CALLUM McGREGOR admits Celtic players will have to get back to basics to come through the current turmoil that saw them drop two more points in an alarmingly low-key 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock at Parkhead.
Anger erupted from the stands at the full-time whistle, just a couple of minutes after the visitors had claimed a gift-wrapped equaliser with the unmarked David Watson rising to nod past Joe Hart at the back post.
The hosts couldn’t say they hadn’t been warned after the 36-year-old former England international keeper had been forced to pull off two outstanding reflex saves to deny Liam Donnelly on both occasions after his defenders failed to deal with set-plays from the visitors.
THAT’S MY BHOY…Callum McGregor congratulates Kyogo Furuhashi after his first-half goal against Kilmarnock.
Some feeble finishing and awful off-target attempts ensured the champions did not add to Kyogo Furuhashi’s excellent header in the 32nd minute.
With the jitters settling in and composure evaporating among the Hoops’ back lot, the inevitable happened when the unaware Alexandro Bernabei allowed Watson a free header to wipe two points off Celtic’s tally.
McGregor said: “It’s a big job to turn this around. There are 12 games to go and we have to find a way.
“We have to get through to everyone and make them understand what’s required here.
“How we play, there are non-negotiables. If we don’t do that, the whole team suffers.
“The players must be aware that there’s a certain standard required on the pitch.”
Celtic’s 30-year-old onfield leader, speaking to the Scottish Sun on Sunday, continued: “Something happens out of the blue where you think: ‘Where did that come from?’. That’s telling me that there’s something missing right now.
“I’ll find the answer to that, I’m sure of it.
UNDER PRESSURE…Joe Hart and Stephen Welsh display concern in the 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock.
“I will leave nothing unturned until I find the answer to that question.
“We’ve been in this position too many times this year, but it’s all about doing the basics right.
“When you don’t do that then the question gets asked about bottle and nerve. The game should be 2-0 and it should be done by half-time or by 65 minutes.
“No one’s questioning your bottle at that point, you’re doing the basics, you’re doing what the team’s asked you to do.
“Maybe we do now have a question to answer about bottle, about nerve and about everything else.
“But we have a game plan and we have the ability to be killing games early doors.
“It’s about fixing this middle period where you kill the game, and nobody asks any questions as the game’s done after 60 minutes.”
COME ON, CELTIC…Brendan Rodgers attempts to encourage his players from the touchline.
The Hoops, bidding for their twelfth title in 13 years, could lose their pole position for the first time in over two years if Philippe Clement’s side win against St Jonstone in the midday kick-off in Perth today.
McGregor added: “It doesn’t really matter whether you play first or play second, or you fall behind in the title race with 12 games to go.
“It’s about who is at the top of the table on the last day.
“It’s going to be tight and I think everybody’s going to have to brace themselves. It’s going to be really close.
“It’s about us. We have to take that responsibility as a group to fix it.”
