Celtic Best Villarreal Then Suffer Hangover In League

McGeady Suspended For Two Games After Gord Clash

Celtic made easy work of their last UEFA Champions League game against Villarreal on Wednesday but the 2-0 victory could not change their last-placed finish in their group.

Looking for their first win in Europe this season, the Bhoys got off to a good start in this game putting Villarreal under pressure from the opening whistle.

Shaun Maloney scored the first when he got his head to a Mark Wilson cross, deflecting the ball into the visitor's net.

Villarreal were down to 10 men after 36 minutes when an off the ball clash between Caldwell and Guille Franco was spotted by the linesman, resulting in a straight red for the Spaniard.

Aiden McGeady got Celtic's second before half-time when he was allowed to collect the ball near the half-way line, head unopposed up the field and bag a superb strike from the 18-yard line.

Their was less to celebrate on Saturday when Hearts paid a visit to Parkhead.

The visitors, chasing a potential UEFA Cup place, started the scoring in the 23rd minute with a strike from close range.

It looked like the Bhoys would drop all three points until Captain Stephen McManus headed in the equaliser with just 11 minutes left on the clock.

Aiden McGeady had a good chance to get Celtic a winner in injury-time but his shot veered away from the goal.

Manager Gordon Strachan was disappointed with the team's performance, suggesting that they were suffering from "a hangover from the game on Wednesday.

"We improved to average in the second half, but it was enough to get the ball around their box and get a few chances and get the crowd up.

"Average should have done it, but because we were so poor in the first half, it was a problem with us."

Aiden McGeady has been handed a two game suspension by the club and fined two weeks' wages after a heated argument with his manager in the dressing room after the draw with Hearts.

The BBC report that relations between the two are allegedly at "an all-time low" since the row, a view confirmed by his agent David Holbrook, who said: "I can confirm that Aiden has been fined by the club and suspended. He's shocked, disappointed and I can say he will be appealing.

"He feels that the action is completely unjustified."

Holbrook noted that McGeady was particularly disappointed that he would miss the Old Firm Derby on December 27.

"He wants to play in that game and every Celtic game," he said.

"He remains 110% Celtic; he's supported them and loves them.

"But there's a difference between how Aiden feels he's been treated by the club's hierarchy as opposed to his relationship with the club at large.

"He's as disappointed as the fans that he won't be turning out for the Old Firm game."

Celtic have completed the signing of 21-year-old midfielder Niall McGinn from Derry City, signing him to a three-and-a-half year contract.

The young Northern Ireland international completed his medical on Monday and will be joining the club on a transfer said to be worth around £200,000.

"I'm absolutely delighted to be here," he told Celtic's website. "I've just been working hard and I'm over the moon to get it all sorted.

"This is a great club. I've supported Celtic since I was a boy and the stadium is incredible."

"It's been a great season for me with Derry and to now have joined Celtic just tops it all off.

"There was another club showing real interest. But, when I knew Celtic wanted me, my mind was made up."