes
1Karnezis
5Botman
7Bamba
17Yilmaz
18Renato Sanches
19Lihadji
21André
28Mandava
30Chevalier
34Innocenti
Goals: Ikoné (24′ minutes), Weah (71′ minutes)
Assists: Yazici (24′ minutes)
Ref: Fábio Veríssimo
Att: None – Covid
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
- Prior https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/celtic-v-lille-pre-match-thread-europa-league-matc-t137647.html?view=unread#unread
- Match https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/celtic-v-lille-live-match-thread-2nd-half-3-2-jull-t137662.html?view=unread#unread
- Post https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/celtic-v-lille-post-match-thread-ft-3-2-jullien-mc-t137663.html?view=unread#unread
- MoTM https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/motm-celtic-3-2-lille-t137664.html?view=unread#unread
Stats
CelticAway TeamLille
Possession
Home35%
Away65%
Shots
Home11
Away14
Shots on Target
Home4
Away3
Corners
Home6
Away3
Fouls
Home17
Away14
Articles
BBC
By Clive LindsayBBC Sport Scotland
Last updated on
1 hour ago1 hour ago.From the section European Football
Celtic’s David Turnbull and Callum McGregor celebrate
David Turnbull and Callum McGregor both scored for Celtic
Celtic ended their Europa League campaign by beating Lille to earn a first victory in Group H and relieve a little of the pressure on Neil Lennon.
David Turnbull scored the winner in a rare start, having set up Christopher Jullien’s first-half opener before Callum McGregor netted a penalty.
Jonathan Ikone and Timothy Weah twice pulled goals back for the French side, who had already reached the last 32.
But Celtic responded to end a run of five games without a win.
Nevertheless, they finish the group stage having conceded 19 goals – only Slovan Bratislava (2014/15) and Vardar (2017/18) have shipped more at that stage in the competition’s history.
Lille miss out on being seeded in Monday’s draw – so could play Rangers – after AC Milan’s 1-0 win over Sparta Prague.
Celtic ‘baby steps’ hearten Lennon
Reaction & as it happened
These two sides drew 2-2 on matchday two and, while Lille have continued in an upward trajectory since coming from two goals behind in France, Celtic have gone in the opposite direction.
Given the pressure mounting on Lennon after only two wins in eight games since then – and five in a row without a victory – the manager’s decision to make so many changes could be read as brave by some, but as a sign of desperation or resignation by others.
Giving 22-year-old goalkeeper Conor Hazard a debut ahead of Vasilis Barkas and Scott Bain was the headline grabber, but it was rare starts handed to Turnbull, Ismaila Soro and Patryk Klimala that had the greater impact.
Table
Lille looked the more dangerous in the early stages, but it was Polish striker Klimala who provided the first test for either goalkeeper with a snap shot from just inside the penalty box.
As Celtic maintained the pressure, midfielder Turnbull’s inswinging corner flicked off the head of Jullien at the front post, deceived goalkeeper Mike Maignan and flashed into the net.
Scoring has not been a problem in the Europe League for Celtic, but they went into this game having conceded more than any team in the group stage. And their fragility at the back – and knack of surrendering leads – returned within seconds.
McGregor’s poor back-pass allowed Yusuf Yazici to set up Ikone, who scored Lille’s equaliser the last time the sides met, for an easy tap-in at the front post.
But then it was midfielder McGregor’s turn to make amends, his precise spot kick completing a spell of three goals within seven minutes after Jeremie Frimpong was tripped by Domagoj Bradaric following a clever Turnbull through ball.
Former Celtic loanee Weah looked to have come back to haunt his former side when he volleyed in from 15 yards after the break, but Turnbull steered in his first Celtic goal after a fine run from Kristoffer Ajer.
Man of the match – David Turnbull
David Turnbull scores Celtic’s winning goal
Turnbull had a hand in all three goals and scored his first for Celtic in what was only his second start
What did we learn?
Lennon has been hesitant to give Turnbull and Soro game time, but both proved to be inspired introductions on this occasion.
Turnbull was the bundle of energy, strength and creativity that led Celtic to pay Motherwell around £3m for the 21-year-old. A year older, Soro was handed his first start since joining from Israeli side Bnei Yehuda in January and slotted seamlessly into the midfield holding role in place of Scott Brown.
Hazard – with one fine stop denying Lille a third equaliser – Klimala, and 20-year-old midfield substitute Euan Henderson will not have done their case of starting at home to Kilmarnock on Sunday.
