GREG TAYLOR has praised the character of the Celtic team after they overcame a huge test against Hearts, and ignored the controversy over VAR’s involvement in the game to earn a crucial three points at Tynecastle.
Celtic fell behind at one point of the contest and felt aggrieved that a penalty decision for handball didn’t go their way, but as a topsy-turvy encounter unfolded, they had the grit to dig deep and ensure that they came out on top of a seven-goal thriller.
Taylor played down any talk that the ability to grind out the win was a mark of potential champions once again, but he was thrilled to get the decisive goal after climbing off the bench in the second half.
“It is early to say that,” he said. “We showed that last year when we were champions but we just try and focus on the next game.
“[It was a] big goal and an important three points. The game was end to end all day. It is always difficult at Tynecastle, the crowd are on top of you but we came up with the goods again.
“We have shown throughout the manager’s term that we have so much character and so much belief from everyone that gets to play a part.
“Whether that is off the bench or from the start. It was important and delighted to get the three points.
“We have threatened a big result in the Champions League and not got there for whatever reason but hopefully we can get there.”
Despite the long delays caused by VAR and the frequent interventions it made into the match, there was no chance that Taylor was hanging around to see if his goal was going to stand before celebrating.
“It was a great feeling and in that moment you don’t really think about whether the goal is going to be alright,” he said.
“Euphoria takes over your body and the fans deserved it because they backed us throughout 90 minutes.
“For some reason you knew it was going to have a bearing today. Scottish football, it was typical it was going to have an effect and it did to some extent, but it did not have a bearing on the final result because we managed to get the win.”
