Killen scores as Celticboro beat Barnsley

All five former Celtic players were in the Middlesbrough team tonight as Gordon Strachan celebrated his 53rd birthday with a 2-1 home win over Barnsley.

Scott McDonald made his 'Boro debut but it was Chris Killen that opened the scoring in the 24th minute.

The win takes Strachan's side to within two points of Leicester City who are sitting in the fourth play-off position and will be a big relief for Strachan.

Middlesbrough's form has been less than inspiring since the Celtic boss took over from Gareth Southgate but after a taking full advantage of the January transfer window it is now without doubt his team on the park.

Stephen McManus made his Riverside debut while Barry Robson and Willo Flood have established themselves as regulars in midfield.

McDonald's goals will be crucial if Middlesbrough are to make it into the play-off's with Strachan looking forward to working with the striker for the third time.

The Boro boss said: “McDonald is a striker that scores. I've realised over the last year that people call themselves strikers without striking. Scott lives up to what he's called - a striker.

“He scored regularly for Motherwell and he scored in many big games for Celtic. His record says he has earned the right to call himself a striker.

“You can't build a team around one man, that's been proved before. Without Adam Johnson, we have to be a more rounded team and it's the same with Scott.

“We can't rely only on him. If you do that and the player is unavailable for whatever reason then it's not worth us turning up. That can't happen.

“As I keep saying, we have to be a more rounded team. We have to keep working hard and if we get a bit of luck then life will be easier."

“What the new strikers do is create competition, it tells everyone that to get a game they've got to play their best.”

The other group of former Celts at Swindon also had a successful night beating Oldham 4-2 at home to remain in a play-off spot from League One.

On-loan Simon Ferry was joined by Scott Cuthbert and Jon-Paul McGovern as Danny Wilson's side claimed all three points.

Robson and Flood texted McDonald to Middlesbrough

Scott McDonald has revealed how Barry Robson and Willo Flood knew that he would be joining them at Middlesbrough.

Flood and Robson joined up with Gordon Strachan earlier in the month along with Chris Killen and expected to be reunited with McDonald.

Stephen McManus joined the Celtic colony at 'Boro on loan last week before Skippy arrived on transfer deadline day as Tony Mowbray brought in Robbie Keane and Diomansy Kamara on loan.

McDonald admitted: "Barry and Willo just wouldn't leave me alone.

"They were saying that I would be the next one to join Middlesbrough in the transfer window. We had a bit of banter about it.

"They told me all about the club and how much I would fit in and enjoy it but I had to wait and see what happened.

"I didn't know which way it was going to go, it was not until Monday that I was told that the move was on."

McDonald will miss out on Saturday's trip to face former Celt Roy Keane's Ipswich as he recovers from a hernia operation while Strachan tries to drag Middlesbrough back into contention for a play-off spot.

Newcastle, West Brom and Nottingham Forest look like deciding the two automatic promotion places with more than half of the division carrying play-off hopes.

Thirteen teams are within ten points of a play-off place with Strachan hoping that his new bhoys can hit the ground running and get 'Boro back into contention for a play-off slot.

Getting McDonald fit and scoring would be a major boost for Middlesbrough's promotion hopes and justify the £3.5m spent on the striker.

The smile is back at Celtic?

The smile and enjoyment came back to Celtic Park this afternoon, it's been a while since the supporters have enjoyed themselves so much, perhaps the recent trials and disappointments added to todays pleasure.

There was more than just the magic of Aiden McGeady about the performance with the 3-0 scoreline against 10 man Aberdeen not doing the team justice.

A flicker of confidence ran through the side, when Landry N'Guemo crashed through three challenges to smack his shot off the woodwork there was a special sense of excitement around the stadium.

Against St Mirren and Hapoel there had been flickers of style but they had quickly died out replaced by fear and trepidation- today, without getting carried away there were sustained spells of good pressing passing football that had the Aberdeen defence in trouble.

JUGULAR

Tippy-tappy football, passing and possession away from the last third of the park may be pleasing on the eye and excite neutrals but when a team is going for the jugular as Celtic did today the football carries an edge.

Almost every outfield player had a chance to score, both strikers found the net and almost as importantly the defence kept a clean sheet with Artur Boruc given a quiet return to first-team action.

Both full-backs had chances at goal, Danny Fox with a Roy Aiteken like first half charge and shot that was well saved then a late Sebo like effort from Abdreas Hinkel.

My only criticism was that they all seemed to want to take a touch on the ball before shooting, no-one was prepared or interested in doing things first time.

The goals were pretty special, the first being a brilliant probing pass from Marc Crosas that found Hinkel acting like a right winger with Scott McDonald burying the German's pass across goal in the 38th minute.

