NO NO NO HUNGER, DESIRE & QUALITY
Celts stunned as Buddies shock leaves boss Lenny on the brink
He survived the early Euro exits. He survived the Betfred Cup humiliation at the hands of Ross County.
And up until now he has survived a 23-point deficit to Rangers at the top of the league.
But after Celtic lost to St Mirren at Parkhead yesterday for the first time in 31 YEARS, even the indestructible Neil Lennon might not survive this.
His team were abject against the Buddies, going down to goals from Kristian Dennis and Ilkay Durmus in the first half.
The fact they lost it after getting themselves back level, through Odsonne Edouard’s strike, makes it even worse.
St Mirren were outstanding to a man. Jim Goodwin set his side up superbly and they were well worthy of a historic victory.
But with Celtic where they are in the league and with their manager under pressure, this Hoops display was unforgivable.
They lacked hunger, desire, imagination and quality.
And after yet more dropped points, questions over Lennon’s future will again be asked.
With chief executive Peter Lawwel l announcing his retirement at the end of the season, will he be forced into one big decision before he goes?
Certainly, if Lennon’s position was precarious before yesterday, he’s now clinging on to his job.
It’s a sign of how far Celtic have fallen that teams are now opting to rest players at Parkhead, safe in the knowledge they’ll still give the champions a game. Livingston did it a few weeks ago before earning a point and Saints did likewise.
While Lennon stuck with the same team that beat Hamilton in midweek, Goodwin could afford to replace four of his stars from a 5-1 demolition of Dundee United at Tannadice.
Richard Tait, Jon Obika, Eamonn Brophy and man of the match Ryan Flynn were all left on the bench.
Even comeback man Jake DoyleHayes – who has been excellent this term – was only a sub.
With eight games to play next month, the St Mirren gaffer was using the depth of his squad.
But to do it away to Celtic? That shows the confidence Goodwin has in his players – but also the fear factor around Lennon’s men is now completely gone.
For the first 10 minutes, the home side looked sharp and at it.
But once Saints became comfortable in their shape, they grew into and became relatively comfortable defensively – and were a threat going forward against a fragile Hoops backline.
The Paisley side had already had a few pot shots from distance before taking the lead.
A terrific move down the right flank saw Dylan Connolly pick out Dennis with a clever cut-back.
The striker took a touch before rifling past Scott Bain.
Celtic’s keeper of choice at the moment will feel he should have done better but it was a brilliantly worked goal from Saints.
It was too easy for them to get in. Nir Bitton had started the game poorly at the back for Celtic and his sidekick Shane Duffy wasn’t much
better. Callum McGregor was the one player who looked hungry and capable of creating something for the home side.
And it was the skipper’s driving run from the middle of the park that helped carve out an equaliser.
He burst into the box, picked out Edouard with a crisp pass and the Frenchman’s first touch was impeccable.
Up to that point he had barely looked interested but his scuffed shot into the ground was too good for Jak Alnwick who couldn’t stop it nestling in the far corner.
The keeper – who suffered a bad day here before, losing five in an Old Firm derby for Rangers – should have kept it out and gutted gaffer Goodwin knew it as he threw a water bottle in disgust.
At 1-1, you felt Celtic would surely take control of the game and be the dominant force.
But this is a very different Hoops side this season. Instead, before the break they hit the self-destruct button again to go 2-1 down.
This time, Kyle McAllister was allowed to whip a ball in from the left for Turkish winger Durmus who had drifted infield.
His first touch was superb – wrong-footing the static Duffy – and he turned before slotting home St Mirren’s second.
Credit to the Buddies for not crumbling at conceding the leveller. Goodwin had set them up to have a go and they were certainly doing that.
But the ease with which they were able to get at and breach Celtic’s defence was symptomatic of just how Lennon’s team have performed this season.
Months ago, it was clear that they had major problems in the goalkeeping position and at the heart of their rearguard.
But no one on the coaching staff has been able to fix them or at least tighten them up.
And it’s that weakness that’s giving opposition sides the belief they can go to Parkhead now and go for Celtic’s throat.
David Turnbull had a shot from the edge of the box saved before half-time but Lennon somehow had to fire them up for the second 45.
He had little option but to make changes.
Bitton, who was well off the pace, was replaced at the back by kid Stephen Welsh.
And Leigh Griffiths, who’d had so few touches of the ball, was hooked in favour of Tom Rogic.
But Celtic lacked energy and cohesion in their play – or real guile in attacking areas.
St Mirren were marshalled by skipper Joe Shaughnessy at the back. But they were all making blocks when they had to, getting tackles in and – crucially – passing it with purpose when they had the chance to break forward.
Lennon was animated on the sidelines. He threw on further reinforcements in the shape of Ryan Christie and Albian Ajeti. But the manager was getting exasperated at basic errors.
At one point, he berated Duffy for needlessly heading a through ball out of the park, despite St Mirren players behind him standing offside.
With 10 minutes left – when the champions normally would be battering the door down for an equaliser – they looked devoid of ideas or inspiration.
Duffy was thrown up front in desperation and he almost scored with a header.
But in truth, St Mirren were comfortable in seeing out the win, which tells you everything you need to know.