Hoops late show 'a tradition'

Celtic’s ability to grab late goals in games is simply part of the club’s “history and tradition”, according to fans’ chief Peter Rafferty.

Gordon Strachan’s side face a Scottish Cup quarter-final replay against Aberdeen after a last-gasp equaliser from striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink at Pittodrie on Sunday.

Jeffrey de Visscher’s goal for the Dons after 79 minutes looked to have knocked the Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions out of the tournament until his fellow Dutchman struck 30 seconds from the end of the two added minutes.

It was the 12th time this season the Parkhead side have scored in the last five minutes of a game.

Rafferty, who is president of the affiliation of Celtic supporters’ clubs, was relieved but not surprised at yet another late, late show.

He told PA Sport: “Scoring late goals is part of Celtic’s tradition and history. We don’t know when we are beaten and it is a joint effort. We have a big support and we had a lot of fans up at Aberdeen and that encourages the team.

“There is always a belief among the fans that we can do it, although we sailed close to the wind on Sunday.

“It was nerve wracking because we were close to being knocked out of the Scottish Cup so the goal came as a bit of a relief.

“But the team plays until the final whistle and that’s why the fans are able to sing, ’That’s why we’re champions’

“We had a good number of chances and hit the woodwork a few times and both keepers made a number of good saves. When we scored the goal it was celebrated as if we had won the cup.

“But it’s not just Gordon Strachan’s teams that keep going until the last minute. Celtic teams have always had the ability to go all the way to the final whistle.”

Rafferty believes the Celtic fans will witness some more dramatic finales as they try to win the Scottish Cup and peg back the four-point lead Rangers have over them at the top of the SPL.

He said: “I’m sure there will be some more games in which we will score late goals, especially in the league because it looks like we will have to win all our games from now until the end of the season.

“The games coming up are all big games. The fans enjoy the late comebacks to a degree but we would prefer it to be easier.”