Chris Sutton has delivered a stark warning to Neil Lennon as the tide turns against the Celtic boss.
Thursday’s Europa League defeat from Sparta Prague was one too many for a lot of fans with the manner of the performance and Lennon’s analysis adding to worries.
It was a common performance in so many ways with the managers’ attempt to talk up aspects of the game defying reality.
Key to the downfall was a defence that is wide open. Sparta put a succession of diagonal balls during the first half that caused chaos in the Celtic defence with neither full-back prepared to cut out the supply.
As Celtic dominated second half possession Sparta were happy to concede the ball, in the last 10 minutes they scored twice showing a cutting edge to justify their 8-2 aggregate.
It was predictable rather than unlucky. Sutton knows Lennon well, has backed him as much as possible but recognised on Thursday that the situation is beyond being salvaged.
In today’s Daily Record he admitted:
Sparta Prague can’t win in their own league. They are on a run so bad that their coach was going to be axed if they lost to Celtic. They managed to win 4-1. Again. Having done the same thing in Glasgow. That says it all.
Neil spoke after the game about positives. Talked about how the first 35 minutes of the second period were as good as anything they have produced in Europe this season.
That, to me, was a stark admission in itself. Thirty five minutes where one clear cut chance was created before the errors beforehand were compounded by more to bring a disastrous scoreline.
If you are trying to talk about positives after that, I’m afraid you are in trouble. Deflection is one thing, but saying there were positives in Prague was bordering on delusional and I’ve been baffled by some of the other things that Neil has said at various stages this season.
Celtic are at home to Ross County in the Betfred Cup tomorrow which could provide some respite but Thursday’s visit to AC Milan looks more than daunting.