Keeper Craig is Euro hero for Celtic

In Salzburg last night they appeared to have found the perfect solution. When pulled back, go and score another.

However, for a second time they allowed their advantage to slip through their fingers, though the stunning free-kick from Jonatan Soriano 12 minutes from time, which levelled the tie at 2-2, was unstoppable.

But Ronny Deila's side may well look on this as a point gained, not squandered, as only a succession of brilliant saves from Craig Gordon kept the home team's tally to two.

Wakaso Mubarak, with only his third touch in a Celtic jersey since arriving on loan from Rubin Kazan last month, had put the Hoops ahead early in the first first half.

But, just as in Warsaw and Maribor, the Hoops couldn't stay in front and an equaliser from Brazilian striker Alan sent the teams in level.

Sure, this is a team that is still trying to gel and is devoid of any real depth of experience at this level.

But learning how to stay in front is a knack they must pick up quickly if this Europa League campaign is not to join their Champions League qualification campaign as a series of half a dozen matches to file under "missed opportunity".

Thankfully, after marking him absent through injury from all the of the previous European games this season, Celtic can now call on inspirational skipper Scott Brown to dig them out of a hole.

He did just that on the hour mark in the Red Bull Arena with a speculative 26-yard drive which found the net with the help of a deflection off the outstretched leg of Salzburg's defender Andre Ramalho.

The magnificent Gordon did his best to turn that strike into a winner, but could do nothing when Soriano's stunner flew into the top corner to see the teams share the spoils.

Having been criticised for gambling with Jo Inge Berget's debut in the first game against Legia Warsaw in Poland, it would have been understandable if Deila had played safe in this one.

But he threw in Wakaso for his debut on the left flank, the pacy Ghanaian winger having returned too late from international duty last week to figure in the weekend league match against Aberdeen.

The move paid off within 14 minutes as the new Bhoy collected a square pass from Kris Commons 18 yards out and bent a first-time low shot beyond the despairing reach of home keeper Peter Gulasci.

The main problem for Celtic at this level, apart from holding leads, has been converting chances created into goals, so witnessing the striking ability of loan signing Wakaso, and having Brown back to also chip in, is a real fillip for the squad.

WHEN it came to firepower, however, there was still a stark contrast between the Hoops and Salzburg - who were clipped of their Red Bull wings because Uefa do not permit such branding in the competitions they oversee.

The squad which Deila was able to take to Austria could boast between them a total of only 11 goals in all European competitions outwith qualifiers and play-offs.

Salzburg's Spanish striker, Soriano, now has 13 himself - including seven in last season's Europa League, which made him the campaign's top scorer.

Alan's first-half equaliser had briefly matched the tally of the 28-year-old frontman.

The pair's record in front of goal was well known to Deila and his analysis team before last night's action kicked off.

However, knowing they are dangerous and finding a way to spike their guns are two very different things. There were two unfortunate aspects to Alan's goal. Firstly, the slip by Jason Denayer as he moved to intercept the through ball from Kevin Kampl, then a deflection off Efe Ambrose when the Brazilian's shot appeared to be covered by Gordon.

The Celtic keeper had already frustrated Salzburg with a clutch of fine saves, the best of which by far was a fingertip diving effort to claw a header from Ramalho round the post.

Before 10 minutes of the second half had elapsed Alan had been thwarted twice more by Gordon. Marcel Sabitzer also saw a good shot pushed away by the in-form shot-stopper.

The Austrians were creating the majority of the chances, their quick inter-play and movement - especially down their right - pulling Celtic's midfield and defence around the pitch and out of shape.

Deila's side were not entirely toothless, as Wakaso's opener and Brown's effort confirmed.

However, they tended to snatch at their chances, no-one more so than Brown himself when put through by Callum McGregor midway through the first half. As he advanced into the penalty area he failed to see Stefan Scepovic alone at the back post. The skipper elected to shoot and pulled his effort wide.

THE SERBIAN striker had been selected to lead the attack, Anthony Stokes' poor goals return at this level condemning him to a watching brief from the bench until he replaced Scepovic midway through the second period.

The physical presence Deila hoped that the former Sporting Gijon man would provide did not materialise, to the disappointment of the 400 travelling fans and obvious annoyance of Brown. It was always going to be a tough start for Celtic, facing Group D's top-seeded side on their own patch, where Salzburg have harvested numerous good results in recent years.

But this season they have lost both their away ties in Europe, first the Champions League qualifier in Azerbaijan against Qarabag, then their play-off with Malmo in Sweden.

So, the Hoops will already be looking forward to becoming re-acquainted with the Austrians when they come to Glasgow in late November.