S econd bes t in the middle and a shambles a t the back

Five Celtic lessons from dismal defeat

RANGERS BOSSED THE MIDFIELD, AND SO DOMINATED THE GAME

THIS was not the way that Scott Brown’s 40th Old Firm fixture was supposed to go, with the Celtic skipper and team- mates Callum McGregor and Olivier Ntcham bossed by the Rangers midfield.

They simply never got to grips with Glen Kamara and Steven Davis in particular, who stopped Celtic getting into any sort of passing rhythm. The sight of the normally accomplished McGregor skewing a simple pass to Diego Laxalt out of the park was typical of the sloppiness that punctuated their play throughout.

Ntcham, for his part, was a virtual spectator before being replaced by Tom Rogic.

Perhaps even more troubling though was the fact that Brown could not inspire any sort of reaction from his team- mates, with Celtic still showing no urgency even after falling two goals behind.

There were no fans at Celtic Park, of course, but there can be no excuses for having one attempt at goal in the entire second half, and no shots on target at all, in an Old Firm game at home.

Perhaps it is just as well for the Celtic players that their supporters weren’t present, because there may have been mutiny in the stands.

AND RANGERS ALSO WON THE BATTLE OF THE WINGS

JEREMIE FRIMPONG’S pace can be one of Celtic’s most potent attacking weapons, but Rangers completely nullified that threat by doubling up on him with Borna Barisic and Kamara.

In fact, Barisic was much more of a threat going forward than his opposite number, and it was a similar story on the other side, where new - boy Diego Laxalt was dominated by James Tavernier and Scott Arfield.

In the end, the on- loan Milan man was forced to throw crosses in from deep positions, which were easily dealt with by the Rangers centre- halves.

NO CASE FOR THE CELTIC DEFENCE

THE ease at which Connor Goldson found space to nod Rangers into the lead will have had Celtic manager Neil Lennon tearing his hair out. Yes, it was a makeshift back three that Celtic had out with young Stephen Welsh making just his second start for the club, but the slack marking was symptomatic of a back line that has not really been settled all season. The chopping and changing here was enforced, but the lack of communication for Rangers’ opener was alarming.

The second goal, also smuggled in by Goldson, was another shambles from a Celtic point of view, as Rangers recycled the ball from a corner and cut through the home defence like a knife through butter. The Celtic players were all over the place, and they paid the ultimate price.

NOT AS MUCH STRENGTH IN DEPTH AS LENNON BELIEVED

THERE is no doubting the impact of the number of players that Celtic had missing, and also the fact that it was key personnel who were absent. Odsonne Edouard and

Ryan Christie in particular were sorely missed, with Celtic impotent in attack and lacking any sort of quality.

That being said though, Celtic manager Lennon has been declaring himself delighted with the depth of his squad of late, but there was scant evidence here that the standard of player beneath the surface is anything like good enough to compete against an on- song Rangers.

Patryk Klimala was poor, Moi Elyounoussi blew the biggest chance of the game before being hooked, and Welsh – thrown in at the deep end, admittedly – hardly inspired confidence.

For a club with the resources that Celtic have available to them, they should be able to keep any potential title challengers at arm’s length. The derby, though, showed that perhaps there is not as much between the Parkhead side’s squad and their rivals across town as Lennon would have hoped for.

PATRYK KLIMALA NOT READY TO START

IT was a surprise to see Klimala handed a start in such a huge match given he has been far more effective from the bench in his Celtic career, and while Albian Ajeti and Leigh Griffiths were lacking match fitness, it was a gamble that did not pay off.

As in his only other start in the league this season at St Mirren, the young Pole struggled to make any impact, and when he dropped deep in an attempt to get involved, his passing and link- up play was poor.

There was nothing at all from Celtic in an attacking sense to get excited about until Griffiths came on. He at least made a few decent runs in behind the Rangers defence, and might have had a goal as he skipped round Allan McGregor before taking the ball too wide.

It was very little though, and way too late.