Match Pictures | Matches: 2020 – 2021
Trivia
- Saturday 3pm
- First St Mirren victory at Celtic Park for 31 years. So demoralised are Celtic fans they’re not up in arms. Congrats to St Mirren
- Bust up between Lennon & Griff at half-time, and Griff is taken off.
- Lots & lots of talk about Lennon has/will/should be sacked/cut/left as manager etc etc.
- Celtic Chief Exec Peter Lawell announces he’s to step down in June after 17 years. He’s done very well over his time, but last 1-2 years have been generally taken as poor management.
- Barkas undermined in Lennon prematch Radio Scotland interview by Lennon. Lennon: “Barkas – his workrate could be better… He knows himself that he hasn’t done well enough” (Radio Scotland)Hardly going public with comments like that is going to help that guy’s confidence and commitment to improve….
- Dominic McKay to take over from Peter Lawell as Chief Exec of Celtic.
- Ben Davies thought to have signed for Celtic on pre-contract to arrive in June from Preston NE. Then Liverpool nipped in!
- Frimpong signed for German side Bayer Leverkusen.
- Newcastle United have made a loan enquiry for Olivier Ntcham.Celtic would prefer an option to buy clause added into any loan deal. Ntcham has made it clear he wants to leave the club.
- Glasgow born trans woman and major electronic dance music great Sophie Xeon has died. RIP
- Marseille vs Rennes initially scheduled for tonight postponed because of the attack from OM’s own fans on their own training ground. More follows. (RMC)
- Kilmarnock start manager search, Alex Dyer leaves ‘by mutual consent’. Alex Dyer and Kilmarnock have parted ways ‘by mutual consent’ in the wake of the Ayrshire club’s 3-2 efeat to St Johnstone.
- AmFootball: Superbowl next day
- Covid:
- Vaccines being rolled out, lockdown still much in force.
Summary
“We deserved what we got today.”Ultimately I am responsible for that, that’s why I’ve taken heavy criticism this season. But other people should be accountable aswell.”I would say this is the lowest point of my manager career.”
Neil Lennon
(Tom English jouno)
First St Mirren win at Celtic Park since 1990. Jim Goodwin is a such a promising manager. Thoroughly deserved victory. To be honest, it’s no longer a surprise when Celtic lose matches. They’re in a wretched state.
(etims) a good interview on BBC Shortbread with Lenny. He couldn’t answer many of the questions because he doesn’t know how to fix things. Totally gone and has been the case for a long time. Board have let this continue.
(jbcity)
Dear @celticfc
After St Mirren today, Europa League collapse, champions league shambles, Sevco defeats, ko from league Cup, non existent league title challenge, dreadful transfers, lacklustre performances, devalued players…
It’s time for the manager to be moved on.
(inside the SPFL)
Lennon hasn’t just failed, he’s completely dismantled everything Rodgers put in place, this team is even worse than the one that was on it’s knees at the end of Deila’s run. Sevco are miles ahead now on the field and in the dugout, any new manager now has a monumental task.
