Ange Postecoglou lauds evolving Celtic adding 'another bow in our armoury to hurt teams'

Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side have started the season with the same swashbuckling swagger that swept them all the way to the title last term.

But the Aussie boss admits it doesn’t have to be free-flowing football all the time when it comes to sticking the ball in the back of the net. Celtic hardly struggle to score, as they lashed 92 goals to claim the Premiership crown and have opened up with another 10 in the first three games of their defence against Aberdeen, Ross County and Kilmarnock.

But it’s the type of goals – and the spread through the team – that have got supporters attention. There’s been long range stunners, sweeping counter attacks and tap ins. There’s also been goals from set pieces. In fact, four of the 10 goals have been scored by centre backs and from dead ball situations. That might sound like no big deal from a team that averages about 10 corners a week, but it wasn’t so long ago Hoops fans could safely nick out for a pie whenever there was a set piece and not worry about missing a goal.

Celtic seriously picked up in the second half of last term but they still finished in mid table when it came to goals scored from set plays. Rangers topped the pile, with Hearts also outperforming the Hoops.

Postecoglou is not going to abandon his attacking instincts and turn Celts in to the Wimbledon Crazy Gang just yet. But the Parkhead gaffer admitted he has been scheming behind the scenes on making his side more of a threat in opposition penalty boxes when they get the chance to whip the ball in. He’s had to get creative as well as his Hoops are hardly a land of the giants. Moritz Jenz has grabbed a couple – including the brilliant overhead kick at Killie at the weekend – while Stephen Welsh and Carl Starfelt