Dane Murray is a very good young Celtic talent, of that there is no doubt. However, in high-pressured games, the youngster seems to struggle.
Not for the first time this season Murray has made a costly error for Celtic, and against Rangers at Ibrox the inexperienced defender was thrown in once again in a Glasgow Derby.
Celtic’s draw at Rangers is not the death knell for the title defence, but it does make it extremely difficult with just nine games to go.
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But after Murray’s mistake led to Rangers’ second goal, fans should not blame the young Celtic defender as we delve into who is really at fault for the Bhoys’ first-half collapse at Ibrox.
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Celtic’s draw at Rangers must be placed firmly at the Parkhead board’s door
Now, many people will say how can the derby draw to Rangers be the board’s fault? Quite simply, they knew a central defender was a top January priority, and they failed to deliver.
Cameron Carter-Vickers’ Celtic season was ended months before the January transfer window opened, so the board knew a central defender, and an experienced one, was needed.
So what did they do? They blundered about for five weeks, needlessly bringing back Stephen Welsh from Motherwell and then on transfer deadline day, they bring in Benjamin Arthur who had made just three first team appearances for Brentford.
That then leaves Murray as the only viable back-up option, and after Trusty’s red card ban, the 22-year-old is the one who is left carrying the can.
The fact the young defender has been thrown into a three-way title battle is not the fault of Murray, but for those people sitting in the hospitality box at Ibrox enjoying the game at the supporters’ expense.
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Who can the Celtic boss call upon? At this point in the season, O’Neill has no other option but to either stick with Murray, or take a punt on Arthur.
It’s a ridiculous situation for any Celtic manager to be in, no less Martin O’Neill as the Parkhead board have left the Hoops legend high and dry.
It’s little wonder rumours were circulating this week that O’Neill was unhappy with the Celtic board after the January transfer window.
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