Alan Thompson is ready to stand aside and let somebody else take Celtic’s penalty kicks after missing another one at Parkhead last night. Fortunately for the Englishman, Gregory Coupet's first-half save did not cost Celtic as substitute Liam Miller and Chris Sutton headed goals to sink Lyon and give them three points in Champions League Group A - just one behind their conquers in the opening game, Bayern Munich.
It was the fourth time Thompson had failed to score from the spot in as many months having nudged himself ahead of Henrik Larsson and John Hartson for the daunting honour. But the midfielder has decided that the time has come to let somebody else have a crack against Rangers on Saturday and Sutton has emerged as the frontrunner to take over.
“I don't really want to dwell on it,” said Thompson. “I don't really want to take one next up. There are plenty of people in the dressing room willing to take them and Sutty said at half-time that he would be prepared to take any.
“We have plenty of characters who are strong enough so I will let them have their go. If we get one on Saturday who knows?”
Filed by Johnny Proby
