LIAM SCALES is part of a shaky Celtic defence that has managed only two clean sheets in the past 11 games.
Joe Hart was left exposed and helpless three times at Hampden as Aberdeen struck on each occasion in a rollicking 3-3 stalemate after ex-tra-time in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
It was the second time in three outings the keeper, who will retire at the end of the season, had conceded three goals after the 3-3 draw at Ibrox earlier in the month.
The holders walked a tightrope at the national stadium against a Pittodrie outfit who scrapped all the way before eventually being dismissed 6-5 following a thrilling penalty-kick shoot-out.
RISE AND SHINE…Adam Idah and Liam Scales put the pressure on the Aberdeen defence.
Brendan Rodgers’ side return to the venue to bring down the curtain on a topsy-turvy campaign on the iconic date of May 25.
Before they face Philippe Clement’s Govan outfit, the champions, holding a three-point advantage, have a five-game countdown to the league title starting with a visit to Dens Park to take on Dundee on Sunday.
Scales admitted there is concern following the defensive lapses and said: “That’s dead right. It is a warning.
“We will look at what we need to do better. We discussed it in the changing room after the game and we talked about how we could have improved at the goals.
“Obviously, football is a game of small margins, so it’s about little changes that can help you avoid these things.
“It will be looked at closely because clean sheets are just as important as scoring goals.
“It’s a big part of what we want to do in the remaining games this season.”
ON THE BALL…Liam Scales is a study in concentration at Hampden.
The Scottish showpiece climax against their city rivals and the derby encounter a fortnight earlier have caught the imagination of the public, but the Republic of Ireland international central defender insists the Hoops must forget about the match at Parkhead and the Hampden crescendo.
Scales, speaking to the Scottish Sun, added: “That is 100 per cent the case. It’s not just about that game.
“All of these teams are in the top six for a reason. They are the better sides in the league and generally in form. Every game is going to be really tough.
“We have a difficult match in Dundee this weekend and we are not looking beyond that.
“It’s our next game and if we don’t win the two games before we play Rangers, it won’t matter what we do in that one.
“That’s what we are really focused on.”