Teams
Celtic:
29Bain
35Ajer
6Bitton
Substituted forWelshat 45’minutes
4Duffy
3Taylor
12Soro Substituted forChristieat 63’minutes
14Turnbull Substituted forJohnstonat 81’minutes
27Elyounoussi Substituted forAjetiat 62’minutes
42McGregor
9Griffiths Substituted forRogicat 45’minutes
22Edouard
Substitutes
1Barkas
10Ajeti
11Klimala
17Christie
18Rogic
19Johnston
56Ralston
57Welsh
93Laxalt
Goals:
Edouard (32′ minutes)
Assist:
McGregor (32′ minutes)
St Mirren
1Alnwick
22Fraser
5McCarthy
4Shaughnessy
21Connolly Substituted forTaitat 85’minutes
14MacPherson Substituted forObikaat 74’minutes
25Erhahon
17McGrath
11Durmus
10McAllister Substituted forDoyle-Hayesat 62’minutes
20Dennis Substituted forBrophyat 62’minutes
Substitutes
2Tait
7Doyle-Hayes
8Flynn
9Obika
15Finlayson
26Lyness
29Brophy
30Henderson
33Jamieson
Goals:Dennis (18′ minutes), Durmus (37′ minutes)
Assist: Connolly (18′ minutes), McAllister (37′ minutes)
Ref: Bobby Madden
Att: none – covid
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Match Links
- Prior https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/celtic-v-st-mirren-pre-match-thread-saturday-30th–t137810.html?view=unread#unread
- Match https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/celtic-v-st-mirren-live-match-thread-2nd-half-1-2–t137815.html?view=unread#unread
- Post https://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/celtic-v-st-mirren-post-match-memes-ft-1-2-edouard-t137816.html?view=unread#unread
- MoTM
Stats
Celtic
St Mirren
Possession
Home68%
Away32%
Shots
Home19
Away11
Shots on Target
Home4
Away5
Corners
Home4
Away3
Fouls
Home11
Away5
Articles
BBC
Celtic 1-2 St Mirren: Defeat is ‘lowest point’ of Neil Lennon tenure
Last updated on
30 January 202130 January 2021.From the section Celtic
Celtic ‘lacking belief and quality’ – Lennon
Neil Lennon admitted he feels let down by his players as he labelled the 2-1 defeat to St Mirren the lowest point of his Celtic managerial career.
A first home loss to the Paisley side since 1990 leaves Celtic 23 points behind Rangers with two games in hand.
Lennon “wouldn’t disagree” the pressure of pursuing a 10th consecutive Scottish title has proved too much for his side.
“There has definitely been a disconnect between the team that ended last season and started this one,” he said.
St Mirren stun Celtic in famous win
‘Lawwell farewell not what he envisaged’
Lawwell shouldn’t ‘bear brunt’ for poor season – Lennon
“The lack of belief and lack of quality – it’s not just individuals, it’s a collective, and it’s symptomatic of the season.
“It was dreadful. We deserved what we got today. I would say this is the lowest point of the six years I have been manager here [across two spells].
“This is a real test of adversity and you have to show strength. I want to show strength but I need some support and performances from players.
“Too many of them have been insipid this season, to say the least. Whatever walk of life you are in you need to have a form of professional pride. Especially at a club like this.”
After Kristian Dennis gave St Mirren an 18th-minute lead, Odsonne Edouard fired Celtic level.
But Ilkay Durmus restored the visitors’ advantage before half-time and St Mirren were good value for their first league victory over Celtic in 11 years.
Lennon admits he is at a loss over how to arrest Celtic’s slump. And, asked if the players were letting him down, the former Celtic captain said: “Honestly, at this minute I think yes, they are. And they have done for quite a while this season.
“It’s difficult to turn it round. You are looking for motivation, ideas. We have tried different formations. I just think the mindset of some of the players has changed.”
BBC
St Mirren tormented the foundering Scottish Premiership champions to deservedly claim a first away win over Celtic in 31 years.
Kristian Dennis and Ilkay Durmus struck in the first half, either side of an Odsonne Edouard reply, as Jim Goodwin’s men surged into the top six.
It ended St Mirren’s eight-year wait to beat Celtic, and is their first league win over the Glasgow club since 2010.
Celtic’s latest sobering setback leaves them 23 points behind leaders Rangers.
Neil Lennon’s men have two games in hand on their Old Firm rivals, but their season continues to unravel at an alarming rate, with one win in their last six games.
St Mirren have responded to last weekend’s League Cup semi-final heartbreak against Livingston by securing successive victories.
Defeat is ‘lowest point’ of Lennon tenure
Reaction & as it happened
The day after Celtic announced chief executive Peter Lawwell will leave at the end of the season, the club’s rudderless predicament was further underlined by an insipid performance.
St Mirren’s previous league win in this fixture – a 4-0 trouncing in Paisley – spelled the end for Celtic manager Tony Mowbray.
Current incumbent Lennon continues in the job, but he was tactically outmanoeuvred by Goodwin as St Mirren exploited the hosts’ vulnerabilities.
