Johnston: We want to take second-half Motherwell showing forward | OneFootball

We got to see two different Alistair Johnstons in Sunday’s dramatic victory over Motherwell.

There was the man behind the mask in the first-half, while in the second we saw the man without the eyepiece.

It was Johnston’s first game back since he was on the end of a facial injury in the win over Hibernian at the start of the month.

The head knock he received in that game required the Canadian right-back to sport a mask at Fir Park, but with things not going the Hoops' way at half-time, he put it to one side to help inspire the team to a second-half comeback with an important assist for Adam Idah along the way.

Speaking about the injury and the reason he took off the mask, he said: “It feels much better which is nice and I’m following the advice of the medical team with the mask.

“It’s not ideal and it can get in the vision a bit, but at the same time, it speeds me up to get me on the pitch.

“I’m happy with how the injury is feeling and it feels as good as before.

“They do a good job with the mask in doing a 3D image of your face, so it fits perfectly, but it’s not something you’re used to.

“The first-half wasn’t going as planned so it was a bit symbolic to take it off and move forward and the second-half was much better.

“You want to put it out and say it’s not a bother, but subconsciously it does affect you.

“It’s such a small percentage but if you misplace a pass you wonder if it’s the mask that did that.

“Realistically it probably wasn’t but it plays on your mind and it’s the last thing you want as a player.

“I think that was the symbolic thing for me where I took it off and I had to be smart and protect my face and not get a Theo Bair elbow to the cranium.”

Johnston’s injury-time assist for Idah turned the game around for Celtic to secure the three points which were ultimately sealed by another late goal from Luis Palma.

The 3-1 win had a slight resemblance to the previous trip to Motherwell when Palma and Matt O’Riley scored late to earn three points.

The second-half performance was much more like it from Johnston’s point of view and he wants to carry that on into Wednesday’s home match with Dundee and beyond.

He said: “We have left it late at that place before, so at half-time the people who needed to speak did so.

“The gaffer didn’t feel he needed to have a strong word. It was time just to go and put it into action and everyone played a bit more freely and we just went to go for it.

“When we play free and play our football we show we are a really top side and that was one of the most enjoyable halves of football in a while.

“If we play like the last 30 minutes at Motherwell then they will be right behind us.

“It’s about us showing that cleanliness on the ball and that passion to get forward.

“It’s seeing those pictures and playing forward and not being risk adverse.

“It’s something a Celtic player needs to do and it’s something that I’ve learned.

“Going after it gets the crowd on our side and makes us confident and that’s when we play our best football.”

WATCH ALISTAIR JOHNSTON'S FULL PRESS CONFERENCE

MATCH CENTRE

Get live Celtic v Dundee match updates at our official match centre - Visit the Match Centre

Fixtures

Celtic Vs. Dundee - Wed, Feb 28th 2024, 19:45