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Ange Postecoglou fronts up with honest assessment after Celtic defeat to St Mirren

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Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has given his reaction to today’s 2-0 defeat to St Mirren in Paisley.

It was a bad afternoon across the board for the Bhoys, with team selection, individual performances and defending all coming under question from supporters.

Postecoglou, as you’d expect, didn’t shy away from the issues witnessed today and admitted the levels were far below his expectations for this football team.

Celtic FC v Rangers FC - Cinch Scottish Premiership
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Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland [14:05], he said: “It wasn’t up to our levels. First of all, credit to St Mirren, I thought they worked really hard and committed to their gameplan and made it difficult for us. Our performance was nowhere near the levels it needs to be.

“There could be a number of reasons for it. We didn’t perform in any of the areas we like to perform in, and have been performing in, there wasn’t anything hugely positive out of today. Everything, including team selection, was probably not right.

“We just didn’t start the game well, with the right tempo and intensity we usually do. We weren’t aggressive with our football. We’ve progressed a hell of a lot over the last 15 months, but there’s always a reminder there’s more work to do. We know that if we don’t perform to the levels we do, every team is a potential hurdle.”

Thankfully it’s been rare to hear these kinds of words from the manager since he arrived. Today was Celtic’s first defeat in the league for almost a full calendar year.

That record doesn’t absolve the performance, but it does demonstrate that the chances are Celtic will get back to winning ways sooner rather than later.

There’s a two-week international break now, with Motherwell visiting Paradise on 1st October – a day that will be about getting back on track ahead of a big fixture against RB Leipzig.

In other news, Jim Goodwin defends Celtic loanee after sending off; blasts Ryan Porteous behaviour.