Hoops striker Leigh Griffiths has insisted that Celtic deserved to be slaughtered after their first leg humiliation against Lincoln Red Imps in Gibraltar last week.

The Parkhead side will look to redeem themselves this evening at Celtic Park but while manager Brendan Rodgers remained steadfast in his belief that the result wasn’t an embarrassment, Griffiths accepted that the players deserve to face the furore the result caused.

There was an accusation that it was one of the most degrading results in the club’s history as they lost a UEFA Champions League qualifier to a team made up of part-time players, with a clutch of former players quick to vocalise their anger. Griffiths did not attempt to disagree.

“Everyone is entitled to their opinion,” he said. “The players in the dressing room after the game were very disappointed with the performance and result. The manager came in and said it was only half-time in the tie but we felt that for us as players we should be going over to Gibraltar and putting in performance. We should be looking to keep the ball tonight rather than go and chase the game.

“We never want to be on the end of any bad result. But these guys have won the biggest thing that you can win in football and in their club career. It is hard to take but we are professionals and we need to take it on the chin. We have the chance to rectify the result and it is one of those ones where hopefully we get through to the next round and we can prepare again.”

And Griffiths has warned Red Imp that it will be a completely different game tonight as Celtic get them on home soil.

The poor surface was heavily criticised in the aftermath of last week’s defeat and Griffiths expects that Celtic Park will entirely suit the Hoops’ game plan.

“I can definitely say that it will be a totally different ball game tonight,” said Griffiths. “There will be a lot of people there tonight supporting us and hopefully they cheer from the first minute to the 90th minute and we give them something to go home happy about.

“They are used to playing on astroturf and after seeing the pitch on Saturday, it was in great condition. It will be watered, everyone will be enjoying it. The ball will be zippy and I think we will have the bulk of possession, but it is all about being patient until we break them down and when we do that then hopefully the chances will fall and we can put them away early doors.”

The Hoops fans will look to Celtic to turn in a cricket score tonight to atone for that ignominious first-leg result, but Griffiths has insisted the only thing that matters is getting through the tie.

“The fans just want us to get through the tie,” he said. “If they can see the goal then the pressure is really on us, but if we score early doors with the crowd that we are expecting then hopefully they will get a shock. If they sit back it will give us a lot of opportunities to counter and try to get more chances to score goals.”