St Mirren’s last 11 trips to Celtic Park had yielded a total of two goals. They reached that mark this time inside 37 minutes as Goodwin carried out his pre-match pledge to attack.
When Celtic’s high-intensity start quickly fizzled out, St Mirren pounced. Dennis provided the breakthrough when he played the ball wide to Dylan Connolly then collected the return pass 10 yards out and crashed a shot beyond Scott Bain.
The hosts had offered nothing going forward, but hauled themselves level just after the half hour. Callum McGregor burst into the box and supplied Edouard to send a scuffed finish into the far corner of the net.
It was harsh on St Mirren, yet they responded within minutes. Not for the first time this season, Shane Duffy was found wanting. The centre-back failed to deal with a routine cross from Kyle McAllister as Durmus superbly took the ball down and dispatched his first league goal of the season.
Celtic’s attempted comeback was fruitless as the visitors diligently protected their lead without much stress. A succession of efforts – mainly from distance – flew off target from Edouard, Duffy, Ryan Christie and Tom Rogic.
St Mirren goalkeeper Jak Alnwick did not have a serious save to make until injury time when he clawed away a Duffy header at the near post as the Paisley side were able to celebrate a landmark victory – their first at Celtic Park since April 1990.
Man of the match – Jamie McGrath
It feels harsh to single out a St Mirren player, but the Irish midfielder matched craft with graft in a superb display
It feels harsh to single out a St Mirren player, but the Irish midfielder matched craft with graft in a superb display
What did we learn?
Celtic’s malfunctions are no longer a surprise.
The team are a shadow of the dominant force of recent years, and their confidence looks completely shot.
In contrast, Goodwin’s stock is on the rise, with St Mirren having completed an Old Firm double by adding Celtic’s scalp to that of Rangers this season.
Even with strikers Eamonn Brophy and Job Obika dropping to the bench from the team who hammered Dundee United in midweek, Goodwin’s side were full of attacking verve and excellently organised. This performance will live long in St Mirren history.
What did they say?
Celtic ‘lacking belief and quality’ – Lennon
Celtic manager Neil Lennon: “It was a poor performance, a poor result. We expect to build a crescendo of pressure and break teams down but that’s been missing this season.
“The lack of belief and lack of quality – it’s not just individuals, it’s a collective, and it’s symptomatic of the season.
“It’s a low point in terms of the performance and the result – but I’ll keep working away trying my best.”
St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin: “It’s an incredible afternoon for the players. We really fancied ourselves coming here today. The system we played was attacking and the boys bought into it brilliantly.
“We deserved the win, it wasn’t a case of Jak Alnwick making a number of great saves. We were hanging on in the last 15 minutes but that was purely down to fatigue.”
Match ends, Celtic 1, St. Mirren 2.
90’+5′
Full Time
Second Half ends, Celtic 1, St. Mirren 2.
90’+5′
Post update
Attempt missed. Jonathan Obika (St. Mirren) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Eamonn Brophy with a headed pass.
90’+4′
Post update
Attempt missed. Shane Duffy (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right.
90’+4′
Post update
Attempt saved. Shane Duffy (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Greg Taylor with a cross.
90’+2′
Post update
Foul by Odsonne Edouard (Celtic).
90’+2′
Post update
Jak Alnwick (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90′
Post update
Michael Johnston (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90′
Post update
Foul by Jake Doyle-Hayes (St. Mirren).
88′
Post update
Attempt saved. Michael Johnston (Celtic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
87′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
86′
Post update
Tomas Rogic (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
86′
Post update
Foul by Ethan Erhahon (St. Mirren).
86′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Michael Johnston (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Albian Ajeti.
85′
Substitution
Substitution, St. Mirren. Richard Tait replaces Dylan Connolly.
84′
Post update
Foul by Ryan Christie (Celtic).
84′
Post update
Dylan Connolly (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jonathan Obika (St. Mirren) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jamie McGrath with a cross.
82′
Post update
Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Greg Taylor.
82′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Dylan Connolly (St. Mirren) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ethan Erhahon.
