Celtic boss Ronny Deila says last-gasp winner is sometimes the best
Friday 25 March 2016 11:38, UK
Celtic manager Ronny Deila savoured the excitement of Tom Rogic's last-minute winner at Rugby Park, arguing that sometimes it is the "best way" to win.
The Norwegian's league-leading side had laboured for the bulk of the contest at Kilmarnock, clear-cut chances and craft being in short supply, until Tom Rogic took matters into his own hands and drove home a stunning goal to secure an unlikely 1-0 victory.
Deila said: "With a goal like that, it is the best way to win sometimes. We didn't play well but we kept fighting, and the fans were unbelievable. That is a moment we are going to remember for a long time.
"We didn't play well at all today but sometimes you just have to carry the points away with you and that is what we did. That is the most important thing.
"We were more passive and didn't get up to tempo with our passing. We were struggling with the surface, which is not an excuse, but it is something we have to work on.
On Rogic's rocket, he added: "He has done it a few times in training this week, he has been really good. We were always thinking he could come on and do it. What a feeling."
Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney suffered an ankle injury during the game, a problem which casts doubt on his involvement in Scotland's friendly against Denmark on March 29.
Deila said: "We will have to see tomorrow [Sunday]. I don't think it's a very big one. Hopefully he will reach the national team but he has to be 100 per cent."
Beleaguered Kilmarnock boss Lee Clark, who is still looking for his first win after five games in charge, admitted it had been tough to take.
He said: "I have had some defeats in my career as a player and a manager but I think that is the hardest one I have had to take.
"If there was a team that deserved to win the game, it has to be us. I am just absolutely devastated to lose the game. You can see all aspects of our game have improved, and we were very good without the ball. But a team in our predicament need points.
"They couldn't have given any more or played any better. I wouldn't have thought there was a better all-round team performance all season.We will stay up, no problem. I have got no doubt about that. We will stay in the league, and we will go on to bigger and better things once we do that."
