Davie Hay: Champions League progression firmly in the balance for Celtic

If you were to look at the positives, you would point to a clean sheet and a goal but it was the kind of result at Celtic Park that I suspect both teams would have declared themselves relatively happy with.

The big question now is whether Celtic can go over there and dig out a result in Azerbaijan on Wednesday night.

The qualifying games are strange in so many ways. While you can sense the enjoyment and the pleasure when the group stages come and you are up against the prestige of household European giants, the qualifying games carry so much tension.

At Celtic Park on Wednesday night you could sense the jitters in the crowd.

People get nervous as soon as opponents cross the halfway line, yet when you are playing against a good team they will create chances.

I do sometimes wonder how those anxiety levels transport on to the pitch because you really can sense the unease within the stadium.

The bounty for making it into the Champions league group stages is so huge, not just in terms of the financial remuneration that is on offer but also because the pizzazz of the tournament lifts everyone.

Players, the manager, supporters, even the media – everyone wants to be involved at the highest level of the game.

Just one slip, one mistake, can have you out on your neck.

But with just a 1-0 lead to take to Azerbaijan next week, I do think that there will be much thought put into how he wants his team to play on Ronny Deila’s part.

Granted, it is unlikely that he will deviate from his favoured system, but it is a tough game to approach.

On the one hand you know that if you can score then they need three goals to go through but if you concede – especially early on – then there is a real danger that you could lose the tie.

As such, I reckon that Ronny Deila will stick with Nadir Ciftci up front for the return leg over in Baku next week.

Like many, I was sure that Leigh Griffiths had played his way into a starting place for the first leg, but for the return I actually think that Ciftci may be more suited to it.

I would have gone with Griffiths for the opening leg against Qarabag, although how much Deila’s decision came down to the fact that the player had been up most of the night with toothache is unknown.

The physicality of the second leg may just suit Ciftci but I do think that Celtic will need to play better than they did in Baku than they did in Glasgow.

That is not to say that they played badly.

But I felt that the midfield trio of Nir Bitton, Scott Brown and Stefan Johansen were outplayed for long spells by their opposite numbers.

Brown in particular gave the ball away cheaply on a couple of occasions which is not something that we have come to expect from him.

If Celtic are to prevail and go through to the play-off stages then they need to do better, especially since their midfield trio were so impressive.

In saying that, for all that Qarabag were exceptionally quick and moved the ball with ease, they did not provide too much of a goal threat.

Whether or not that is because they were playing away from home we don’t know but I do think that Celtic need to exploit the wide areas better and get the ball into the box.

But it really is a game that could go either way because the teams were very evenly matched.

Charlie Mulgrew could be back for the second leg which would be a bonus while the return of Kris Commons can also help Celtic too.

He has been out of action since breaking his toe, but his arrival on Wednesday night underlined again that he can offer something a bit different at times. Kris is a big-game player and has been over the course and distance for Celtic.

Given that Qarabag are exceptionally well organised, can pass the ball quickly and will be looking to make the most of home advantage, Celtic will be well aware that this is an exacting 90 minutes.

These are the games that can shape the season and you cannot downplay the magnitude of what is at stake.

There is so little between the two teams and as such it is a precarious journey for Deila’s side.

There will be more jitters before the final whistle.

Good Gord! Craig deal is an award on merit

I WAS delighted to hear that Craig Gordon had signed an extension to his current deal that keeps him at Celtic until 2018.

I don’t think there is anyone at the club who deserves it more.

You have to say that he has been an outstanding signing for Celtic and if there was ever an example to anyone about not giving up on football, then Gordon is it.

That he looked as though injury would end his career prematurely only to come in from the wilderness and return to a level as high as the one he is currently playing it is tremendous.

You can sense the confidence that the back four have in him, their feeling that he is sitting behind them to mop anything up.

He spreads confidence through the team and it was no surprise to me he ended up back in Gordon Strachan’s plans for Scotland.

He is an outstanding goalkeeper who has worked hard to get back to this level after being out for so long and I think you can expect him to be between the sticks for the foreseeable future at Celtic.

The decision to offer him a new contract is a sensible one given the manner in which he has been playing.

He is an assured presence in goal for the club and his overall game is first class. He is still relatively young for a goalkeeper and I expect that he will have many years left in him yet.

Flag gesture means so much to my mate John

JOHN CLARK will unfurl the league title flag tomorrow afternoon at Celtic Park and I know from speaking to him just how much that means.

It is a fitting gesture from the club and I know that he feels quite humbled to have been asked.

John used to come and pick me up when I was one of the young players at the club. When I was first married we stayed in Uddingston and John would collect me before we would go on to pick up Jimmy Johnstone and head to training.

So we go way back!

I have the greatest respect for that super partnership he and Billy McNeill had. I think seeing someone like John unfurl the flag confirms to people just what these players mean to the club.

Raising the flag is always an enjoyable experience and I am sure Celtic will be looking to get off to a good start against Ross County.

I’m sure we will probably see Leigh Griffiths back in there leading the line since Nadir Ciftci will be sidelined as he serves out his time for last season’s crimes.

Your question for Davie Hay

BRIAN MAGUIRE from Eaglesham asks: What was your most memorable opening day of the season?

I actually did not tend to remember with any real significance the opening days of the season. It was the end of campaigns that lives with me because that is when the trophies were handed out!

It is always nice to start the season raising the Championship flag but by then it is all about making sure you defend it.

If you have a question for Davie, just email him at daviehay@eveningtimes.co.uk and we’ll print the answer alongside the question.