Champions League: Thompson winner was a fluke

Goal hero Alan Thompson has admitted that he miss-hit the strike that took Celtic to the top of Champions League Group E.

He followed up his wonder goal at Ibrox with a crisp left-foot free-kick from the edge of the area which flew under the wall and left Arni Arason rooted or so everybody thought.

The English winger held his hands up after his winner took Celtic a point clear of Juventus on six points and admitted that he had intended to shoot into the opposite corner.

‘‘I meant it,’’ joked Thompson. ‘‘No, I was going for the other corner.

‘‘But I think with the power I was trying to get on it, I just pulled it, but it went in and I’m just delighted it hit the back of the net.’’

A relieved Thompson also admitted that the final minutes were nervous as his side hung on to win - just as they had done against Porto at Parkhead.

The former Aston Villa and Bolton star insisted that the players expect it to be that way against the best teams in Europe, but he is backing his team-mates to get better with each experience.

‘‘I’m delighted,’’ enthused Thompson. ‘‘It wasn’t easy, but we’re just delighted to have taken the three points because they made it very difficult for us, as expected.

‘‘It was tight towards the end, but you’ve got to give the teams credit. We are playing against Porto and Rosenborg and this level is still new to a lot of us.

‘‘So gradually we’ll take it on board and learn from it and hopefully come stronger ourselves in the second half at times.’’

Thompson also denied that the crowd’s anxiety affected the players and instead praised them for spurring the players on.

‘‘I think the lads just get on with it, to be honest,’’ he explained. ‘‘We’ve got a great spirit and a great team and there’s some fantastic players.

‘‘So regardless of what goes on in the stands, when they make the noise they lift the boys and they made some noise last night.’’

Thompson was refusing to get carried away with the result and instead chose to look forward to Celtic’s next two games.

Martin O’Neill’s side now travel to Motherwell in the SPL before heading to Portugal to face third-place Porto.

‘‘We’ve got to play Motherwell on Saturday as well,’’ insisted Thompson.

‘‘But after that a win in Porto would be brilliant, but we know it’s not going to be easy.’’

Rosenborg coach Nils Arne Eggen was remaining upbeat despite the defeat, but he admitted there was no way past Celtic’s back three of Bobo Balde, Johan Mjallby and Joos Valgaeren.

Eggen said: ‘‘They beat us but I’m quite satisfied with the way we played in attack at times.

‘‘It was hard and we knew we weren’t as good as we can be but full credit to Celtic’s defence because they are rough and never give you any time on the ball.’’