It was one of those days. That’s how I can sum up todays defeat. In the build up to the derby, Celtic fans were crying our for two strikers, Turnbull and Soro and a flat back four. Lennon delivered on all this and it worked. For sixty minutes at least anyway.
The first half was dominant, relentless and if not for Alan McGregor in the Rangers goal, it would have been emphatic. Chances from Edouard and Griffiths went begging. A solid midfield display and constant pressing never gave Rangers a sniff for 45 minutes. No shots on target for the hosts, no rhythm to their play and no danger from their tactics. Lennon had the better of his counterpart and Celtic were on the front foot.
The second half was much of a muchness to the first until the 62nd minute when Bitton had a moment of madness and hauled Morelos to the ground. Referee, Bobby Madden, deemed the challenge a straight red and I, for the life of me, will never understand why. Morelos was going nowhere. He was out on the right flank with a lot of work to do and a covering defender could easily have cut out the danger. A shocking decision, but one Bitton should never have given the referee the chance to make.
After that, it was a completely different game. Celtic’s personell, shape and game plan went right out the window as did the game as a contest.
There now will be the inevitble cry for Lennon’s head after this result and although he is ultimately responsible for where we are in the league, he is NOT responsible for todays result. We will see where the coming week will take us. Whether the board and the fans have seen enough today to cut the Manager some slack, or whether they will have seen enough today to say enough is enough.