LESS than two years ago – August 20 2023, to be precise – Brendan Rodgers lost his first Cup-tie as manager of Celtic.
In his first stint in charge, the Irishman had clocked up an impeccable sequence of silverware success with TWENTY-FOUR consecutive wins in the domestic Cups.
That phenomenal run included two Scottish Cup triumphs – Aberdeen (2-1) and Motherwell (2-0) – and three League Cups – a double over the Dons (3-0 and 1-0) plus a 2-1 victory against Well.
However, any hopes of lifting an honour early into his comeback were scuppered in the holders’ 1-0 nosedive against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park where Marley Watkins scored the only goal just before the hour mark.
SPORTING GESTURE…Brendan Rodgers acknowledges the fans after Celtic’s shock League Cup exit against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on August 20 2023.
It was a massive disappointment for Rodgers who had enjoyed seven successive trophies at the club following his arrival in June 2016 and sudden departure in February 2019. There were also back-to-back Premier League wins to sit alongside the five Cups.
His return hadn’t met with universal approval from the Hoops support and a Cup exit in only his third game since taking over from Spurs-bound Ange Postecoglou certainly didn’t help his case.
After Premiership wins over Ross County, 4-2 at Parkhead, and Aberdeen, 3-1 at Pittodrie, Rodgers went into the unknown with the setback in Ayrshire in the trophy then under the guise of the Viaplay League Cup.
How would the manager react to his first-ever reverse?
Two years on, we have our answer.
A total of TEN players who represented Celtic that fateful afternoon are no longer at Parkhead; one has retired, seven have moved out on permanent deals and two are currently on loan.
THE SURVIVORS…Callum McGregor goes through the ritual pre-match handshakes with the opposition while Daizen Maeda (extreme left) lines up with his team-mates.
Popular keeper Joe Hart, of course, hung up his gloves at the age of 37 last summer while midfielder Odin Holm still has four months to run on his temporary switch to MLS outfit Los Angeles.
Centre-back Maik Nawrocki, a £4.3million signing from Legia Warsaw at the same time Rodgers returned, has joined German second-tier club Hannover 96 on a season-long deal.
Hart; Ralston, Nawrocki, Lagerbielke, Taylor; Holm (sub: Turnbull 64), McGregor, O’Riley (sub: Haksabanovic 75); Abada (sub: Yang 64), Kyogo, Maeda.
The line-up against Falkirk on Friday was:
Sinisalo; Johnston, Murray, Trusty, Tierney (sub: Scales 63); McCowan, McGregor, Engels (sub: Bernardo 77); Forrest (sub: Nygren 77), Kenny (sub: Yamada 63) and Maeda (sub: Yang 63).
