Brendan as well as the players got it wrong on Sunday

Celtic without Reo Hatate are blunt.  This was true at the start of the season, when he missed out on the draw with St Johnstone and clearly still holds during his current injury spell.  Pitching Paulo Bernardo, David Turnbull or Odin Holm into the mix is no substitution, they are different players for different roles.

Although Mikey Johnston rightly got plaudits for the transformation at Perth on Sunday,  dropping Kyogo into the space vacated by Turnbull, with Oh up top, was just as significant to the outcome.  The versatility of Callum McGregor cannot be forgotten either.  Callum only dropped into the 6 position after the departure of Scott Brown.  Tomoki Iwata can play in the deeper role and allow Callum to take up a more advanced position.

Brendan’s anger at the first half performance against St Johnstone was both scathing and appropriate.  The manager, though, also got it wrong.  He is the one paid the big bucks to make a silk purse out of an injury crisis.