BRENDAN RODGERS did not attempt to deflect the blame as the flak flew following Celtic’s second consecutive Premiership defeat.
Disgruntled fans let fly at the board after Hearts had won 2-0 to follow up last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, two setbacks that saw the champions shed six valuable points.
However, Rodgers stood up to be counted when he told Sky Sports: “You do your talking on the pitch. Today was on myself and the players.
“This was nowhere near the levels of a Celtic player and that is something that falls on me, so I need to find the answers for this group.
“This is our bread and butter. This is where you have to perform. You don’t get near Champions Leagues if you’re not performing well domestically.
CHEERLEADER…Brendan Rodgers attempts to drive on his Celtic players.
“You can’t keep having to go into expletives, you need to find the solution and the ambition as a player to come into these games after a midweek game, after a good performance in the Champions League, you need to come into the game and produce the level.
“It always starts for me against the ball and when it’s so passive and you are not aggressive enough, that, for me, is always your desire and how much you want to win the game.
“Sadly for us that then goes on to the side when you have the ball and it just wasn’t good enough.”
Rodgers and the board are united in making certain the champions get back on track as swiftly as possible and that will continue with the visit of Livingston on Saturday.
The Hoops have now shed seven points at home after the failure against the Tynecastle side that followed draws with St Johnstone (0-0) and Motherwell (1-1).
That is three more than the entirety of last term when they were unbeaten in the east end of Glasgow, but were involved in stalemates against the Fir Park outfit – again a 1-1 deadlock – and 2-2 with St Mirren.
