McCourt sets sights on Rapid

PADDY MCCOURT scored his second brilliant individual goal for Celtic in four days in the win at St Mirren on Saturday but accepted the stinging criticism handed out to him and the rest of his team-mates by Tony Mowbray.

The Irishman capped his first 90 minutes for the Hoops since signing from Derry City last summer with a fine solo strike in the Co-operative Insurance Cup win at Falkirk last Wednesday.

McCourt produced an even better effort in the 2-0 win at St Mirren, weaving his way past five challenges before driving past Paul Gallacher, but even that failed to lift the spirits of manager Mowbray.

Celtic finished the day four points clear of Rangers at the top of the SPL but the Parkhead boss pilloried his players, describing their performances as unacceptable.

Mowbray’s criticism was perhaps aimed providing a psychological spur ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash with Rapid Vienna at Parkhead but nevertheless it was accepted by McCourt.

“To be fair, the players know themselves,” he said. “The manager is an honest fellow and he has told me that he wants me to play every week but said that there are some things that I have to add to my game.

“He is first to praise us when we do well and when we are not at our best, he won’t be long telling us.”

Meanwhile, Lee McCulloch believes the Old Firm derby has come at the right time for Rangers, despite concerns about their inability to score.

Saturday’s stalemate against Aberdeen at Ibrox was the Scottish champions’ third successive goalless SPL draw ahead of next weekend’s clash with their Glasgow rivals..

“The Celtic comes at the right time because it’s a game we need to do well in,” said McCulloch.