ARCHITECT

Six minutes into the second half McGeady was the architect with a perfectly flighted cross onto the head of Samaras that was bulleted past Jamie Langfield from eight yards out.

Aberdeen were losing their discipline with Jerel Iilfel perhaps a little unfortunate to be red-carded for a follow-through on Samaras that caught the linesman's attention, most players like to inflict some damage once a free-kick has been given, Iifel's follow through on Samaras was a bit too enthusiastic.

World Cup bound Samaras completed the scoring in the 75th minute when he finally put the ball in the net from another McGeady pass although a simple first time lob looked easier with Langfield stranded.

Predictably Tony Mowbray wasn't getting carried away by the win, he's been through a lot recently and wasn't going to start shouting the odds about his team's performance.

PERFORMANCE

He said: "At Celtic Park, we've got to be confident, and generally we are. Even through the periods where the results weren't going, that's why I say regardless of dropping points, the performance of the team was very high.

"We tried to control the game from the off, and generally did that - but Aberdeen made it hard for us, starting with five at the back.

"But we managed to get he breakthrough and got there in the end. Aberdeen have some very young and talented players, but we managed to get on top of them, which is important because they have a lot of legs and enthusiasm.

"Thankfully for us, we managed to use the quality we've got to keep the ball off them for long spells."

With Motherwell and Hearts to be faced away in the next fortnight no-one at Celtic will be crowing about turning corners just yet.

However, after the dejection of throwing away three points to Dundee United the team has shown some character and style to bounce back with three wins, keeping that run going as long as possible will only add to the players confidence.

Team: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, Loovens, Fox; Robson, N'Guemo, Crosas, McGeady (McGinn); Samaras (Zhi) McDonald (Fortune)

Celtic 3-1 St Mirren: A step in the right direction?

After the misery of the post-Tannadice week it was a great bonus to go into today's match on the back of Rangers losing to ten man Aberdeen.

The Celtic performance was again patchy but did have it's highlights, which mainly centred around the contribution of Aiden McGeady.

Playing on the right this week McGeady never shied away from the ball although he was hardly swamped with options when he won possession.

The third goal was scored by Scott McDonald but was made by McGeady's driving run down the right and forceful cross which was met perfectly by McDonald to shake off any notions of a St Mirren comeback.

McDonald should have made it four with a late penalty but didn't seem too downbeat afterwards as he discussed the match although missing a penalty did take the shine off his day.

Talk of rifts, fall-outs and a lack of unity behind the scenes seemed unlikely as McDonald openly discussed the match and the current form of both Celtic and Rangers.

Drinking from the half-full glass he was relieved that despite the troubled start to the season Celtic were sitting at the top of the table.

The striker said: "Consistency is the key in this league. There is none of that going on.

"Ourselves and Rangers keeping giving each other a lifeline. It's us one week and them the next. One club is in turmoil one week and then it is the other.

"If we had had a good run in the league then by now we would be away from the rest."

Building on today's win and putting together a consistent winning run is the target now for Celtic if they are to progress, take control in the title race and help to build confidence amongst players who have taken a verbal and on-line kicking in recent months.

The first half hour was nervy and a patchy showing from a team short on confidence in front of supporters understandably short on patience.

There were periods when the discontent from the stands could be felt as passes went astray and players aimlessly passed the ball around the back without any real purpose or intent.

Two great moves in the period before half-time allowed McDonald, assisted by Chris Innes, and Georgios Samaras to put Celtic ahead but the relief of those goals was almost wiped out by a goal from Michael Higdon which wouldn't have done much for the half time team-talk.

Celtic started the second-half confidently with the third goal giving them some breathing space and allowing Marco Fortune to come off the bench for Samaras.

Some of the football played was impressive, McGeady and Andreas Hinkel linked well down the right, while McDonald worked hard without any luck and Fortune looked lively and keen to get involved.

The £2.5-3.8m striker did have his chances but failed to find the net with two decent chances, one skied over the bar and the other an angled shot that flew across goal and wide of the post.

Danny Fox had a great shot blocked by St Mirren 'keeper Paul Gallacher who then blocked a poor McDonald penalty and the rebound to keep the score respectable.

There will be a feeling of relief amongst the players about today's win, coupled with Rangers defeat it should give the whole club an easier time of it in the week ahead.

Beating Hapoel Tel Aviv on Wednesday is unlikely to retain the teams interest in the Europa League but it will bring a little bit of momentum which hopefully can be carried into the Aberdeen match next Saturday.

McDonald's post-match demeanour would suggest that behind the scenes things aren't anywhere near as troubled as some folk would suggest.

Two more wins over the next week and we might start looking forward to the matches again and go into the away games at Motherwell and Hearts with some confidence.

McDonald and Samaras lead the attack

Scott McDonald and Georgios Samaras have been given the striking roles as Celtic attempt to salvage their Europa Cup campaign with a win against Hamburg.

