Celtic’s malaise continued today, failing to break down a determined St Johnstone side and only managing a 0-0 result at home in the Scottish Premiership.
Expectations were high that the Bhoys would bounce back from last week’s Scottish League Cup exit with a victory this afternoon, but two valuable points were dropped and the club faces more questions about a slow summer.
The schedule only gets tougher over the next few weeks with a trip to Ibrox on the horizon before the small matter of the UEFA Champions League. Understandably, there are concerns amongst supporters.
And Rodgers was obviously unhappy himself in the aftermath, speaking to BBC Radio Scotland. He said: “No, we didn’t deserve the win. There was enough effort from the players and the goalkeeper makes a couple of really good saves but overall we didn’t play with the tempo that we would want to, or have that little bit of craft you need to break down a team that is low.
“St Johnstone deserved something from the game. For us, we lacked a number of things we needed to win the game.
“There’s a number of things we’re working on. But certainly, the tempo of the game was too slow. We had chances, we arrived in good places on the field but we had to show more imagination and quality to penetrate – sadly we weren’t able to do that.”
Later, he said: “After you win a treble it can happen. You put such a big effort into last season, then you come into this season there’s a greater expectation, opponents will always up their game against you. But it’s my job to find the solutions.”
Those solutions must be found quickly. Next week’s journey to Ibrox is looking tougher with every passing day due to injuries and performance struggles.
The staff and the players have to find something in themselves this week to reverse what are worrying signs for the season ahead. A negative result in the derby is only going to add to the upset and pressure building at this moment in time.
In other news, Stephen McGowan reports Celtic transfer ambition in final week of window.
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