Lille were not at full strength, but Rangers will surely not be fearful of drawing the side sitting second in Ligue 1 in the last 32.
Match stats
Celtic ended a run of eight Europa League matches without a win (D2 L6) since beating Rennes in November 2019.
This was Lille’s first Europa League defeat of the season
Celtic have conceded in their last 12 Europa League matches, shipping 28 goals since last keeping a clean sheet in the competition.
Turnbull is the third Celtic player to record a goal and assist in the Europa League and the youngest to do so (21y 153d).
McGregor ended a run of 21 Europa League matches without a goal, since scoring in February 2018 against Zenit.
Weah scored his first goal in a major European competition, 21 years and 37 days after his father George Weah’s last for AC Milan against Galatasaray in the Champions League.
What’s next?
Celtic must now concentrate on domestic league duty and narrowing that 13-point gap with Scottish Premiership leaders Rangers, starting on Sunday at home against Kilmarnock (15:00 GMT).
Neil Lennon: Celtic ‘baby steps’ hearten manager after 3-2 win over Lille
Last updated on
10 December 202010 December 2020.From the section Celtic
Celtic match winner David Turnbull is congratulated by Neil Lennon
Celtic match winner David Turnbull was praised by Neil Lennon
Celtic’s Europa League win over Lille has been described as “baby steps in the right direction” by manager Neil Lennon after a poor run of results.
The Scottish Premiership side finished bottom of their section despite earning their first win in the group stage.
Lennon hopes to build on that 3-2 success against Kilmarnock on Sunday – a game his side “have to win” given they are 13 points behind Rangers.
“It is a positive – nothing more, nothing less,” he said.
“We’ve beaten a very good team. We played well and played with real vigour.
“Psychologically, it gives everyone a lift. And it gives a bit more respectability to the group as well.”
Celtic earn first group win over Lille
Reaction & as it happened
Reigning champions Celtic return to the domestic scene with a points deficit to address, albeit with two games in hand on their city rivals.
That position that has led the club’s board to give their backing to Lennon despite fan protests.
“It’s not been an ideal situation, but I have a firm belief in what we are doing here and a firm belief in the players as well,” he said.
“This isn’t over even though people are writing us off.”
David Turnbull responded to being handed his second start by scoring the winner and having a hand in both of the other goals.
Fellow midfielder Ismaila Soro earned his first start, replacing captain Scott Brown in the midfield holding role, while goalkeeper Conor Hazard made his Celtic debut.
“They’ve done well enough to merit their place in the team, as have some of the others,” Lennon said. “It shows that we have decent competition. It gives me food for thought for Sunday as well.”
Asked why Turnbull, a £3m summer signing from Motherwell, had not played more, Lennon suggested it takes time for players to get used to Celtic’s methods.
The 21-year-old also missed a spell after contracting Covid-19.
The manager also revealed that Hazard, who had loan spells with Falkirk, Partick Thistle and Dundee, had been promised a start in this game a couple of weeks ago as “he’s been training really well”.
“There’s a long way to go in the season, but we have to use this now as a catalyst to a real consistency in wins,” Lennon added.
Match ends, Celtic 3, Lille 2.
90’+7′
Booking
Benjamin André (Lille) is shown the yellow card.
90’+7′
Full Time
Second Half ends, Celtic 3, Lille 2.
90’+4′
Post update
Foul by Domagoj Bradaric (Lille).
90’+4′
Post update
Ewan Henderson (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+3′
Post update
Jonathan Bamba (Lille) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90’+3′
Post update
Foul by Albian Ajeti (Celtic).
90’+2′
Booking
Ismaila Soro (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
90’+1′
Post update
Attempt missed. Benjamin André (Lille) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
90′
Post update
Attempt missed. Jonathan Bamba (Lille) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.
89′
Post update
Sven Botman (Lille) wins a free kick on the left wing.
89′
Post update
Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).
88′
Post update
Hand ball by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).
87′
Post update
Foul by Jonathan Bamba (Lille).
87′
Post update
Ismaila Soro (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Stephen Welsh replaces Kristoffer Ajer.
87′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Tomas Rogic replaces David Turnbull.
86′
Post update
Mike Maignan (Lille) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86′
Post update
Christopher Jullien (Celtic).
85′
Post update
Foul by Reinildo (Lille).
