Mowbray calm over cup exit
Posted Wednesday, October 28, 2009 by PA
Tony Mowbray insists he has no concerns with his side's home form despite Celtic's Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-final defeat by Hearts leaving him with only two wins in nine attempts at Parkhead since taking over from Gordon Strachan in the summer.
Jambos midfielder Michael Stewart, booed by his own fans during Saturday's goalless draw against Falkirk in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, put the visitors ahead from the spot in the 58th minute after Hoops left-back Danny Fox had tripped Christian Nade inside the Celtic box.
However, once again in front of their own support, albeit a vastly reduced crowd of around 20,000, Celtic missed numerous chances before the final whistle brought a crescendo of boos down on the home players.
"The performances will suggest if it (home form) becomes a problem and I didn't see a lack of belief in the team tonight," the Celtic manager said.
"I think we would be concerned if we weren't making chances but we are making chances every game we play and it will click.
"I've seen a very positive team playing against a team who deserve credit for defending as well as they did.
"We played very positive football and deserved better than we got to be fair.
"I don't think you can blame bad luck. Sometimes you don't get what you deserve in football.
"But when the chances come we have to be more clinical.
"Sometimes you have to understand that when it's not rolling your way, it's not rolling your way and I believe that the players will do that.
"We are frustrated but that is football."
Mowbray continued the theme, saying: "We worked very hard, we were positive for the majority of the game and we kept banging on the door.
"In a stadium that is normally more atmospheric, we showed great desire to win a football match.
"Unfortunately it didn't happen and we take it on the chin and move on to the next game."
As Celtic's frustration of the night boiled over, skipper Stephen McManus was red carded for a wild lunge at Andrew Driver in added time, referee Craig Thomson upgrading it from a yellow after consulting his linesman.
Mowbray said: "There are no complaints about the penalty but there was confusion at the sending-off.
"The referee was right on top of it, he booked him but he had a chat with his linesman and a yellow turns into a red."
Csaba Laszlo admitted Hearts rode their luck tonight as they stunned Celtic
"This was a very important win. We had also a little bit of luck," said Hearts boss Laszlo, who felt his centre-backs escaped with a clean sheet.
"I think the communication between Ismael (Bouzid) and Jose (Goncalves) was not the best today.
"But in football, you must score goals and we scored one more."
Laszlo added on BBC1 Scotland: "Last season, we flew very early out of the cup. Now we've come to the best four.
"I hope in the draw we'll have a bit of an easier opponent."
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