Source: Team_Talk
Stokes: Terrors win was 'massive'
Anthony Stokes has acknowledged the importance of Celtic going into Sunday's Old Firm showdown level on points with rivals Rangers.[LNB] Neil Lennon's side came within minutes of losing their 100% record in the Scottish Premier League against Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday.[LNB]Despite producing what the Hoops boss declared to be their best performance of the season, it required a dramatic Gary Hooper goal in the 89th minute to secure a 2-1 win which ensured they did not go into next weekend's top-of-the-table clash at Parkhead trailing the champions.[LNB]Former Sunderland striker Stokes admitted it would have been a "huge blow" for his side had they dropped points ahead of what promises to be a titanic Old Firm clash.[LNB]"The last thing we wanted was to drop points ahead of the game against Rangers," he told the Evening Times. "So, from that point of view, it was a massive, massive result.[LNB]"It maybe looked as though that was going to be the case with the game at 1-1, and only a minute of normal time remaining, but we never gave up.[LNB]"When you play as well as we did, and you create as many chances, you've got to win.[LNB]"The manager said that it was as well as we have played and I have to agree with him. Some of our football was fantastic.[LNB]"It would have been a huge blow had we not won the match."[LNB]After taking the lead through the impressive Hooper, who coolly converted a Mark Wilson cross, the visitors were stunned just before the break when United striker David Goodwille's deflected strike landed behind keeper Fraser Forster.[LNB]The travelling support thought they had been awarded a penalty in the second half when referee Dougie McDonald pointed to the spot after Hooper went down after being challenged by Tannadice keeper Dusan Pernis.[LNB]But to the anger of Lennon, McDonald then changed his mind after consulting assistant referee Steven Craven and gave a bounce ball in the box.[LNB]Stokes admitted the decision also left him baffled.[LNB]The Irishman said: "If you point to the spot then you can't change your mind, surely?[LNB]"I was there, as were other players of ours, and we could have tapped the ball into the net instead of it then becoming a drop-ball.[LNB]"I thought we responded well and didn't allow it to disrupt our performance."
