That was ugly from Celtic, and they got what they deserved after crashing out of the Champions League qualifiers on Tuesday night.
After a goalless draw in Glasgow, it was a long and gruelling trip for the Celtic players to Kazakhstan for the second leg, and they put up the same dross against Kairat Almaty.
Celtic suffered a penalty shootout defeat in Almaty, and it now means Europa League football for the champions of Scotland for the 2025/26 season.
There was very little to cheer about for Brendan Rodgers, but perhaps there is one player, and one of the youngest in the squad, who can be the only one to hold his head up high.
- READ MORE: Boca Juniors fans issue interesting reaction to Celtic closing in on Marcelo Saracchi signing
Celtic fans react to Colby Donovan’s performance following Kairat Almaty defeat
Everyone knew before the game that Alistair Johnston was sidelined after suffering a hamstring injury in the first leg of this tie.
That meant Anthony Ralston started at right-back, and after 105 minutes of action, he couldn’t continue and he was replaced by teenager Colby Donovan.
Despite the 18-year-old only being on the field of play for a short period of time, he was lauded and applauded by the Celtic Park faithful for what he produced in what was a dire display from everybody else.
@portsinfien likes what he saw from the Celtic youngster: ‘The boy Donovan looks a player.’
@KJM6898 on what he noticed with Celtic’s subs: ‘McCowan and Donovan wanting to go forward – says it all.’
@_lewisjb_ with a sarcastic response to Celtic’s performance: ‘Donovan looks good. He can pass the ball and run about a bit, so MOTM.’
@mikeymclean1987 wants to see more of Donovan: ‘Give Donovan a run until Johnstone is back. Far more athletic than Ralston and seems to have a bit of quality about him. Give him a chance, can’t be any worse.’
@A06__67 also gave the Celtic young gun his flowers: ‘Fair play to Donovan been decent since he’s been on.’
@BholdBhoy noted Donovan’s impact: ‘Donovan has done more than most have all game in his few minutes.’
@Yankee1O570 compared two of Celtic’s right-backs: ‘Donovan already shown far more than Ralston.’
@joydivision97 summed up Donovan’s performance following a dire performance from the team: ‘Donovan’s been a breath of fresh air.’
@craigr_arm wasn’t mincing his words: ‘Donovan and McCowan done more in 2 minutes than the rest of these impostors have done over 105 minutes!!’
@Champions_67 thinks the Celtic youngster should have started: ‘We should have started with Donovan at RB.’
Who starts at right-back against Rangers?
Not only do Celtic have a long trip home, but there is also the small matter of the Glasgow derby on Sunday at Ibrox.
With Johnston out injured, you wonder if Ralston will keep his XI, especially given that he seemed to have suffered some sort of knock before going off.
If he isn’t ready, then Donovan should be thrown straight into the deep end because, despite the Champions League exit, he did very little wrong.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
