Sinisalo hopes 'goals start flying in' after Celtic net six

[SNS]

Viljami Sinisalo is convinced Celtic's extra-time goal flurry in Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final victory over St Mirren can mark the start of an improvement in attacking output.

The Parkhead side's scoring has plummeted this season compared with last, but they netted four in six minutes to progress to next month's final after letting a two-goal lead slip at Hampden.

Goalkeeper Sinisalo believes that spell can help them rediscover their best scoring form as they aim to climb to the summit of the Scottish Premiership in their final five post-split matches.

"I'm hopeful we'll take a lot from that," he said. "Hopefully the goals can start flying in like they did on Sunday.

"It's definitely there, it's just about putting yourself in that position more often, playing the forward pass more often and being in and around the opposition box to have those moments.

"We've got to somehow find a way to be in those moments more often, like we were four times in six minutes.

"If you put pressure on your opponent, play it forward and run forward, you've always got a chance of creating moments like that - and then individual brilliance sometimes takes over, like it did on Sunday."

Celtic are third in the Premiership, three points behind leaders Hearts and two adrift of city rivals Rangers, with an inferior goal difference to both sides.

Despite that, Sinisalo insists there remains a strong belief within the dressing room they can get themselves back on top and retain the title they have won in 13 of the previous 14 seasons.

"We're a very tight-knit group, we fight for each other and we're good team-mates," he added. "We get criticised, that's absolutely fair - that's what you sign up for when you're a footballer.

"But the belief is there. We'll do our job and see where it takes us, but there's definitely a belief among the group and the staff that we can do something.

"There's the tactical stuff and then there's the mental stuff that you hope helps you. We've been there before and there are players who have won a lot, so hopefully that's one thing."