Celtic great Paul Lambert feels that the Hoops are currently missing the crowds badly, and that could have been a contributing factor in the 4-1 defeat to Sparta Prague, making the comments whilst appearing on BBC Sportsound.
The Hoops are in a bad run of form at the moment, having won only one game in the last six. Lambert believes that the lack of fans in the stadium isn’t helping with that.
“They need the crowd back”
“The big thing for me is how important the crowd is; Sparta Prague would have come there with a full Parkhead, the crowd make you…you run and you run and you run, they need the crowd back without a doubt, they need them back” Lambert said, as quoted on BBC Sportsound. (06/11/20, 18:28).
Those comments won’t wash with the Celtic support, you would imagine. After all, every team is in a similar situation this season, playing in an empty stadium. Indeed, the lack of fans hasn’t stopped Rangers this season. It didn’t affect Sparta Prague either, unfortunately.
It should also be pointed out that two of Celtic’s defeats at home in Europe last season, against Cluj and Copenhagen, came when the Hoops were backed by a full stadium. So it seems like an excuse from Lambert.
Manger and players won’t be using that excuse
You would imagine that Neil Lennon and the Celtic players wouldn’t be using that as an excuse. Indeed, you would hope that with so many fans watching the games online and on television that the players would be inspired to put on a performance for those watching on.
If having no fans in the stadium is a reason for Celtic playing badly, then the club really does have problems. Fans aren’t going to return to Celtic Park anytime soon, unfortunately.
It is time for the excuses to stop, and for Celtic to get back to winning ways. Neil Lennon will know this. He won’t be using the lack of crowd as a reason for the recent poor form.
In other news, some Celtic fans have given their verdict on Leigh Griffiths’ spat with Chris Sutton.
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