No case for the defence again in Lithuania
Soft centre exposed once more but Ntcham nabs an away goal for Parkhead side
THE Celtic defence of the 1990s was nicknamed ‘The Sieve’ by Parkhead fanzine Not The View and with good reason.
My goodness but nostalgia really isn’t what it used to be.
Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic will most likely finish off Suduva in Glasgow next Thursday to ensure they are in the next day’s draw for the Europa League group stage. This result was not great nor was the performance, which at times crept beneath mediocre, but the Scottish champions are all but sure to go through.
But this game in Lithuania proved, if further proof were needed, that the current Celtic defence is not close to being good enough. This team – and it’s a team effort – are capable of conceding a goal against even the weakest opposition at the drop of a hat.
They finished this first leg without Jozo Simunovic, who limped off in pain on 50 minutes to give Rodgers something else to worry about. As if he doesn’t have enough on his plate.
Celtic need two new central defenders even if Dedryck Boyata stays and put his dummy back in because, as things stand, if you want to score against Celtic then a straightforward cross from a set-piece gives any team one hell of a chance to do just that.
In Lithuania, it was a freekick from a less than average side which did the damage. The blame shifts about the Celtic team – Craig Gordon didn’t look too clever at the goal – but those in front continually fail to do the basics. It has to stop.
Celtic won’t get anywhere in Europe and will even risk
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their dominance in Scotland if they carry on like this. At the moment there is an inability to win headers or mark men properly. Just like the 1990s.
Had Celtic not coughed up such a simple goal, their early 1-0 lead might have become two and then three in no time. But at 1-1 the final touch or shot was just that bit off, perhaps with those in attack feeling more pressure.
Suduva came close to winning this game, Gordon made two fine second-half saves, because a lack of confidence, knowhow and a defensive-minded central midfielder allowed the Lithuanians to attack more times than should be acceptable without Celtic offering much resistance.
However, it wasn’t a disaster. Indeed, as expected, Celtic are more than likely going to be in next Friday’s draw for the Europa League. The fans will only hope their team is strengthened for the challenge. It’s not a lot to ask.
What Celtic would give for a big name from pot one to fill their stadium, plus two well-known teams from pots three and four whose best days are well behind them. That would make it easier to sell tickets and win a few matches. Second place is enough to get them through to the last-32 which begins in February.
But all of that seemed nigh-on impossible in the Marijampole, a small ground that screamed Europa League qualifier with its three stands, only one of them worthy of the name, which was reminiscent of a junior club with a wealthy benefactor.
Cristian Gamboa began at right-back after a strong performance against Partick Thistle at the weekend, but he struggled, and Michael Johnston, the 19-year-old who has the makings to be a player, began on the left wing. He had a really good night which began so well.
A little over two minutes had gone when Celtic scored a goal which should have made the evening supremely comfortable.
Olivier Ntcham picked up the ball in midfield before finding Johnston on the wing. The teenager used his first chance to run at Robertas Vezevicius to show off his raw ability. He went one way and then another, the Suduva man was utterly bamboozled, and his cross was met by Ntcham – it was a most elaborate one-two – whose header found the net.
But Celtic are incapable of doing anything simply.
Suduva won a free-kick on 12 minutes and were fortunate to do so; Kieran Tierney looking to have won the ball when tackling Andro Svrljuga. A foul was given,
Svrljuga put in a cross which Celtic couldn’t defend and Vaidas Slavickas was clear to head home from six yards.
How many times has Rodgers watched the same mistake? Too damn many.
Anyway, Celtic were almost back in front six minutes later. Callum McGregor superbly chased what appeared a lost cause, got the ball into the box, James Forrest controlled with his right, shot with his left and Ivan Kardum made a superb save.
Forrest, having a good game, set up Johnston with a header which he didn’t quite get right. Then Kristoffer Ajer managed to beat six Suduva players, plus he dribbled past McGregor, but his shot went straight to Kardum.
It was mostly all Celtic and the first-half ended with Kardum getting across his goal to deal with a Moussa Dembele free-kick.
Dembele should have scored on 53 minutes after being put in by Ntcham but the home side came so close to going ahead before the hour.
Suduva put together a good, quick move which saw Slavickas get space on the left, he pulled a cross back to the giant Regino Cicilia on the edge of the box, and he produced a lovely side-foot effort which brought out a fantastic save in Gordon.
Tierney was inches away with a long-range effort, then on 63 minutes Gordon pulled off another brilliant save, this time to deny Julius Kasparavicius whose shot was going in at the near post.
Celtic saw the game out and by the end there was little between the teams. Suduva didn’t quite have the quality to make the most of their visitors’ weaknesses. That won’t be a problem many others will suffer.
This was another warning. This one must be heeded.