Molde vs Celtic match report: Ronny Deila in trouble after Hoops suffer more European misery
Molde 3 Celtic 1: The Scottish champions started brightly, but their defence was woefully exposed
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Your support makes all the difference.Ronny Deila had a homecoming to forget as his Celtic side suffered another embarrassing European defeat that raises serious question marks about the Norwegian’s future with the club.
Molde, lifted by the return of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as coach, played on Celtic’s defensive frailties with a series of rapid counter-attacks and showed more appetite for the fight on a sodden artificial pitch in a game played at time in driving rain.
The Scottish champions had started brightly but their defence was woefully exposed in the 11th minute when Dedryck Boyata conceded possession on the halfway line. A diagonal ball from the left by Mohamed Elyounoussi set Ola Kamara running clear and he easily beat Craig Gordon at his near post to give Molde the lead.
Stuart Armstrong fired over from 20 yards as Celtic tried to respond but Deila’s side found themselves two down after 19 minutes when they failed to clear a corner properly. The cross came in from the right and Vegard Forren created space at the far post to hit the ball into the sodden turf before it bounced into Gordon’s net.
Buoyed up by their lead, Molde could afford to sit back and invite Celtic on to them. Kris Commons tried hard to direct their efforts but they struggled to create a clear-cut chance before half time, Commons going closest with a 25-yard shot that was deflected wide.
Celtic were back in the game in the 55th minute when Commons was gifted the ball on the edge of the area by Martin Linnes and drew goalkeeper Ethan Horvath before deftly chipping him.
But the celebrations of the visitors’ fans had barely died down when Celtic’s defence cracked again, undone by a slick Molde move down the right which set up Elyounoussi at the far post to fire past Gordon and restore the home side’s two-goal lead.
Man of the match Elyounoussi (Molde).
Match rating 7/10.
Referee V Bezborodov (Russia).
PA
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