It's not very often a side strolls to a 4-0 victory and then is on the end of a battering from the boss.
But Liam Scales knows the bar is set pretty high at Parkhead these days under Ange Postecoglou.
The full-back scored a sensational opener but no one escaped the wrath of the gaffer as he dished out the half time hair dryer treatment after a lacklustre first 45 against Raith Rovers.
The Hoops players could say they didn’t see it coming either as they usually calm Aussie spent much of that opening half prowling the touchline like a lion waiting for his dinner.
Celtic didn’t make such a meal of the Championship men in the second half but Scales admitted it was only after the manager showed his teeth.
He said: “There were mixed emotions as we didn’t quite get to our levels in the first half. We were much better in the second half and it’s good to progress in the competition.
“But it says the standards are very high here. The scoreline looked good but the performance wasn’t where it needed to be.
“The manager got that message across it wasn’t good enough and you saw the difference in the second half.
“I’m not sure why, we just weren’t clicking. It happens in football but we needed to be quicker and Raith did quite well.
“It’s a reminder the standards are so high. He wants us on top of our game no matter who we are playing against – and rightly so.
“Does he have his moments? I’m not sure if I can say!
“It’s obviously frustrating for him when we are not getting to the levels we know we can.
“He has to get his point across, like every manager does.
“The competition is high here and everyone wants to do well when they get their chance, so it’s disappointing when you don’t hit those levels.”
Scales got more pass marks than most – especially with his stunning goal.
The full back made the most of his new role at Celtic, pushing right up the pitch and popping up in a position usually reserved for the strikers.
But he finished as well as any frontman as he whipped his 25 yarder in to the top. corner.
Scales said: “It’s up there with my top two or three but the fact it’s my first at Celtic Park makes it special.
“The role is different to what most left backs what we do. I think it allows you to get in to more advanced positions than usual left or right backs would.
“It’s something different and I really enjoy it. The manager wants his full backs to show in pockets on the inside because it gives the opposition something to think about.
“I’ve had to learn it as I’ve never played in that system before here, but we do a lot of work on it.
“You can see as the season has gone on, all the full backs have taken to it.
“Sometimes you end up in positions attacking midfielders turn up and I got the chance to shoot out there.
“I sometimes do it in training but not all the time – that was good!”
There was something a little off at Celtic Park yesterday though and Scales could sense it as well.
The standing section was closed after cops and local authorities clamped down on Celts for the firework show in the recent Old Firm win so there was an afternoon on the naughty step for the Green Brigade Ultras group.
Scales admitted the atmosphere took a hit but it was up to the player to generate their own at times and he’s glad it should be a different story when Bodo/Glimt come calling in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night.
He said: “Of course you miss it. There’s a lot of signing and it’s constantly loud. It creates a great atmosphere and it gets you up and moving.
“It was missed. We need top prepare for Bodo as they will be a different challenge with a different style than we’re used to.
“We’ll do out work on them.”
Scales would love to be involved. The youngster has looked the part any time he has been called on this season and he’s proved he can push regular left back Greg Taylor for a starting role.
But the 21-year-old is aware it’s a squad game at Celtic Park and you only need to look at the bench against Raith to see Celts have plenty of firepower.
Postecoglou chucked on the likes of Jota, Liel Abada and Daizen Maeda yesterday and they lit the place up.
Scales said: “There is strength in depth, you could see that from the players who came off the bench.
“It does keep the morale high across the squad because everyone knows they will eventually get their chance.
“We do a lot of work in training to keep everyone sharp and match ready.”
