Gordon: Slump has been coming

CRAIG Gordon insists Celtic are now paying the price for taking their eye off the ball over the quality of the squad.

Neil Lennon’s side returned to winning ways in Tuesday’s 4-0 thrashing of Kilmarnock but look set to miss out on clinching a historic 10th straight title to fierce rivals Rangers.

A current run of only two wins from seven Premiership outings has also increased the pressure on Lennon.

And Gordon, who won 12 domestic titles with Celtic before returning to Hearts last summer, believes the Parkhead club allowed the grass to grow under their feet.

He said: “I think it’s been a gradual thing. The team that was invincible under Brendan Rodgers has been eroded away.

“There are only a few guys left, the guys that are still there have aged four or five years since then, and it’s been something that’s been coming.

“I think players needed to have been brought in earlier to realise what the club was all about, to then step into the shoes of these players.

“It’s been something that has been coming, I think the more senior guys in there would have probably realised that.

“They were desperate to try and hold on for the 10 and make sure that happened but it really doesn’t look like that’s going to be the case now.”

Gordon, meanwhile, insists striker Odsonne Edouard remains one of the best in the business after taking his scoring tally to 16 with a brace at Rugby Park.

Gordon, speaking to Sportscene, added: “He was good and he is a class player, everybody knows he is one of the best players, if not the best player in the league and on his day he can do things like this to you. His finishing is unbelievable, he is so calm, maybe too calm at times.

“He tries to take an extra touch and beat another defender to score the perfect goal to make it look even better rather than putting it away.”