85′
Post update
David Turnbull (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
84′
Booking
Jonathan David (Lille) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
84′
Post update
Foul by Jonathan David (Lille).
84′
Post update
Christopher Jullien (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Isaac Lihadji (Lille) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
81′
Post update
Jonathan Bamba (Lille) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
81′
Post update
Foul by Ewan Henderson (Celtic).
81′
Post update
Attempt saved. Isaac Lihadji (Lille) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jonathan Bamba with a through ball.
78′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Albian Ajeti replaces Patryk Klimala.
78′
Substitution
Substitution, Lille. Reinildo replaces Timothy Weah.
78′
Post update
Yusuf Yazici (Lille) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
78′
Post update
Foul by Ismaila Soro (Celtic).
75′
Goal!
Goal! Celtic 3, Lille 2. David Turnbull (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kristoffer Ajer with a cross.
75′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is blocked.
74′
Post update
Hand ball by Shane Duffy (Celtic).
71′
Substitution
Substitution, Lille. Jonathan Bamba replaces Cheikh Niasse.
71′
Goal!
Goal! Celtic 2, Lille 2. Timothy Weah (Lille) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner following a set piece situation.
70′
Booking
Shane Duffy (Celtic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
70′
Post update
Isaac Lihadji (Lille) wins a free kick on the right wing.
70′
Post update
Foul by Shane Duffy (Celtic).
66′
Substitution
Substitution, Lille. Benjamin André replaces Boubakary Soumaré.
66′
Substitution
Substitution, Lille. Isaac Lihadji replaces Jonathan Ikoné.
66′
Post update
Foul by Boubakary Soumaré (Lille).
66′
Post update
Ismaila Soro (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
65′
Post update
Foul by Timothy Weah (Lille).
65′
Post update
Ewan Henderson (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
64′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Cheikh Niasse.
64′
Post update
Attempt blocked. David Turnbull (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kristoffer Ajer.
63′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Xeka (Lille) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Yusuf Yazici with a cross.
62′
Post update
Corner, Lille. Conceded by Callum McGregor.
61′
Post update
Offside, Lille. Jonathan Ikoné tries a through ball, but Jonathan David is caught offside.
59′
Post update
Foul by Cheikh Niasse (Lille).
59′
Post update
Diego Laxalt (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
58′
Booking
Xeka (Lille) is shown the yellow card.
58′
Booking
Patryk Klimala (Celtic) is shown the yellow card.
57′
Post update
Mike Maignan (Lille) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
57′
Post update
Foul by Patryk Klimala (Celtic).
56′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Sven Botman.
54′
Post update
Foul by Cheikh Niasse (Lille).
54′
Post update
Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
51′
Post update
Corner, Lille. Conceded by Ismaila Soro.
51′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Yusuf Yazici (Lille) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jonathan David.
50′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Timothy Weah (Lille) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Domagoj Bradaric.
49′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jonathan Ikoné (Lille) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Yusuf Yazici.
47′
Post update
Attempt missed. Shane Duffy (Celtic) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by David Turnbull with a cross following a corner.
47′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Domagoj Bradaric.
46′
Post update
Foul by Xeka (Lille).
46′
Post update
Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Second Half
Second Half begins Celtic 2, Lille 1.
45′
Substitution
Substitution, Lille. Sven Botman replaces José Fonte.
45’+2′
Half Time
First Half ends, Celtic 2, Lille 1.
45′
Post update
Foul by Yusuf Yazici (Lille).
45′
Post update
Callum McGregor (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
42′
Post update
Cheikh Niasse (Lille) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
42′
Post update
Foul by Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic).
41′
Post update
Foul by Jonathan Ikoné (Lille).
41′
Post update
Diego Laxalt (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
39′
Post update
Attempt missed. David Turnbull (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
37′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jonathan David (Lille) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Domagoj Bradaric.
33′
Post update
Xeka (Lille) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
33′
Post update
Foul by Shane Duffy (Celtic).
33′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Tiago Djaló.
33′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Patryk Klimala (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ismaila Soro.
30′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Ewan Henderson replaces Jeremie Frimpong because of an injury.
30′
Post update
Corner, Lille. Conceded by Diego Laxalt.
30′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Timothy Weah (Lille) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Yusuf Yazici.
29′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Yusuf Yazici (Lille) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jonathan Ikoné.
