Thursday 18 August 2016 19:34, UK
Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon is satisfied with the advantage the Hoops will take into the second leg of their Champions League play-off next week.
Brendan Rodgers' side are on course to qualify for the group stage for the first time in three years, after a drama-filled 5-2 win over Hapoel Be'er Sheva at Parkhead on Wednesday night.
Celtic were 3-0 ahead at half-time following a double from Leigh Griffiths and a strike from Tom Rogic, but the visitors clawed two goals back inside two minutes after the break before late goals from Moussa Dembele and Scott Brown secured a 5-2 victory.
Gordon is confident that a three-goal lead will now be enough going into the second leg in Israel.
"It's a good result," said Gordon. "If we'd been asked beforehand, we would have taken that so we'll go over there with a good lead.
"It's not finished yet but we've certainly put ourselves in a good position.
"They've shown their qualities as well and scored two goals away from home so we have to respect that they'll be good on their own patch and go over there and do a good defensive job.
"We kept creating chances and we have great forward players always capable of scoring goals."
The former Sunderland man also felt the self-belief instilled in the players by Rodgers has been crucial, especially in their European journey so far
The Scottish champions have beaten Gibraltar part-timers Lincoln Red Imps and FC Astana of Kazakhstan and Gordon praised the efforts of his manager.
"The manager's come in and done very well," he said. "He's got everybody believing in one another and every time we've been asked a question we've come up with an answer."
Gordon will not have everything his own way up at Celtic Park in the coming months, with new signing Dorus de Vries set to challenge him for the No 1 jersey.
De Vries joined the Scottish champions from Nottingham Forest on a two-year deal last weekend and Gordon is relaxed about the added competition.
He said: "You need three top-quality goalkeepers when you go and try to get into the Champions League so we'll see what happens."
