 | Georgios Samaras scored second goal in Saturday's 3-0 win |
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Celtic dominated the proceedings and created numerous chances against Hearts in the midweek Co-operative Cup tie against Hearts but their profligacy in front of goal meant that they lost a match that they should have won easily. Happily for all concerned with the club the pressure was eased early on Saturday when Aiden McGeady scored with the first real opportunity of the game.
"I don't think there was a lot of difference between Wednesday and today," said Mowbray after the match. "It's just that the ball went into the net today. We scored a few goals today and that makes it easier for everyone, I suppose. I am not being smug, I genuinely judge my team on performance levels. Most of you are intelligent people. You watched the game on Wednesday, and the performance was very similar. We controlled the game, and created numerous chances."
Now the focus shifts from the SPL to the Europa League and Mowbray must ready his team for the trip to the north of Germany where Hamburg will present a disparate dilemma. Hamburg lost at home for the first time this season when Borussia Mönchengladbach beat them 3-2 on Saturday and they now sit third in the Bundesliga one point behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen. "Hamburg is a different proposition," boss Mowbray said ahead of Thursday's game. "We are away to a top Bundesliga team. We'll be set up differently and we'll take confidence from knowing they didn't outclass us in the first game. It will be tough but if we can frustrate them and stay in the game we'll get chances. The team has great belief that we can create and take chances."
Niall McGinn scored his first goal for Celtic on Saturday when he added to the goals from McGeady and Samaras and it was a magical moment for the Derry bhoy's parents who were at Celtic Park watching their son in the Hoops for the very first time "I grew up supporting Celtic." said McGinn. "But I never thought I would become a Celtic player, and now to score in front of the home fans is extra special. It was the first time my parents have been over to see me play for Celtic. They missed my debut against Dundee United in September because they were on holiday, so it was great to score for them and they were delighted. I have been thinking about my first goal since I joined the club in January and I'm just glad that it was in front of the Celtic fans as well as my parents."
Now Celtic's number 14 is looking forward to being involved in the upcoming Europa League tie. "It is a must-win game for us, but it will be hard," he said. "Hamburg are a good side, so it is going to be difficult. But we will go over there with confidence after the result and performance against Kilmarnock. We hope we can get the early goal, and then try to see the game out."
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