Celtic travel to Belgrade not with trepidation, but with genuine confidence

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The Celtic Star

·22. September 2025

Celtic travel to Belgrade not with trepidation, but with genuine confidence

If last week’s late drama at Rugby Park was the spark that pulled Celtic together, yesterday’s Premier Sports League Cup quarter-final win over Partick Thistle felt like the moment everything finally came to life…

Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates scoring the winner for Celtic at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

A 95th-minute winner against Kilmarnock may have reignited belief, but at Firhill, Celtic delivered something far more valuable, four unanswered goals, and a full 90-minute performance that suggested the team is beginning to, at last, find its groove.

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This season has offered glimpses of what Celtic can be. The second half at home to Livingston and the previous League Cup round against Falkirk contained periods of quality, but consistency remained elusive. Yesterday was different. From the first whistle to the last, Celtic played with intent, authority and cohesion, providing us with arguably our best display since the 5–1 win at Pittodrie back in May.

Luke McCowan celebrates. Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Perhaps Kel Iheanacho’s late strike at Rugby Park, on the back of Daizen Maeda’s world-class finish, was the catalyst. The celebrations that day spoke of a squad rediscovering its connection with one another and getting reacquainted with their support.

No one dared call it a turning point at the time, wary of false dawns. Yet the impact of that win was unmistakable as Celtic took the field against Partick. Against the backdrop of a passionate protest, fans, players and team alike looked united, confident, and determined.

Rugby Park also felt like the moment the players realised the protests from the support were not also aimed at them. The frustration in the stands may have been loud, but it carried no malice toward the squad, who have been let down as much as the support.

Yesterday at Firhill, it seemed they were now absolutely certain the fans were behind them, the ire directed elsewhere entirely, and the performance reflected a team relaxing into that reality.

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The Celtic Board. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Yes, the standard of opposition must be acknowledged, but this was no soft touch. Firhill was packed, Partick were brave and willing to challenge, and still Celtic imposed themselves. Where earlier in the season the team might have hesitated, knocking the ball back, playing safe, and drifting into horseshoe of lethargy, here we were incisive, progressive, and in key moments, ruthless.

Sebastian Tounekti ahead of the Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The left flank was the heartbeat of Celtic’s performance. Kieran Tierney, completing 90 minutes, looked freer in his movement, sharper than in recent outings. Inside him, Reo Hatate produced his best display of the campaign, constantly driving forward. And outside, new signing Seb Tounekti shone even brighter, delivering a second consecutive man-of-the-match performance.

His understanding with Tierney is promising, giving Hatate the freedom to advance and trust that the ball will be carried forward rather than recycled backwards. Tounekti demands possession, backs it up with progression, and adds genuine end product, he’s already a transformative presence.

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Callum McGregor at Firhill. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Even captain Callum McGregor, so often the protective presence this season, rather than an authoritative attacking contributor, joined the press higher up the pitch, helping to pen Thistle in and turn the screw. Ahead of them, Iheanacho provided the link-up play Celtic have missed since Kyogo’s departure to Rennes.

His first-half movement was imperfect, Tounekti openly berated him for not continuing a run, but by the second half the pair were combining beautifully, notably for Celtic’s third goal. With every passing minute and match, these relationships will sharpen further, promising even more fluency in the demanding weeks ahead.

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Yang scores the opener. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

While the left side dazzled, the right offered quiet promise. Yang’s brave back-post run for the opener was a coach’s dream, while Benjamin Nygren contributed two assists despite a less convincing overall display than some. Behind them, teenage full-back Colby Donovan was outstanding.

Confident on the ball, intelligent in his positioning, and fearless in carrying possession, he looked every bit a seasoned professional. The next step is for teammates to trust his touch and involve him more quickly in the build-up.

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Liam Scales celebrates as Sebastian Tounekti salutes the Celtic support at Firhill. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

If there was a blemish, it came in defence. Liam Scales and Cameron Carter-Vickers occasionally appeared hesitant in possession, perhaps unsettled by a Firhill pitch that looked like the groundsman had been asked to use up his outstanding annual leave last week.

Both defenders will need to sharpen up before Wednesday’s trip to Belgrade. Still, Scales made amends with a vital goal, and goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo’s only real issues came with the ball at his feet on the tricky surface, in what was another performance that offers real reassurance for future campaigns.

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All four Celtic goals carried their own satisfaction. Yang’s opener rewarded clever movement and courage, Scales’ front-post header delighted the set-piece coaches, the slick link-up between Iheanacho and Tounekti, sparked by Hatate’s incisive pass, was one for the manager and his transfer window demands, and Luke McCowan’s lovely late strike, assisted by Michel Ange Balikwisha’s determination, capped a complete team performance.

For weeks, Celtic have searched for rhythm amid sluggish early-season stumbles. Excuses were plentiful, cohesion was lacking. But after Rugby Park sowed the seeds of recovery, Firhill felt like the first signs of bloom. With European competition and two-games-a-week intensity on the horizon, the timing could not be better.

Some will dismiss this as a routine win over Championship opposition. Others saw more. This was a team finally clicking, relationships forming, and belief returning. Now we need to build on those foundations.

Belgrade awaits on Wednesday, a far sterner test. For the first time in a long while, Celtic travel not with trepidation, but with genuine confidence that our season is, perhaps, ready to take off.

Niall J

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