Deila Wary Of Tough Malmo Clash

Photo by Jeff Holmes

Ronny Deila is looking for Celtic to take the best of Saturday's performance against Inverness into their Champions League play-off clash with Malmo on Wednesday night.

The Hoops cruised into a commanding and well-deserved 4-0 lead at Parkhead through goals from right-back Mikael Lustig, striker Leigh Griffiths and a second-half double from midfielder Stuart Armstrong.

However, some late slackness, with defender Dedryck Boyata particularly culpable, allowed Caley substitutes Ryan Christie and Dani Lopez to reduce the deficit.

The champions remain two points behind Hearts at the top of the Premiership as they turn their attention to Europe.

Ahead of the first-leg against the Swedish side at Celtic Park, the Hoops boss said: "It is a warning, of course, the players know that. But what we have to take with us is the first 70 minutes, which I thought was very good.

"The whole team was very good, in the first-half especially.

"We battered them and also out-played them and created chances. We should have had more goals but that is a positive thing."

The Norwegian, however, was quick to point out that he was not concerned about what he regards as defensive blips.

"That hasn't happened very often," he said. "It is the first time for a long, long time. That can always happen in football games and we got punished very hard."

The main talking point of the afternoon was Celtic's new signing Scott Allan even though he did not feature.

The 23-year-old midfielder was introduced to the Parkhead crowd before the match following Friday night's highly-publicised move from Hibernian on a four-year-deal for a reported fee of £275,000.

Armstrong welcomed the added competition to the midfield area.

He said: "It is a great signing for the club.

"I had two or three years at Dundee United in the youth team with him and with Scotland Under-21s.

"He is a really good player with a lot of talent and that is what this club is all about."

Caley boss John Hughes revealed that Christie, linked with a move to Swansea, started on the bench for tactical reasons before coming on just after the break.

The former Hoops defender, still looking for the first win of the season after four matches, said: "We felt that if we keep ourselves in the game until half-time then we would go and open up and try to win it.

"But to concede the two goals that we did in the first-half, I am bitterly disappointed.

"Christie lit the place up for us. He certainly gave us a lift. You can see the wonderful talent he is and a finisher as well.

"It is great to see a young kid like that coming on and inspiring the rest of them. And we showed in the second half that we are not a bad side."