Marco Fortune remains on the bench where he is joined by Stephen McManus who is available again after Saturday's domestic suspension

Celtic team: Zaluska; Hinkel, Loovens, Caldwell, Fox; Robson, N'Guemo, Crosas, McGeady; McDonald, Samaras
SUBS Cervi, Wilson, Fortune, McGinn, McCourt, Naylor.

Tony Mowbray's striking options

Tony Mowbray's team line-up for tonight's game with Hapoel will be eagerly anticipated with the striking decisions of most interest.

Since losing Marc-Antoine Fortune to injury there has been a disjointed look about Celtic's play following the free flowing football of the opening games of the season sandwiched around the impressive win away to Dynamo Moscow.

The Scott McDonald-Georgios Samaras 'partnership' looks uncomfortable to be kind, with Chris Killen, despite his goalscoring pre-season form, still down the pecking order and almost out the door during the transfer window.

McDonald has the best scoring record, over the piece as well as in big games, but would probably admit himself that being the sole striker isn't playing to his strengths.

OPTION

Into the mix comes the Aiden McGeady or Shaun Maloney option. McGeady playing off Maloney caused Rangers plenty of grief in the Co-Operative Cup Final in March but for reasons best known to others was never tried again.

Playing either McGeady or Maloney alongside McDonald will be much more appealing to Mowbray after the performance of Niall McGinn against Dundee United.

The former Derry City winger was transformed from being a mystery to an option over the 81 minutes that he played against Dundee United. With his turn of pace McGinn could be a very useful European option out wide allowing McGeady and/or Maloney to link up behind McDonald.

Getting the balance right is all important with Fortune being out of action for at least a month as Mowbray puts his side together.

SPINE

There are questions being asked all over the team with the spine still far from decided, Stephen McManus is available again for central defence with the midfield looking very weak against Dundee United when Scott Brown was pushed forward.

Hopefully tonight's game will be as illuminating as the Moscow performance and not an Arsenal like damp squib, with two home games coming up in the Europa League an away win for starters would make qualification less daunting.

Today's Evening Herald

Mowbray demands more 'we can play miles better'

Smiles were back on the faces of the Celtic support after the 3-1 win over Aberdeen today but new manager Tony Mowbray is demanding more from his team.

A 3-0 half-time lead on the opening day of the season would have most bosses in a happy mood but perhaps highlighting his determination to be a winner Mowbray cast a critical eye over his team's finishing rather than praise the quality of their play.

A double from Aiden McGeady and a typical Scott McDonald strike secured the points for Celtic on the opening day but not the complete approval of their manager.

Mowbray said: "There was some good and some bad in our performance. I was frustrated at half-time that we didn't have a greater advantage, a truer reflection might have been one or two more goals.

"We had some great opportunities, got into great goalscoring areas but we didn't take our chances. I didn't have a blast at the strikers at half-time but I tried to gee them up a bit.

HAUNT

"At Cardiff in pre-season we failed to put our chances away, those days could come back to haunt you if you keep missing chances or getting into great areas and not scoring. I'm not 100% happy but obviously delighted to get a win away from home.

"We played miles better in both games against Moscow Dynamo. The shape of the team and the way that we moved the ball about was better in those games.

"There's lots for us to work on. I told the players that we'll have to be miles better on Tuesday against Arsenal, we'll be asked a lot more questions in that game."

Goalscorers McGeady and McDonald, who played against each other in midweek when Australia beat Ireland 3-0 in Limerick, were in agreement with their managers judgement of the game.

McGeady said: "The manager was disappointed that we never scored more goals in the first half, the boys felt the same.

CHANCES

"We did have a lot of chances, we put a few away but it could have been five or six. You want to win every game by as many goals as you can.

"A few of us were disappointed with the way that the second half went, if Aberdeen had got a goal it could have got quite nervy for us."

McDonald added: "It's good as a striker to get a goal but I would have liked a couple more, I could have scored one right at the start of the game.

"We probably should have got five or six in the first half. That's something that we'll have to get about our game very quickly and be lethal, especially on Tuesday night.

ARSENAL

"If we get one chance against Arsenal we have to take it. We believe that we can do the business against Arsenal, we've got them at home first and Celtic Park is a fortress for us."

It could have been much worse for Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee who has watched his side lose all three games since he took over at the club.

McGhee said: "I'm not going to get too upset with this, Celtic are a good team, they played well in the first half when their movement was too much for us. We lost the game to a good team."

Celtic finished the match with ten men but Mowbray has no worries over an injury to Shaun Maloney. The former Aston Villa midfielder looked to have picked up a bad knee injury but Mowbray revealed that it was just a spot of cramp.

AUDIO INTERVIEW WITH MALKY MACKAY