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Johnstone's Celtic Debut: A Goalkeeping Masterclass?
10 Sep
Summary
- Sam Johnstone impressed in his first Celtic start after 21 months.
- He made three crucial saves, including a spectacular tip-over.
- His performance creates a selection dilemma for the Rangers match.
Sam Johnstone's Celtic debut was a resounding success, marked by a crucial clean sheet in a hard-fought 1-0 victory over St Johnstone. The goalkeeper, on loan from Wolves, hadn't started a league match in 21 months but demonstrated his pedigree with a commanding performance.
Johnstone's display included three saves from shots within the box, most notably a brilliant instinctive tip-over that prevented Celtic from falling behind. He also showed proficiency in distribution with 31 successful passes out of 38.
Manager Martin O'Neill acknowledged Johnstone's impactful debut, stating the save was "fantastic" and that he now has two "really decent goalkeepers" to consider. This performance has ignited debate about who will start in goal for the upcoming League Cup quarter-final against Rangers.
Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner echoed this sentiment, highlighting Johnstone's commanding presence and reflex save. He noted that the manager faces an interesting decision between Johnstone and the incumbent Viljami Sinisalo, as Celtic appears to have strong options between the posts.
