Celtic loanee Lee O'Connor dropped for second game

By Connor Gordon

March 11, 2020

Celtic defender Lee O’Connor has been dropped by Partick Thistle for the second match in a row.

The Irishman joined the Jags in January in a bid to play first team football.

O’Connor has managed four league matches but has found himself in a relegation dogfight.

Has the ex-Manchester United man made an error by joining the Glasgow club?

Celtic defender Lee O’Connor may regret joining Partick Thistle

The highly rated defender hasn’t played a game for the Hoops first team since joining last September.

Celtic defender Lee O’Connor is under pressure at Partick Thistle. (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Perhaps it’s admirable that O’Connor dropped down a level to play for Ian McCall’s side.

O’Connor has been deployed at right-back for the Firhill side who are at the bottom of the Scottish Championship.

He is yet to be on the winning side in his five matches in all competitions, scoring no goals.

O’Connor was resigned to the bench for the last two matches against Dundee United and Dunfermline.

Ian McCall isn’t playing the Irish youth international. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Of course, Thistle’s downfall cannot be attributed to one man, but he appears to be punished.

Thistle’s hammer throwing long ball tactics may not suit O’Connor, coming from a higher level.

However, his defensive capabilities would have been tested in backs against the walls performances.

O’Connor is up against first choice right-back Jeremie Frimpong on his return. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

It could be the case that O’Connor underrated the massive task at hand, especially with a challenging team in Thistle.

Hopefully this doesn’t dent his confidence for when he returns to The Bhoys in the summer.

But, he will have a massive task on his hands to displace Jeremie Frimpong and Hatem Abd Elhamed.