Celtic boss Gordon Strachan hails 12-match winning run

Nov 30 2008 By Gordon Waddell

GORDON STRACHAN watched his Celtic troops bounce back from their Euro heartache with a record 12th straight SPL win - then insisted only mental strength saw them through.

Shaun Maloney's strike to dump Inverness 1-0 saw the shattered Hoops jump seven points clear of Old Firm rivals Rangers at the top of the table.

Despite a desperate struggle for form it was still enough to better Strachan's best run of league triumphs and stretch their winning streak on the back of Champions League ties to five.

The Parkhead boss reckons that's all down to his stars' toughness and said: "We were a long way down from where we normally are technically.

It dropped during the game and wasn't good to start with - but mentally we were still 100 per cent.

"It has not been easy but fitness helps as well - it allows the players to keep their mental strength up.

"This result proves they can deal with disappointments, injuries and not being at their best.

"In among this run we've had Champions League, League Cup, half a dozen guys away playing internationals, and still kept it going."

Strachan insists Hearts' lunchtime win over Rangers - opening the door for Celts to stretch their advantage at the top - didn't surprise him.

But he admitted even that wasn't enough to raise fans' spirits after their Aalborg pain, with acres of empty spaces in the stands.

Strachan said: "Nothing surprises me. But it has been hard for the fans too as they've been on the same journey as us emotionally. They did get nervous the longer the game went on but the important thing was not to lose a goal and we did well not to give them any clear-cut chances."

Inverness boss Craig Brewster (left) was quick to point out Celtic failed to create many either.

Brew said: "They didn't have any real chances although it was a great run by Maloney for the goal.

"We had a bit of possession but didn't push hard enough to get into the final third and hurt them. You have to try, especially at 1-0 down and when the crowd are getting nervy - that's why we put two up.

"I was worried we'd feel the backlash after Denmark but we held them well."

Celtic ended with another body to add to their crocks list, Cillian Sheridan nursing a shoulder injury after a clash with keeper Artur Boruc.