I have to say that Celtic did what they had to do on Wednesday night but one of the most pleasing things for me was that they played the way Celtic teams should.

It might sound trite to say they played the ‘Celtic way’, but it is the way to get bums on seats – and off it. They were positive, they were firmly in control of the game and they looked to get the ball forward at every opportunity.

There was, maybe inevitably, less intensity about the second period but even then there chances to score. It is fair to suggest it is maybe the early timing of the game that was responsible for the score line staying down - although their keeper also had a good game.

We all know now that the next round now is a tough one. Aside from the long journey, you have to factor in the heat and the plastic pitch too, added to the fact that Astana themselves have garnered in the group stages of the Uefa Champions League last season.

Of course, it will be an entirely different formation than it was last night with the entire purpose one of containment. The whole purpose of going there is to ensure that the tie is kept alive ahead of the second leg back at Celtic Park.

It won’t be an easy game in Kazakhstan next Wednesday afternoon but it is vital that Celtic look to eke out the type of result that ensures the second leg is still alive when Astana come to Glasgow for the return leg.

However, the early first impressions of Brendan Rodgers’ regime, I would have to say, are good. His attention to detail is such that I know he went out before the game on Wednesday night and spoke personally to all the ball-boys about the importance of getting the ball back into play as quickly as possible.

I know that you look at a game against Lincoln Red Imps and say to yourself that it is only fitting that Celtic should be sweeping them aside but they went out and done it in a very positive way.

I don’t doubt that it will be just the one up front next week against Astana and although you look at Moussa Dembele and think that physically he looks like the right kind of striker to lead the line, I suspect that it might actually be Leigh Griffiths who gets the nod.

I think that Dembele is a smashing acquisition, a player that was alerting some of the top clubs in the Premiership last season. So I fully expect the lad to have a big role to play as this season unfolds but you have to remember that he is still very young and relatively inexperienced.

Griffiths, by contrast, led the line himself last season and with a haul of 40 goals, did it pretty well. Given the nature of the game over in Kazakhstan, it could be that Griffiths is the ideal player to have in that role because I suspect that there really won’t be too many chances.

This time last season Celtic actually played very well when they took on Qarabag in similar circumstances. They went over there and put in a disciplined and effective performance to earn a draw and then get through the tie at Celtic Park after winning 1-0.

It will be a similar kind of performance that is required next week. This time of year is always nervy given what is at stake and the timing of the games but the most important thing is simply to get through them.

I also think you can tell what the Celtic supporters already think of Rodgers – they turned up in their droves to give the message about how much they are behind him this season.

But there is no question that his remit is to get Celtic into the Champions League. That is where they want to progress and given the fact they have missed out on it over the last two seasons, there is a real hunger and desire to get back in amongst that kind of company.

It is early days under a new manager but there were signs there against Red Imps about the team will play and the way they will be set up and I am sure it will have pleased a lot of people. The big test now, though, is making sure that there is steady progress towards the group stages of Europe’s premier competition.

That begins again next week against Astana. The most important thing for Celtic to take from it is that they come away from the game knowing that going into the next round is well within their reach when they get back to Celtic Park.