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Callum McGregor has asserted that he is not particularly focused on Hearts at the top of the table, noting that any team can have a strong start after the first half-dozen league games.
The Tynecastle team currently leads the Premiership by two points following their 3-0 victory over Falkirk, while Celtic was held to a draw at home against Hibs.
Despite this, Parkhead captain McGregor expressed satisfaction with his team’s overall performance and remains confident that they will achieve their goals if they continue to create as many chances as they have been.
‘It’s a long season with a lot of football left to play. We’re concentrating on our performances and getting into our rhythm. Although we didn’t secure a win against Hibs, I am confident that playing like this will accumulate enough points to reach our desired position.
‘Hearts have played six games. Winning all six puts you at the top. Any team can start well. Aberdeen experienced this last year. Winning the games ahead of you collects the necessary points.
McGregor leads the Celtic players’ applause of the support after the full-time whistle
Johnny Kenny got on the end of a cross late on but couldn’t find the back of the net
Hearts have moved to the top of the standings following their 3-0 defeat of Falkirk
‘Our objective over 38 games is to finish top of the league, so we can judge it when that happens.
‘In terms of performance, we did everything except score. We limited Hibs’ chances and were probably as fluid as we have been in the midfield and forward areas. We created numerous excellent opportunities. With such performances, the goals will come. If we consistently play this way, we will win more often than not.’
Celtic fans also staged a protest against the board and major shareholder Dermot Desmond, who was 3,500 miles away at the Ryder Cup in New York, by refusing to sing for the first 12 minutes of the match.
McGregor insists the players’ focus, though, is purely on producing the skills to make them happy again.
‘When the game starts, the players don’t really notice too much,’ he said. ‘After that, you hear a little bit and the atmosphere is there. It is on the team to put in performances to make everyone happy. That doesn’t change.’
Fans are now preparing to be silent for the first 29 minutes of Thursday’s Europa League home clash with Sporting Braga, but McGregor has no concerns about that leaking into the team’s performance.
Hibs boss David Gray watches on as his side manage to hold out for a point
‘If we play like that on Thursday night, I’m pretty sure we’ll win the game,’ he said. ‘We were searching for rhythm and this was as good as it’s been in the football sense of creating a lot of chances.’
Manager Brendan Rodgers, meanwhile, preferred to steer clear of commenting on the protests.
‘I can only focus on the football,’ he said. ‘That’s the challenge for me at the moment, to give the supporters that belief and hope we’ll continue to improve.
‘They’d have liked to have won the game and I want people coming away talking about football rather than silence and protests. After that 12th minute, you felt the support and lift which can make a difference.’
Celtic have only scored eight times in six league games while Hearts have hit the net on 15 occasions, but Rodgers is remaining calm ahead of the Braga match.
‘We aren’t conceding many. New players are coming in and understanding how we’re working. You can see the connections are getting there and that instinct to finish will come,’ he said.
Paulo Bernardo fires an effort at goal but was unable to break the deadlock
‘We just need to step up in the final third. I can’t be displeased by the performance against Hibs. We were very dominant. Even until the end, I felt we would get the goal.’
Hibs boss David Gray, meanwhile, was pleased at the way his squad answered some searching recent questions by keeping a clean sheet.
Gray, who took off Jamie McGrath because of an Achilles tendon issue, said: ‘I am delighted for the players because a lot has been made of us defensively of late.
‘We have maybe let ourselves down a couple of times by switching off at key moments, but you know the concentration required here and it needs everyone to be at the top of their game.
‘I thought they stood up to it and saw the game plan through. We didn’t carry enough of a threat, but I am not going be critical of that.
‘It was about answering questions from a defensive point of view and we are still undefeated in the league. It’s job done.’