81′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Michael Johnston replaces David Turnbull.
77′
Post update
Attempt missed. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
75′
Post update
Offside, St. Mirren. Joe Shaughnessy tries a through ball, but Eamonn Brophy is caught offside.
74′
Substitution
Substitution, St. Mirren. Jonathan Obika replaces Cameron MacPherson because of an injury.
69′
Post update
Attempt missed. Ryan Christie (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by David Turnbull.
69′
Post update
Attempt blocked. David Turnbull (Celtic) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
63′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Ryan Christie replaces Ismaila Soro.
62′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Albian Ajeti replaces Mohamed Elyounoussi.
62′
Substitution
Substitution, St. Mirren. Jake Doyle-Hayes replaces Kyle McAllister.
62′
Substitution
Substitution, St. Mirren. Eamonn Brophy replaces Kristian Dennis.
61′
Post update
Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).
61′
Post update
Ethan Erhahon (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
61′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Kyle McAllister (St. Mirren) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Dylan Connolly.
57′
Post update
Foul by Tomas Rogic (Celtic).
57′
Post update
Jamie McGrath (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
55′
Post update
Attempt missed. Shane Duffy (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by David Turnbull with a cross following a corner.
54′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Jamie McGrath.
54′
Post update
Attempt blocked. David Turnbull (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Greg Taylor.
53′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ismaila Soro.
52′
Post update
Foul by Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic).
52′
Post update
Marcus Fraser (St. Mirren) wins a free kick on the right wing.
51′
Post update
Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Shane Duffy.
51′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Kyle McAllister (St. Mirren) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
51′
Post update
Foul by Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic).
51′
Post update
Jamie McGrath (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
45′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Stephen Welsh replaces Nir Bitton.
45′
Substitution
Substitution, Celtic. Tomas Rogic replaces Leigh Griffiths.
Second Half
Second Half begins Celtic 1, St. Mirren 2.
45’+3′
Half Time
First Half ends, Celtic 1, St. Mirren 2.
45’+1′
Post update
Attempt missed. Nir Bitton (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
45′
Post update
Attempt missed. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by David Turnbull with a cross following a corner.
45′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Joe Shaughnessy.
40′
Post update
Attempt saved. David Turnbull (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kristoffer Ajer.
37′
Goal!
Goal! Celtic 1, St. Mirren 2. Ilkay Durmus (St. Mirren) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kyle McAllister with a cross.
36′
Post update
Attempt blocked. David Turnbull (Celtic) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
34′
Post update
Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
34′
Post update
Foul by Marcus Fraser (St. Mirren).
33′
Post update
Offside, Celtic. Greg Taylor tries a through ball, but Leigh Griffiths is caught offside.
32′
Goal!
Goal! Celtic 1, St. Mirren 1. Odsonne Edouard (Celtic) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Callum McGregor.
31′
Post update
Attempt blocked. Leigh Griffith
29′
Post update
Foul by Nir Bitton (Celtic).
29′
Post update
Kyle McAllister (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
26′
Post update
Attempt saved. Kristian Dennis (St. Mirren) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jamie McGrath.
25′
Post update
Foul by Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic).
25′
Post update
Cameron MacPherson (St. Mirren) wins a free kick on the right wing.
24′
Post update
Foul by Kristoffer Ajer (Celtic).
24′
Post update
Ethan Erhahon (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
23′
Post update
Attempt missed. Kristian Dennis (St. Mirren) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Kyle McAllister with a cross.
20′
Post update
Foul by Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic).
20′
Post update
Kristian Dennis (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
19′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Joe Shaughnessy.
18′
Goal!
Goal! Celtic 0, St. Mirren 1. Kristian Dennis (St. Mirren) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Dylan Connolly.
15′
Post update
Attempt missed. Mohamed Elyounoussi (Celtic) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Leigh Griffiths with a cross following a corner.
15′
Post update
Corner, Celtic. Conceded by Ilkay Durmus.
14′
Post update
Attempt saved. Jamie McGrath (St. Mirren) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kristian Dennis.