28′
Post update
Goal! Celtic 2, Lille 1. Callum McGregor (Celtic) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
26′
Post update
Penalty conceded by Domagoj Bradaric (Lille) after a foul in the penalty area.
26′
Post update
Penalty Celtic. Jeremie Frimpong draws a foul in the penalty area.
24′
Goal!
Goal! Celtic 1, Lille 1. Jonathan Ikoné (Lille) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Yusuf Yazici with a cross.
21′
Goal!
Goal! Celtic 1, Lille 0. Christopher Jullien (Celtic) header from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by David Turnbull with a cross following a corner.
21′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by José Fonte.
21′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Diego Laxalt (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kristoffer Ajer.
20′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Cheikh Niasse.
20′
Post update
Attempt saved. Patryk Klimala (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by David Turnbull.
19′
Post update
Attempt missed. Yusuf Yazici (Lille) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
18′
Post update
Timothy Weah (Lille) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
18′
Post update
Foul by Christopher Jullien (Celtic).
17′
Post update
Tiago Djaló (Lille) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
17′
Post update
Foul by Patryk Klimala (Celtic).
14′
Post update
Boubakary Soumaré (Lille) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
14′
Post update
Foul by Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic).
11′
Post update
Attempt missed. David Turnbull (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
7′
Post update
Xeka (Lille) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
7′
Post update
Foul by Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic).
6′
Post update
Offside, Lille. José Fonte tries a through ball, but Jonathan David is caught offside.
6′
Post update
Timothy Weah (Lille) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
6′
Post update
Foul by Ismaila Soro (Celtic).
5′
Post update
Foul by Xeka (Lille).
5′
Post update
Ismaila Soro (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
2′
Booking
Jonathan Ikoné (Lille) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
2′
Post update
Foul by Jonathan Ikoné (Lille).
2′
Post update
Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
1′
Post update
Timothy Weah (Lille) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
1′
Post update
Foul by Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic).
Kick Off
First Half begins.
Posted at 20:02 10 Dec20:02 10 Dec
Post update
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
The key Celtic differences as David Turnbull delivers club’s first victory in a month to bring relief for Neil Lennon
The present may be grim for Celtic. A glimpse of a potentially brighter future, though, was offered up with the desperately-needed success delivered in the form of a 3-2 victory over Lille.
By Andrew Smith
Thursday, 10th December 2020, 11:01 pm
The first for Neil Lennon’s men in six games and a result that ends a five-game winless run in their own environs – and is only their third in 13 games – there was no doubting the shining light in an experimental team.
David Turnbull not only showed a sleekness and confidence that has drained from more senior colleagues. In only his second start, the 21-year-old fashioned the 78th minute winner of a see-saw contest with the exquisite technique that marks him out as such a hugely exciting talent. The winner, which witnessed the summer signing from Motherwell steer the ball into the far corner after taking a cutback from Kristoffer Ajer with the surest touch, was deserved for his commanding display.
It made for a courageous end to an encounter anything but meaningless to the beleaguered Lennon and his squad, despite them being condemned to bottom place in their Europa League Group H section ahead of the closing game.
Celtic’s David Turnbull makes it 3-2 during the UEFA Europa League group stage match win over Lille at Celtic Park (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
Celtic’s David Turnbull makes it 3-2 during the UEFA Europa League group stage match win over Lille at Celtic Park (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)
In a Celtic team of many changes – seven in all from the soulless draw with St Johnstone at the weekend – it had seemed the most eye-catching was the choice of goalkeeper. And potentially the most significant. At the start of this season Conor Hazard would never have expected, even in a dead European rubber, to have earned a first start for a club that the 22-year-old Irishman joined six years ago.
The fact that Lennon hasn’t really even been able to get a dead-cat bounce from either of his confidence-drained senior keepers Vasilis Barkas and Scott Bain meant there was nothing to be lost by Lennon in giving Hazard a whirl. Typical, that any assessments of the 6ft 6in keeper would require to be reserved because of the purpose and valiance the players in front of him defended their goal with. Shane Duffy was one such performer. His reappearance as a central defensive partner for Christopher Jullien in a back four meant Ajer moving out to right-back. It gave the backline a better-looking balance, and a little heft.
There was a freshness and vibrancy to Celtic throughout, even if they were still at times jittery and had to withstand periods of pressure. The zing that they were able to bring to the game even with their limitations had everything to do with the contributions of Ismali Soro and Turnbull.
