Mowbray won't panic over Celtic's home form

AFP - 28 October 2009 23:25

Hearts sent holders Celtic crashing out of the Scottish League Cup as Michael Stewart's penalty clinched a 1-0 quarter-final win at Parkhead on Wednesday.

GLASGOW (AFP) - Celtic manager Tony Mowbray insists there is no reason to panic over his side's home form despite their 1-0 League Cup quarter-final defeat against Hearts at Parkhead.

Mowbray's side have won just twice in nine attempts on their own turf since the former West Bromwich Albion boss took over from Gordon Strachan in the close-season.

They sent the Hoops faithful home disappointed again on Wednesday after midfielder Michael Stewart, booed by his own fans during Saturday's goalless draw against Falkirk, put the visitors ahead from the spot in the 58th minute following Danny Fox's trip on Christian Nade.

A well-below capacity crowd reacted with a chorus of boos at the final whistle after Stephen McManus's late red card added to Celtic's misery but Mowbray has no intention of letting that get to him.

"The performances will suggest if it (home form) becomes a problem and I didn't see a lack of belief in the team," he said.

"I think we would be concerned if we weren't making chances but we are making chances every game we play and it will click.

"I've seen a very positive team playing against a team who deserve credit for defending as well as they did.

"We played very positive football and deserved better than we got to be fair.

"I don't think you can blame bad luck. Sometimes you don't get what you deserve in football. But when the chances come we have to be more clinical.

"Sometimes you have to understand that when it's not rolling your way, it's not rolling your way and I believe that the players will do that.

"In a stadium that is normally more atmospheric, we showed great desire to win a football match.

"Unfortunately it didn't happen and we take it on the chin and move on to the next game."

Hearts boss Csaba Laszlo was delighted to see Stewart turn from villain to hero by putting the Tynecastle side in the last-four along with Rangers, St Mirren and St Johnstone.

"It was an important game after the game against Falkirk when we didn't play good football and the supporters booed Michael Stewart," he said.

"It was important for Michael to show that he is always there for us, you can't buy his experience and I was happy that he didn't miss the penalty.

"Everyone must understand that we need the supporters, not only when we win five or six nothing.

"We can't do anything without the supporters and the supporters can't do anything without us. But we had some luck in the game."