A Winning Start Isn’t for Everyone – Nygren Delivers as Celtic Open an Early Gap

A Celtic winning start was exactly what Martin O’Neill needed. Celtic opened the Premiership season with three points against Dundee and, while it is only one game, the early league table already looks encouraging.A winning start isn’t for everyone.

Celtic began the new Premiership season with a deserved victory over Dundee and, while nobody should be getting carried away after just one match, the league table already makes for enjoyable reading. Martin O’Neill’s side sits two points clear of the Ibrox club and three ahead of Hearts. It is only the opening weekend, but it is always better to set the pace than spend months trying to catch it.

Celtic Winning Start Improved After the Break

The first half lacked rhythm and sharpness at times. Celtic controlled possession but struggled to create sustained pressure. That changed after the interval.

The tempo increased, the movement improved and Dundee found it much harder to live with Celtic’s attacking play.

Kasper Høgh experienced the kind of debut many strikers have. He missed a few chances that he will probably expect to score. However, his overall display was encouraging. His movement was intelligent, he constantly found space and he looked like a striker capable of causing problems every week. The goals should come if he keeps getting into those positions.

Camilo Durán also deserves patience. He spent much of the match on the right wing instead of playing through the middle. That is not where many supporters believe he will have the biggest impact. Even so, he showed flashes of pace and quality that suggest there is much more to come.

Nygren Does It Again

When Celtic needed a breakthrough, Benjamin Nygren delivered once again.https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/uk-sport/26433752.benjamin-nygren-nods-celtic-hard-fought-opening-win-dundee/

After finishing as Celtic’s leading scorer last season, he has started the new campaign exactly where he left off. The best players consistently produce decisive moments, and Nygren continues to do exactly that.

The result should not distract from the bigger issue, though. Celtic still need reinforcements before the transfer window closes. The squad has improved, but there are still obvious areas where more quality and depth are required if the club wants to compete on every front.

Three points are in the bag and an early gap has already opened over two rivals. Nobody is claiming anything after one game. However, a winning start is always preferable to chasing from behind.

Now the focus turns to whether the board can match the team’s positive start by giving Martin O’Neill the extra signings needed before the window closes.