BRENDAN RODGERS insists Celtic will have perform better if the holders are to win the Scottish Cup again this season.
The Hoops boss saw a magnificent first-ever hat-trick from James Forrest scupper Partick Thistle’s hopes of a sensational result at Parkhead this afternoon.
It ended 3-2 for Rodgers’ men as they zero in on a historic double treble, but the Irishman knows his team should have been out of sight before two blunders threw a lifeline to the Firhill outfit.
He said: “It should have been much better and less nervy, especially after the start we made.
“We started the game very well and, in the first 15 minutes, there was a good structure to the team and good positioning.
“We got two very good goals and I was very pleased.
“Then there was a big mistake that we make that gives them oxygen.
“Up until that point at 2-0, we’re thinking we can be really dominant and maybe go on and get a few more goals before half-time.
“But that gave them the lift and broke us a bit, upset our rhythm for the rest of the half.
“We got a very good start to the second-half. James Forrest got us the third goal, we’ve got other chances to score and then we make another mistake in how we give the ball away.
“They make it 3-2 and all of a sudden, with five minutes to go, it’s tight.
“There was a brilliant bit of defending by Kieran Tierney at the back post at the end to prevent them making an opportunity.
“So, overall, it was a good win for us, but we made it really difficult.
“And if we want to win the Cup, we are going to have to play much better.
“We’ve got to make fewer mistakes, both in our defending and our build-up play.
“Importantly, though, we’re through. We were good going forward, but in terms of behind, we need to be better.”
Rodgers, though, did have praise for Man of the Match Forrest. He added: “James was outstanding.
“He’s a player of real quality and how he received the ball, how he pressed the game and his goals were absolutely brilliant.”
