Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has declared that the second-half performance vs Kilmarnock on Sunday was one of the worst he’s seen from the Bhoys.
Celtic were 1-0 up and looking pretty comfortable going into the interval at Rugby Park. However, it seemed that Brendan Rodgers’ side never really got started in the second half.
Killie got at the Celtic defence with some direct and physical play and, in the end, probably deserved to take all three points from the encounter. Nat Phillips conceded an own goal and Matty Kennedy netted a late effort to win 2-1.
Rodgers himself wasn’t happy in his post-match interview and Sutton delivered a brutal verdict on the afternoon’s work, or lack of.
Chris Sutton blasts Celtic performance vs Kilmarnock
The Sky Sports pundit said on social media: “That second-half performance was one of the worst I’ve seen from a Celtic team. You can be outplayed but you can’t be outfought and outrun. Well played Kilmarnock.”
It’s hard to disagree with what Sutton has had to say. It was a dreadful 45 minutes, perhaps even worse than the first half last week against St Johnstone which prompted Rodgers to be the angriest he’s ever been in his career.
If Celtic play like this, even sporadically, going forward this season then plenty more points will be dropped.
As it stands the Bhoys are five points clear at the top of the table, but it’s not an imperious lead. Rangers hold a game in hand and there is a derby between the two sides at the end of the month.
There are five league matches between now and the winter break. The Bhoys need to show they can go on a winning run.
It’s not quite time to panic, but there’s no buffer now and any performance which seemingly lacks application, intensity and effort will come under even sharper scrutiny.
In other news, Brendan Rodgers’ verdict on Nat Phillips Celtic loan as Liverpool return looms.
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