13′
Post update
Ismaila Soro (Celtic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
13′
Post update
Foul by Kyle McAllister (St. Mirren).
12′
Post update
Attempt saved. Kristian Dennis (St. Mirren) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kyle McAllister.
10′
Post update
Shane Duffy (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
10′
Post update
Foul by Joe Shaughnessy (St. Mirren).
s (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by David Turnbull.
10′
Post update
Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by David Turnbull.
8′
Post update
Foul by Callum McGregor (Celtic).
8′
Post update
Ethan Erhahon (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
5′
Post update
Attempt missed. Callum McGregor (Celtic) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Mohamed Elyounoussi.
4′
Post update
Offside, St. Mirren. Ilkay Durmus tries a through ball, but Kristian Dennis is caught offside.
1′
Post update
Offside, St. Mirren. Ethan Erhahon tries a through ball, but Kristian Dennis is caught offside.
Kick Off
First Half begins.
Posted at 14:32 30 Jan14:32 30 Jan
Post update
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Celtic 1-2 St Mirren: Neil Lennon and his team stuck in life-sucking loop – Andrew Smith’s verdict
Celtic are caught in a life-draining loop.
By Andrew Smith
Sunday, 31st January 2021, 7:00 am
First, they will deliver a pathetic performance – and the first home loss to St Mirren since April 1990 was a classic of this season’s calamitous kind. Instantly, the focus will fall on Neil Lennon being removed from position. Inaction on the front will then follow, and everything will remain as was until his side serve up another shambling showing. It remains to be seen if this is the cycle, if this can continue to be the cycle, following a 2-1 defeat by a Celtic team that appeared as if it was struggling even just to find the motions to go through.
And the tone of Lennon’s post-match suggested, more than ever, that he recognises there is a disconnect, a dysfunctionality, within the squad that is beyond solving by him. Not for the sake of a title out of reach for months, but just to prevent some final three-month freefall that could have ramifications for beyond this sorry season.
Celtic: Get the latest team news, match previews and reports
There has been much talk of legacies this week in the aftermath of the announcement that Peter Lawwell will be replaced by Dominic McKay as the club’s chief executive in July. Lawwell’s legacy, and that of Lennon, inevitably and rightly will be tarnished by the manner – and not just the fact – of Celtic failing to make a fist of going for a record tenth straight title. Yet, at least the club could announce what is perfectly understood in going public over the fact that Lennon remains in place to give the board time to identify and recruit a new manager. In effect, a Lawwell-style announcement is required for the Celtic manager.
The club appear completely rudderless on and off the pitch. And it seems the collective brain freeze afflicting all those in positions of power, whether in footballing or executive roles, precludes the decisiveness demanded. Factors beyond Lennon’s control have helped diminish Celtic to the status of a mid-table Scottish Premiership. No question, though, that the excruciating nature of the 2-1 defeat, Celtic’s third and first to other than Rangers in this ruinous Premiership season, was all on him. Which is saying something when considering almost comical aberrations from Shane Duffy that contributed to the visitors’ first-half goals.
Whenever they are confronted by opposition not scrapping at the bottom of the table, Celtic perform in a manner that would cause the uninitiated to question whether they were mid-table team. The Paisley club certainly are that now and were excellent in executing a smart game-plan. But mere competence would have blunted their eagerness to exploit Celtic on the flanks with a 3-5-1-1 formation that simultaneously allowed them to squeeze spaces in midfield. A strategy that Jim Goodwin had made no secret of pursuing in pre-match interviews.
The Duffy disaster zone gave St Mirren all the impetus they needed to survive a second-half swamping by Celtic in which, for all their possession and territorial advantage, they consistently found themselves stuck in the mud. It is hard to fathom how Duffy, a reliable Republic of Ireland captain, could be reduced to such a liability when not so long ago he was voted Brighton’s player of the year as the just promoted club retained their place in English top flight.
