Insipid. Woeful. Embarrassing.
A disastrous European night at Parkhead as Celtic go down 4-1 to Sparta Prague. Another home defeat. The third home defeat in a row. Celtic have never lost three home games in a row for 30 years. Not since the nineties have the Hoops fans seen such a barren run at home. Eight goals conceded. Two scored. A defensive shambles and a barren strike force.
This result must go down as one of the worst results in Celtic’s European history. Neuchatel Xamax, Artmedia Bratislava and Lincoln Red Imps are all European horror nights that Celtic fans have had to endure and try to forget over the years but solace, at least, could be found in the fact that these results were on the road, not at home.
Let’s not forget, Prague were without SEVEN first team players for this match tonight due to injury and COVID, including two goalkeepers, one of which was their first choice. And also lets not forget this was Sparta Prague that inflicted this result. Not PSG, Milan or Barcelona. This was by no stretch of the imagination the cream of European football.
There must be serious questions now needing asked of Neil Lennon and certain players currently not performing for the team. Shane Duffy looks out of his league, slow and clumsy. Edouard looks a shadow of his former self. Ntcham was dropped to the bench from the first team line up. The Frenchman’s form has been poor for at least eighteen months, so what Lennon was expecting him to do to change the course of this match is beyond me. David Turnbull must be wondering what he needs to do to get on the pitch never mind in the team.
As the internal inquiry begins tonight, there can be no slip up on Sunday at Motherwell, or the serious questions being asked now will need to be answered.