The Ivorian, in his first start a full 10-and-a-half months after arriving in Scotland, exhibited good awareness and smart range of passing. Turnbull, in only his second full appearance since his £3.5m move from Motherwell in the summer, provided an elegance and drive through the middle in a supporting attacker role for solo striker Patryk Klimala that Celtic so often have lacked in their ruinous recent run.
More than that, the Scotland under-21 was able to fashion inviting deadball deliveries that, again, have been largely absent across, what might be termed, ‘the protest period’. It was Turnbull’s 21st minute corner from the left, sent in with whip and spin, that allowed Celtic to claim an early lead. It was in an area that encouraged Jullien to charge in at the front post to make contact, the Frenchman’s forehead grazed enough to send the ball low in at the far corner of the Lille net.
Any idea that this would set Celtic firmly on their way lasted all of 120 seconds. As captain in the absence of Scott Brown, Callum McGregor would have considered his role was to give the lead to his team. Alas, his first significant intervention was how not to mop up in his own final third, the midfielder guilty of a horrendous error when crazily attempting to hook the ball over his shoulder to his keeper and only succeeded in letting Yusaf Yazıcı pick up possession, dart into the box and square for Nanitamo Ikone to score.
Celtic, as would be the hallmark of their evening’s effort, did not buckle and were ahead again on the hour mark when Jeremie Frimpong was wiped out by Domagoj Bradaric in the penalty area as he shaped to shoot. McGregor made quick amends for his earlier howler by slamming in the subsequent award and it allowed Celtic to take an unlikely 2-1 lead into the interval. The incident also forced Frimpong off with his replacement Ewan Henderson slotting in with poise on the right.
There was still the expectation that Lille, battling for the victory that would allow them to top Group H, would eventually come out on top. And a familiar pattern seemed to be taking shape when former Celtic loanee Timothy Weah, of course, drilled in from the edge of the area after fastening on to a clearing header from a free-kick after 70 minutes. Another goal would be along shortly was the feeling from those who have watched Celtic contort their way out of promising situations in a ghastly European group campaign. The fact that it came from Turnbull will allow Lennon to avoid twisting in the wind for first time in a month.
Celtic: Hazard; Laxalt; Duffy, Jullien, Ajer (Welsh 87); Frimpong (Henderson 30), McGregor, Soro, Turnbull (Rogic 87), Elyounoussi; Klimala (Ajeti 78).
Lille: Malgnan; Niasse, Fonte (Boteman 46), Tiago Djalo, Bradaric; Ikone (Lihadji 66), Soumare (Andre 66), Xeka, Weah (Mandava 78); David, Yusuf Yazici.
David Turnbull sees no reason why he won’t be in the Celtic team to stay after licking Lille
David Turnbull firmly believes he is on the way to being a permanent fixture of Neil Lennon’s side following his matchwinning display against Lille.
By Andrew Smith
Friday, 11th December 2020, 7:12 am
The 21-year-old, in only his second Celtic start since his £3.5m move from Motherwell in the summer, provided the inspiration for Neil Lennon’s men to end their dismal five-game winless run with the clinching goal that capped a high-class showing. Now he is looking to back-it-up on Sunday against Kilmarnock, and has tipped the other fringe players who excelled in the Europa League closer, in Ismaila Soro, Ewan Henderson and goalkeeper Conor Hazard, to do likewise.
“I don’t see why not,” he said of ‘kicking on’ from his Lille performance. “I just need games under my belt. I showed against Lille what I can do, in scoring, getting an assist and help in other goal toget the club out of a sticky period, and I want to do that in more games. To a man, the lads were brilliant. Wee Soro is so good at breaking up play, Hendo is a threat going forward, and Hazie in goals did well. It was just a great night all round. It’s been tough, you don’t like being on the bench, but you just need to work hard every day in training and whenever you come on, try and do your best. Trust the process and what they are trying to do, bide your time and your chance will come.”
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Turnbull did not consider the footballing Gods were conspiring against him once more when he contracted Covid-19 on duty with Scotland under-21s last month. The 21-year-old refused to see that in the context of losing the best part of a year of his career to a knee issue that showed up in his medical when he was set to move to Celtic in the summer of 2019. “It’s just one of those things, it didn’t really bother me that much,” he said. “I don’t try and think about things like that too much, I just take it in my stride. A lot of boys have had it, it’s just how you come back, luckily I wasn’t affected too bad. The way I have trained since I came back I didn’t feel I had really missed anything.”
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