FORMER Celtic goal hero Chris Sutton reckons some of the criticism that has been heaped upon Brendan Rodgers’ team after the derby defeat has been “pretty laughable”.
After clawing back a two-goal interval deficit a fortnight ago, goals from Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate had the game balanced at 2-2 with 16 minutes plus stoppage-time still to play.
The momentum was with the Hoops as they chased the winner, but there was an alarming moment of defensive failure in the 88th minute when Rangers keeper Jack Butland launched a goal-kick deep into the Hoops half.
Inexplicably, Cameron Carter-Vickers took his eye off the ball, completely missed what should have been a routine header and Alistair Johnston slipped at the fatal moment as the huge kick dropped in the direction of Hamza Igamane.
HEAD BHOY…Daizen Maeda bullets Celtic’s first goal past Rangers keeper Jack Butland.
The Canadian international right-back recovered in at attempt to divert the danger, but his powderpuff challenge on the Moroccan hitman merely teed up the opportunity for the Ibrox frontman and he first-timed a raging drive into Kasper Schmeichel’s top left-hand corner of the net.
Blunder piling upon blunder led to the inevitable concession of a ridiculous goal and Celtic paid the price as the Govan club celebrated their first victory in the east end of Glasgow in five years.
The defeat brought the anticipated landslide of criticism of a team that lost back-to-back games against Rangers for the first time in Rodgers’ two stints at the club.
The manager and his players have had a fortnight to reflect on the failure and, following the international break, go back into action at the same venue this afternoon when Hearts provide the opposition.
Looking at the situation, Sutton said: “Brendan Rodgers’ team have lost just twice all season, they are 13 points clear and are favourites to go on and win a treble.
“But having lost to Rangers, you’d think they were rubbish and in need of a total rebuild.
“Yes, they lost the derby and all the talk is about how Rangers are back – yet again.
ANGUISH…Brendan Rodgers watches Celtic toil against Ibrox opponents.
“In reality, though, at 2-2, there only looked one winner and it could quite easily have ended up a victory despite not playing their best.
“Instead, Rangers went up and grabbed a goal of their own to get the bragging rights for a few weeks. Fair enough, that’s how it goes.”
The one-time England international striker, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “Some of the knee-jerking has been pretty laughable, but that’s how it works in these parts.
“Celtic do need a response, though, as even though the title isn’t really a doubt, they won’t want to limp over the line.”
*DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Hearts this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
