Three losers and one winner from Celtic’s St Johnstone loss as half-time subs prove one thing

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Sunday’s defeat to St Johnstone was unacceptable by Celtic’s normal standards.

It forced Callum McGregor to get tough with the Celtic captain unhappy with the complacency that has crept into the squad’s mindset in recent weeks.

Let’s not get it twisted, Celtic have been incredible at times this season and consistently won games no matter how well or off-colour they have performed at times.

• READ MORE: Harry Kewell states the interesting thing Ange Postecoglou did in Celtic training amid Tottenham stick

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	CelticCeltic	32	25	3	4	92	21	71	78
2	RangersRangers	32	20	5	7	66	33	33	65
3	HibernianHibernian	32	13	11	8	50	41	9	50
4	AberdeenAberdeen	32	14	7	11	43	47	-4	49

But St Johnstone’s win – from a Daniels Balodis goal – was a poor afternoon where not many, if any, Hoops stars earned pass marks for their performance.

We at 67 Hail Hail have picked apart the showing from Brendan Rodgers‘ men and understood why the manager said what his players are “telling him” about his squad.

And we picked out three under-par performers in particular where there may only have been one who did well… from the bench.

Three players off form

Nicolas Kuhn

Kuhn was back at his lethal best vs Hearts but that proved to be a bit of a false dawn if Sunday’s showing is anything to go by.

The German has “over-tried” this season at times amid a form dip but that didn’t end vs Saints as he lost the ball too many times while his decision-making off the ball also wasn’t good enough.

If he’d been braver he might’ve scored and he was hooked at half-time.

Jeffrey Schlupp

Another who was substituted at half-time, Schlupp was poor at McDiarmid Park.

Probably his worst performance in a green and white jersey, actually, the 32-year-old conceded the foul from which the hosts netted the only goal of the game.

He was also guilty of failing to anticipate Baldonis’ run for the header and Rodgers had seen enough by the break. To be a fly on the wall during the boss’ team-talk.

Reo Hatate

When things aren’t going Hatate’s way he can be a very frustrating player to watch.

Had a couple of shots on goal but, again, they were infuriating due to his lack of composure when it took the smallest smidge to even test goalkeeper Andy Fisher.

Rattled the post with an unlucky strike but faded as the game went and when you need more from him, he often disappears.

One Celtic bright spark

Yang

Did cause some problems for St Johnstone’s backline when he arrived on the scene which was more that can be said for his teammate.

Considered a “super-sub”, Yang might’ve been just that on another day. Teed up Adam Idah who hit the side netting and was always in among the goalmouth action.