GRIM-FACED Brendan Rodgers watched an excruciating rerun of too many of Celtic abysmal performances this season in the embarrassing 2-0 collapse against Dundee at Dens Park this afternoon.
The champions just did not respond to the energy and spirit of a workmanlike home side who were two goals to the good at the interval.
Anyone waiting for a rousing second-half revival from the visitors is still waiting.
A below-par Celtic team lacked the imagination, the creativity, the desire and the cutting edge to overcome opponents who were rag-dolled by Aberdeen in their previous outing when they were walloped 4-0 at Pittodrie.
THE LONG WALK…Brendan Rodgers heads for the DEns Park dressing room after the 2-0 flop.
A fairly tepid display by the visitors on this occasion gifted the hosts a rare victory and allowed Hearts to consolidate their five-point advantage at the Premiership pinnacle.
Derek McInnes and Rodgers lock horns at Tynecastle a week today and the Irishman will have to respond to the very real title challenge from the Edinburgh club.
It’s unthinkable to trail the Gorgie club by eight points this early in the campaign.
Looking at the lamentable showing from his team on Tayside, Rodgers said: “I’m hugely disappointed and frustrated in the performance and the result.
“Dundee defended really well, they got the goal from the set-piece, but, still, we didn’t do enough with the ball when we had it.
“Their second goal is a poor goal and then, from that, we’re chasing the game at 2-0 and I think the story of today is probably the story of a lot of the season.
“In six of the games we haven’t scored, so that always makes it a real challenge, especially playing against a team that are up in the game and defending deep.”
A LOT TO PONDER…Brendan Rodgers watches as an inept display from his Celtic players.
The Hoops gaffer, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “We’ve dominated games, we’ve had opportunities, we could have had maybe a couple of goals today.
“But if you don’t have that killer instinct or you can’t find that bit of finesse to get the goal, then it’s a tough one for you.
“I said before this game that we had seven games and I said to the players that we must relish this challenge, and the challenge is to go and show what you’re like as a team and what you’re like as an individual player.
“Today we didn’t show that.
“I think there’s lots of effort, lots of endeavour and there’s always lots of pressure when you play for Celtic.
“However, result-wise and performance-wise, if we’re going to get more consistent results, then we have to be better than we were today.”
CLUELESS AND POINTLESS FROM BRENDAN’S LOST BHOYS
