Pittodrie draw ‘story of season’

EXASPERATED John Kennedy says that Celtic’s performance at Pittodrie last night summed up their season, as he warned that a lack of ruthlessness at both ends of the pitch may stop some Celtic players fulfilling their potential at the club.

Kennedy watched on as his side lost yet another soft goal at a set-piece as Lewis Ferguson put Aberdeen ahead in the first half. Leigh Griffiths came off the bench to equalise with the last touch of the game, but not before Celtic had passed up a host of gilt-edged chances.

And Kennedy says that a lack of confidence in both boxes has crippled Celtic’s campaign.

“It has been [the story of the season],” Kennedy said. “It could be a lack of confidence, but when you play at our place, you need to be stronger than that and you need to overcome that better, and not have so many moments like that in a season. It’s kind of set us back this season, it’s happened several times.

“The boys are trying, they’re not deliberately missing chances, but things just haven’t dropped for us. We need to work through that and overcome that.

“When you’re in front of goal and have a player of [Odsonne] Edouard’s quality or [David] Turnbull’s quality they are big players with massive quality. I see them on a daily basis and those go in.

“It’s just in those moments maybe having a wee bit of doubt and not being ruthless enough. That’s when you’ve maybe got to have an edge.”

Kennedy was delighted though for Griffiths, who he says is looking fitter of late.

“He’s been a little bit stop-start this year, but he’s training well just now,” he said. “He’s put himself in better shape, and tonight it was good for him to come on and get the goal for us. That’s what he is, a penalty box player.”