CELTIC are in danger of shooting themselves in the foot if they don’t sort out their firing squad. Pronto!
There was a distinct lack of quality on display in the final third during the Premiership opener as the champions were forced to rely on an 87th-minute goal from substitute Luke McCowan to get off to a winning start.
St Mirren played with the format that saw the Hoops locked out until the fading moments of stoppage-time in the Paisley club’s last visit to Parkhead in the final league game of last season.
On that occasion, Brendan Rodgers’ side were heading for a 1-0 loss until sprightly veteran James Forrest popped up with a fairytale strike and virtually the last kick of the ball to prevent a dismal defeat on Trophy Day.
SOMETHING STINKS…a candid shot of Brendan Rodgers. Image courtesy Celtic TV.
It wasn’t quite so dramatic this time around, but it did have the look of a scoreless stalemate as the clock ticked down and Shamal George’s goal remained intact.
The keeper had his moments of good fortune, especially eight minutes after the turnaround when Reo Hatate’s deflected shot completely bamboozled the towering shotstopper before thudding against his right-hand post, rebounding to hit his legs and then bouncing back off the upright and past for a corner-kick.
The Englishman could afford to laugh and he had reasons to smile on two other occasions when he deflected a Benjamin Nygren strike against the woodwork in first-half added-on time and again when he was left helpless when Adam Idah rattled his left-hand post from close range.
And George and his team-mates were rescued by the rule-book when Callum McGregor’s low drive in the 68th minute was ruled out after VAR had spotted the ball accidentally hitting the captain’s elbow in the build-up.
Reflecting on a job ultimately well done, Rodgers said: “To win in the first game of the season is always good and it rounds off a lot of the good work that we’ve done over pre-season.
“I’m absolutely pleased with the performance.
THE WRITE STUFF…Brendan Rodgers takes notes as Auston Trusty and Arne Engels wait for their turn to make an appearance against St Mirren.
“Everyone knows St Mirren and Stephen Robinson’s coaching qualities, they’re such a hard team to break down. You have to be aware of the threat on the counter-attack, the physicality at set-pieces.
“At times, we moved the ball really well. At other times we could have attacked a wee bit more when we got into certain positions and been a bit more aggressive.
“But, overall, to play against that team, against that system, that’s how you’ve got to work it and then you need better quality to finish it.”
If the hosts, beginning their quest for a phenomenal fourteenth title in 15 years, had possessed a finisher of the ability of, say, Kyogo Furuhashi, there is every chance there would have been no such nail-biting finish.
However, the fans’ favourite is no longer in the building and is ready to kick off his new career at Championship outfit Birmingham City after a £10million pit-stop at Rennes.
SEALED WITH A KISS… Brendan Rodgers’ gesture before kick-off.
The speculation about the identity of the player Celtic can conjure up to solve their most obvious flaw in their make-up will go on until the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
Rodgers, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “We hope to do some business over the period.
“I am not going to get bogged down on it, we know what we need. We will continue to work to play like we did on this occasion.
“I am fed up talking about transfers. We have got to the end of the window [to do business], we concentrate on what is here. There’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes to improve the squad.
“There is a long way to go in the market. Today is about the players. Throughout pre-season, all the staff as well, it’s been a good pre-season.
“It’s always nice when you get that victory in the first game of the season, it’s a victory for everyone. Really pleased.”
ENDGAME…Brendan Rodgers consoles Saints boss Stephen Robinson at full-time.
Rodgers paid tribute to rival netminder George’s defiant performance and added: “I think it’s clear. I think everyone who was at the game or watched it on TV would say that.
“Sometimes you need a wee bit of good fortune, as well. We didn’t quite have that, but some of them hit the post and the bar. You have to give credit to their keeper and to St Mirren as a whole.
“Teams aren’t just going to roll up here. There’s no space, it’s tight, it’s compact and I thought the players came through so well.”
Next up, it’s a trip to Pittodrie to take on Aberdeen, the team who wrecked Celtic’s dream of a ninth domestic treble.
McCOWAN THE HERO FOR DEFIANT CHAMPIONS
