But Robson insisted that his keeper wasn't to blame for failing to deal adequately with Ronaldo's wicked long-range strike. "These balls we use in the Champions League ties seem to move all over the place and it was a hard one for Artur. I could see from where I was that the ball was going everywhere, and you know how well Ronaldo can hit it," he said. "I think we did really well in the first-half but in that second period they were always going to come at us. We hung in there, but it was obviously really disappointing to lose such a late goal."
"They were good and you know the quality that they have but we deserve a bit of credit as well." said the midfielder "We came out and got at them in the first-half and we played a lot better than we did in the first leg. It was a hard game and I think it was a decent result and with a wee bit of luck we might have got a win but they have the ability to cut you open at any time and we coped reasonably well against them."
Robson also knows that the result keeps the Champions League dream alive and he refuses to settle for a consolation place in the UEFA Cup just yet. As things stand, to progress in the competition Celtic must win their next two games, beating Villareal by two clear goals in the process, and Villareal must also lose their other game to Manchester United.
Celtic would have to take all three points on the road for the first time in the competition at Aalborg on November 25 but that should not be beyond the team. Celtic's final home game in the group stage against Villareal could be set up for yet another of those magical European nights that Celtic Park is renowned for "It's going to be hard for us but we still have a chance. If we win our next two games who knows what might happen." said Robson.
Mark Wilson agrees with his team-mate that the last sixteen is still their target "We still have a chance, we know that whatever happens we are probably going to have to go to Denmark and get a result." he said "We have to try and get over this hoodoo, simple as that. Sooner or later we have to win away from home in the Champions League."
Wilson was also pleased that the defence had managed to silence their critics last night "We had our critics after the game in Manchester and I'd like to think we at least gave them something to think about, especially with our first-half performance." he said "I thought we defended well. We have taken plenty of criticism for our defending, particularly in the Champions League, but I thought we stood up well tonight against players who are renowned for what they can do to teams."
Manager Strachan was also happy to shut up the critics and especially Blackburn Rovers mouthpiece Paul Ince "I am happy at 1-1 and happy we gave them a good game. I am happy that we are not boys, whatever some people say. We are men. You cannot play like that if you are not men." said the boss "They are a million miles ahead of us technically. They have some of the best players in the world, but we should never be called boys. Boys don't fight like that."
"With a wee bit of luck, it could have been an incredible upset," he continued "We made them work for it. I thought it was going to be one of those glorious nights. We need to thank the supporters. If we had a full team it would have been a far better game. I had a system we used at Feyenoord this year that worked with Sammy, Jan and Aiden but the three of them were sitting in the stand."
"How would Man United get on without Berbatov, Rooney and Ronaldo?" asked Strachan "You never know. When we get all our players back we'll be a far better side but one thing we cannot improve on is the spirit. In the dressing room they couldn't speak. They must be tired. The players should have a pride in what they have done."
The manager had a special mention for Aussie striker Scorer McDonald who's cool finish in the 13th minute had given the team such a lift "It looked like a real calm finish from Scott," he said. "What he has done over the last month is phenomenal. To lose all his striking partners and still keep going. We tried to keep Scott on as long as possible tonight but he just couldn't raise a gallop. He can be really pleased with himself. He had to look after Cillian too."