Billy Dodds has claimed that four Celtic players chucked it during the 2-0 Betfred Cup defeat from Ross County.
Pundits very rarely put a name to such serious accusations but the former Ross County assistant crossed that line on Radio Scotland’s coverage of today’s match.
The result ended Celtic’s run of 36 domestic cup ties unbeaten and kills off a trophy winning run that can reach 12 next month in the Scottish Cup but won’t extend to 13.
Soon after the final whistle Dodds said:
I thought the Celtic performance defensively was horrific and going forward I honestly thought, and I’m not one to make bold statements, a lot of the players had chucked it. Three or four I could name – I mean Albian Ajeti, Odsonne Edouard, Tom Rogic, Haten Abd Elhamed, there was just nothing.
The players really let the manager down today. Neil Lennon has done a lot for the club. When he needed these players today, I’m sorry, but they sadly let them down.
Neil Lennon made four changes to the team that lost 4-1 to Sparta Prague on Thursday but it was another flat performance from the hoops, lacking in purpose and direction.
When Ross Stewart scored from the penalty spot the first warning signs were fired but there was little in the way of genuine chances created by the home side.
Callum McGregor, Moi Elyounoussi, Shane Duffy and Patryk Klimala were thrown on during the second half but it was no real surprise when the visitors scored from a corner to end Celtic’s hope of a fifth Betfred Cup win while piling the pressure on Lennon and his players.
