BRENDAN RODGERS admits he will have to look at himself after Celtic’s 1-0 flop against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.
The Hoops arrived in Perth knowing that a win against the team languishing at the foot of the Premiership would set up a potential title party at Parkhead when Kilmarnock are the visitors on Saturday.
Instead, a dismal performance from the champions saw them capitulate in unacceptable circumstances to a fourth-minute goal for their fourth league defeat since the turn of the year.
Rodgers’ faltering side had already lost twice to Rangers and once to Hibs before this nosedive in Perth.
It is not a sequence anyone would expect from a team bidding for their fourth successive crown – and the Celtic manager accepted that
DISAPPOINTED…Brendan Rodgers reflects on the shocking loss in Perth. Image courtesy Celtic TV.
Reflecting on the dismal scoreline and the equally dire display against the top-flight’s strugglers, Rodgers said: ““This is on everyone, we have to look at that as a team.
“Everything we’ve ever done has been a collective. That’s firstly on me, so I need to think about in terms of my teaching, my inspiration, my motivation.
“Am I doing the right things to get them to that point? So, firstly, I look at myself.
“I’m very disappointed with the performance and the result. We didn’t start the game well, which was a concern.
“We’ve had that a number of times, that’s just about mentality, that’s about ambition in the game.
“They started more aggressive, won some duels and we didn’t deal with them at all.
“In the second-half we came out and obviously we dominated and we create opportunities, the keeper made some great saves, but it’s a mind-set that I don’t like.”
In the second-half, Reo Hatate clattered the woodwork and then fired wildly over the bar from a great position. Chances were made and scorned.
In the 81st minute, substitute James Forrest, without a goal this season, squandered a simple tap-in when he directed the ball at keeper Andy Fisher who shouldn’t have had an earthly as he scampered across his goal-line following a right-wing cross from Adam Idah.
There were other culprits as shots were fired waywardly off target in a procession of misses.
Rodgers, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “I expect us to take those opportunities.
“We got into some really good areas, and, like I said, it was a combination of just not that clinical edge to the game, their keeper making some fantastic saves, and their players making some great blocks.
“It’s about getting your mentality right before you even kick a ball.
“We’ve had one or two games where we’re waiting for the game and that worries me when I look at the squad.”
Rodgers added: “The squad have shown great mental strength over the course of the season, but have lacked that ambition in games and, especially today.
“There’s no excuse. We had three sides of the ground full. And with your own supporters pushing you on expecting. Maybe that’s something I have to look at – expectation versus underdog.
“Because everyone can play as an underdog, but when you’re a Celtic player you have to deal with both.
“You’ve got to deal with the underdog in the Champions League at times and then you have to deal with the expectation at home and being the top team.
“That’s something that has really disappointed me today.”
