Rangers defeat proves Celtic boss is right to chase striker

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Celtic manager Neil Lennon was ironically proven to be spot on with one thing thanks to his team’s performance yesterday.

If anything highlighted Celtic’s urgent need for an alternative striker, it was the events at Parkhead yesterday. The Hoops didn’t just lose the game to Rangers, they were bossed again.

Many players had off days. You could name any of the XI and highlight their faults on the day. However, by far one of the biggest disappointments was Odsonne Edouard.

We all expect so much from him, and it surprises us when he does put in the occasional off-day. It happens, it’s professional football and he can’t be at his top standard every week.

His flicks and tricks just didn’t come off yesterday, although it was clear that he was also relying on scraps.

Not a fit or high-quality alternative in sight

After seeing that not a lot was happening in the final third, Neil Lennon threw on Leigh Griffiths in the closing stages. That also didn’t reap any sort of reward as the Scotland international still didn’t look 100% fit.

Lennon has already stated that he’s looking at a number of options for a January striker (BBC). It wasn’t the way he would’ve liked to have been proven right, but nothing showed the need for that more than the Rangers defeat.

Celtic were crying out for an alternative up top. Edouard wasn’t on his game and seeded some top-quality help. Lennon simply didn’t have that when he looked to his bench. Griff may have come on, but he’s far from the skill-level we need at the moment. Whether he kicks on in the second half of the season remains to be seen, but Celtic can’t bank on it.

Vakoun Bayo wasn’t in the squad, and that surprised nobody. He’s not shown anything to suggest that he can be that Edouard alternative.

As we tick into the second half of the season, Edouard will have more poor games. It’s during those matches that Celtic have to dig in with a genuinely dangerous alternative option.

So far this season, both Griffiths and Bayo have only netted four goals between them (Transfermarkt). For our back-up centre-forwards, that simply isn’t good enough. Lenny can therefore at least take the fact that his striker plan is the right one heading into January.

It remains to be seen if that leads to anyone departing the club. In any case, it doesn’t matter. Celtic were found wanting in the final third once again yesterday, and the reminder couldn’t have been more appropriate given the transfer window is just around the corner.