Ledley: Hoops Euro hopes alive

21 October 2011 09:05

Joe Ledley believes Celtic still have it "all to play for" in the Europa League after Thursday night's morale-boosting Group I draw against Rennes.

After a mix-up between Hoops keeper Fraser Forster and Cha Du-ri saw the South Korean put through his own goal, Wales international Ledley scored a second-half equaliser to give the battling visitors a deserved draw that leaves them on two points and as many behind second-placed Atletico Madrid, who lost to group leaders Udinese in Italy.

"We are only two points off second place and so there is all to play for," said Ledley.

"We have Rennes at home now, it is going to be a difficult game without a doubt but the fans will be behind us and we will look forward to it.

"I think we proved that Rennes are (beatable) and although they are obviously a good team, we know we can play good football at times and if we play as we did last night then we will have a good chance."

Ledley's header in the 70th minute from a Charlie Mulgrew free-kick took some of the pressure off Forster, who admitted his culpability at the opening goal, saying he should have shouted louder at Cha who steered a long punt from Rennes keeper Benoit Costil past him when there was no apparent danger.

However, Forster, in his second loan spell at the Parkhead club, recovered his composure to make three crucial saves after the break from Chris Mavinga, Youssouf Hadji and substitute Jonathan Pitroipa.

Discussing his equaliser, Ledley added: "Charlie has got a great left foot and he put a lot pace and whip on the ball. I just tried to use the pace of the cross and the ball went in.

"It was a sloppy goal to lose but we had chances and I thought we played some good football at times.

"Fraser done well after the error, he made some good saves and kept us in the game."

Source: PA