Mowbray keeps the faith

Posted Thursday, November 05, 2009 by PA

Tony Mowbray refuses to give up on the Europa League, despite a goalless draw at Hamburg which left his Celtic side needing a miracle to qualify from Group C.

Although the Hoops boss was buoyed by an encouraging performance in Germany, the visitors failed to get their first victory in the group and remain at the bottom of the table on two points - five behind second-placed Hamburg, with two games remaining.

The Parkhead men need to beat Hapoel Tel Aviv at home and Rapid Vienna away - while hoping that Hamburg, sitting third in the Bundesliga, lose both their remaining games.

That scenario is decidedly unlikely, but the Celtic boss said "We will try and get the points which are in front of us, and what will be will be.

"Every other game doesn't seem to be as close - there has been a 5-1 and a 3-0 - but regarding the group, we have two matches left and we have to take maximum points.

"That has got to be our focus at the moment.

"Obviously we have to look at the league games, but when the European games come along we have to try and take maximum points and see if that is enough."

Once again, Mowbray watched his side fall short in front of goal.

Celtic had recorded just 13 shots on target in the previous three Group C games - and although that statistic improved against Hamburg, the crucial goal failed to appear.

Parkhead striker Scott McDonald missed two sitters as the visitors edged an open first half.

But throughout an entertaining game - which could have gone either way - stand-in Hoops goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska made a series of fine saves.

"It was a frustrating performance again," Mowbray conceded.

"We should have come in at half-time 2-0 up. We had a couple of clear-cut chances that didn't go in.

"The Europe campaign has been like that this season. It has been very tight, and things haven't fallen our way.

"It was a tight game against Hamburg at Celtic Park - and it didn't fall our way that night.

"We could easily have been sitting here saying that we won tonight.

"That's the fine margins in football."

Hamburg boss Bruno Labbadia was not too disappointed in the result.

"The only failure was that there wasn't enough power in our attack.," he said.

"We are not cut-throat enough.

"Celtic were dangerous on the counter-attack. But still, I would like to compliment my team - because we have players out with injuries, and the players have compensated for that."