Celtic assistant Chris Davies not surprised by stunning team goal at St Johnstone

Celtic assistant manager Chris Davies was not surprised the Hoops managed to conjure up a stunning team goal to rubber-stamp their 5-2 win at St Johnstone.

Moussa Dembele celebrates Celtic's fifth goal against St Johnstone
Published 8th Feb 2017
Last updated 9th Feb 2017

Celtic assistant manager Chris Davies was not surprised the Hoops managed to conjure up a stunning team goal to rubber-stamp their 5-2 win at St Johnstone.

Every member of the runaway Ladbrokes Premiership leaders' team, including goalkeeper Craig Gordon, touched the ball before right-back Mikael Lustig and midfielder Callum McGregor combined to set up Moussa Dembele for his hat-trick.

Davies claims the highly publicised goal at McDiarmid Park was a product of the methods boss Brendan Rodgers has been conveying to his players.

He told Celtic's official website: "I have obviously seen the response that it's got and I think it's probably a testament to the way we play that, at the time, it wasn't that outstanding in the sense of passes.

"We are always a team that dominates, everybody is involved.

"A lot of the stuff has been about how every team player including the goalkeeper was involved in the build-up to the goal, but that is how we play and create chances normally.

"But it was an extra-special finish in the way it built up to the box, with Mika (Lustig) playing a few one-twos, and there being a bit of skill, creativity and invention in the box - when you are in and around the box like that you have to bring that invention and creativity as that is what can be decisive.

"So while it was a brilliant team goal, it wasn't a surprise to me as that's how we play and train.

"The manager has the goalkeepers always involved in possession drills, so we always expect them to have the ability to play the ball with their feet.

"Defenders are important players in starting the attack for us as well, looking to dominate the ball and create chances in that way.

"It was an amazing goal and rightly deserves credit, but on the other hand, it wasn't such a surprise to me to see us score a goal like that."