BRENDAN RODGERS will make sure Celtic are up to speed when they take on St Mirren at Parkhead on Wednesday evening.
The Hoops boss watched a second blankety-blank performance from the champions as they struggled through a drab scoreless stalemate against Hibs at Easter Road yesterday.
It was the identical scoreline as the outcome of another low-key display against St Johnstone in Glasgow in August and the team have now carelessly shed four points in their first 10 Premiership games as they aim for their twelfth title in 13 years.
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT…disappointed Brendan Rodgers and Cameron Carter-Vickers, Anthony Ralston and Callum McGregor acknowledge the Celtic fans after the goalless draw at Easter Road.
That’s one more dropped point than last term when Ange Postecoglou’s side had won nine out of 10 of their opening league games – the only setback coming in the 2-0 loss in Paisley in September.
The nearest the visitors came to a barrier-breaking goal in the capital came in the fading moments when James Forrest clattered the crossbar with a close-range effort following a left-wing corner-kick.
With a little bit more composure, the evergreen winger, who is still waiting to get off the mark in this campaign, would surely have claimed the matchwinner.
Rodgers said: “I thought we dominated without really affecting it too much in the final third until that last 20 minutes.
“We had to play with more speed earlier on, I think the game was too slow for us. We were too comfortable with their passing and didn’t have enough energy or enough penetration in the game.
“So, that was a disappointment. I think after we made the subs who came in and affected the dynamic of the game, we started playing quicker and started to connect more.
BALL-WATCHING…Paulo Bernardo tussles with Hibs defender Jimmy Jeggo at Easter Road.
“And, of course, when you make more passes at that speed then it tires out the opposition.
“So, we had a lot of efforts in goal, but couldn’t quite just make the breakthrough.”
Rodgers is now preparing his squad to go against Stephen Robinson’s side who are eight points adrift following their 4-0 home win over St Johnstone.
The Irishman, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “They are all tough games, but I have to say we have played 10 games so far in the league, eight we’ve won, two we’ve drawn and we’ve been to virtually every tough ground in the country away from home.
“So, on this occasion, we just weren’t quite at our best, but we take a point and we’ll go on to Wednesday now.”