It should be said that, Odsonne Edouard and David Turnbull apart, no Celtic players produced pass mark displays. It was notable that Leigh Griffiths, who was completely off it, did not reappear for the second period. However it must be said that Brighton-loanee Duffy sailed close to a minus mark. The 12th-minute opener followed him sending a weak header into no-man’s land, before he lost Dylan Connolly through appearing in two minds. That allowed the wide man to drive down the right before sending in a cut-back Kristian Dennis drove in, with his shot going through Scott Bain. You could only feel for Duffy over how dismal he was made to look in the 38th minute when he turned his back on a ball chipped into the box as he was shadowing Ilkay Durmus. He seemed to completely run away from the Turkish forward as a good touch set up the St Mirren man to finish smartly.
Sandwiched between those two goals, was a sublime 25th-minute equaliser from Edouard entirely out of keeping with the desultory dross that Celtic served up throughout so much of the opening period. A driving run from Callum McGregor down the left channel led to him flipping over a cross that, with one touch, the Frenchman took round Conor McCarthy, and with another, he dinked into the far corner. Duffy, by his own efforts, fashioned a huge chance to atone for his earlier errors in added time when he rose superbly to deliver a netbound header that Jak Alnwick somehow managed to claw away.
It would have been ill-deserved for the raggedness Lennon acknowledged his team, which he chopped and changed, had exhibited across an impoverished display. There have been so many of these across this armageddon of a season for Celtic, but it seems they will be never-ending. When it comes to legacies, what matters most is what reverberates down through the years from the mushroom cloud that has laid waste to Celtic as a football force in these past seven months.
Celtic: Bain, Ajer, Bitton (Welsh 46), Duffy, Taylor: Soro (Christie 62); Turnbull (Johnston 81), Elyounoussi (Ajeti 62), McGregor, Edouard, Griffiths (Rogic 46).
St Mirren: Alnwick, Fraser, McCarthy, Shaughness:, Connolly, MacPherson (Obika 74), Erhahon (Tait 85), McGrath, Durmus; McAllister (Doyle-Hayes 62); Dennis (Brophy 62).
‘The lowest point’: Neil Lennon questions Celtic players’ professionalism after dire St Mirren loss
Neil Lennon admitted that he had suffered the lowest point of six years managing Celtic as he delivered a coruscating assessment of another horrendous display that saw them beaten at home by St Mirren for the first time in almost 31 years.
By Andrew Smith
Saturday, 30th January 2021, 6:34 pm
The 2-1 defeat intensified the pressure on Lennon again, whose position is under intense scrutiny once more. He called out his squad for their inability to show the appetite required in an appalling league campaign that see a 23-point chasm between them and a Rangers that have played only two games more.
“I think, yes, they are,” he said when asked if the players were letting him down, sound more at a loss than ever. “And they have done for quite a while this season. It’s difficult to turn it round. You are looking for motivation, ideas. We have tried different formations, 4-3-3, 3-5-2, 4-diamond-2. So we haven’t changed our philosophy or training programme. I just think the mind-set of some of the players has changed. If we play like that we are going to win nothing. If we approach the opposition like that we are going to win nothing.
Celtic: Get the latest team news, match previews and reports
If we play with no intensity and no will to win, just fulfilling a fixture we are not going to win everything.’
“I would say this is the lowest point of my management here, over the six years I have been manager [but] not really, no [does it change my mind on my future here]. This is a real test of adversity and you have got to show strength. I want to show strength but I need some support and performances from players.Too many of them have been insipid this season to say the least. Look, whatever walk of life you are in you need to have a form of professional pride. Especially at a club like this. To be fair to the players, over the years they have done. That has been sadly lacking this season. For whatever reason. Maybe the pressure of doing the ten has been too much for them. Maybe they have just got tired of winning, tired of playing in Scotland, tired of living in Scotland I don’t know. That;s a question you need to ask them.”
Celtic remain in talks with Preston over a deal for centre-back Ben Davies, following erroneous reports the player had signed a pre-contract. In the remaining days of the window they will attempt to agree a fee to bring in him immediately, but Lennon was circumspect about that outcome. “We’d like that to happen but again I can’t say for sure if that’s going to happen or not,” he said. “We are hoping to get some business done over the next day or two.”
…