HIBS STAR FLORIAN
Flo warns Celts to forget about stroll to title
CELTS HAVE LOST FEAR FACTOR
FLORIAN KAMBERI has warned Celtic to forget about a title stroll this season – because the Parkhead men have lost their fear factor.
The Swiss hitman helped shoot down the Hoops in yesterday’s victory at Easter Road that fired Neil Lennon’s men within a whisker of a return to the
you have to win those battles first and when you don’t do that, you see what happens.
“The league is strong, there are a lot of teams capable of winning games.
“You have three teams down at the bottom and the rest are all capable of taking points from the big games. Even last weekend Dundee drew with Rangers so the bottom clubs are starting to pick up points.
“The league is tight so it’s tough and we have to get back to working hard enough to earn the right to win points.”
Gordon wasn’t going to use Europe as an excuse either. Celtic were given a chasing by Red Bull Salzburg last Thursday but there were enough fresh faces on the fringes to expect better at Easter Road.
And he warned the Hoops to be ready for facing Motherwell at home on Wednesday.
He said: “It is something we have to deal with a lot.
“More often than not we come back from Europe and still get a good result.
“We are disappointed with the way we played. But we have to pick ourselves up, go again and try to get another three points in midweek.
“There are a lot of games and we’ll have to use a lot of players.”
CRAIG GORDON reckons Celtic’s stuttering stars will need to shape up or risk getting replaced in the January sales.
The keeper admitted the Hoops weren’t up to scratch at Easter Road as Hibs inflicted a damaging defeat.
Celts boss Brendan Rodgers has made it clear he is looking to tool up when the transfer window opens next month – and Gordon has warned everyone at the club needs to fight for their futures.
He said: “It’s up to the manager to decide what he wants in his squad and the positions we have to improve on.
“The guys who are here have to step up and make sure they are in the manager’s plans, especially leading up to January.
“At a club this big, if you’re performances are not up to scratch for a period of time then you can get replaced.
“We have to make sure we work hard enough to stay in the team and deliver the results the manager, the club and the supporters want.
“Do I expect him to be busy in January? I don’t know what his plans to bring players in are.
“I think he will want to do that but we will see who comes in and who goes.
“Then we have to start the second half of the season looking to go on a run again.”
Celtic have picked up just 12 points from 27 away from home this season and suffered travel sickness again in Edinburgh.
The injury-hit Hoops were without Leigh Griffiths, Tom Rogic, Ryan Christie, Dedryck Boyata and Kieran Tierney and ended up playing the final stages without a striker after Odsonne Edouard was hooked.
Gordon insisted the champions still had enough to do better and he’s adamant his side cannot afford to get complacent with the league more competitive than ever.
He said: “It was easy for everybody who witnessed the game to see it was a disappointing one.
“We didn’t get to play our normal game and we suffered. We didn’t deserve to win.
“You have to give Hibs credit. They played well and we didn’t. If we’re not at our top level we’re giving other teams a chance. Hibs took it today and I don’t think we can complain.
“There are a lot of games and we are going to have to use a lot of players. We’re going to have to try to have a strong end to the month now. There are still a lot of games and a lot of points to play for between now and then.
“We have to look to take as many as we can to put us in a good place for the second half of the season.”
Gordon admitted Celtic are in a scrap at the top of the table but insists they are up for the fight.
He said: “We go into every game trying to win it but to do that you have to win the battle and fight every single week.
“To play the way we want to