25th October 2026; Easter Road Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland; Scottish Premiership Football, Hibernian versus Celtic; Celtic manager Martin ONeill
Martin O’Neill has admitted that Kasper Hogh would have been frustrated watching Celtic’s second half wing play against Dundee United.
O’Neill started last night’s match with the same side that had edged past Hibs 2-1.
Not many fans watching that one felt that they were observing the best win of the season.
Things caught up with Celtic last night, Liam Scales equalised in the 65th minute but there was no late winner to send the fans home happy.
O’Neill started with three forwards on the park forcing Camilo Duran and Callum Osmand to improvise on the wings.
With a lack of service Kasper Hogh was substituted at half time.
Jota and Haissem Hassan started to supply crosses into the box but the United defence coped comfortably with the threat from Duran.
To the thousands watching the team selection and substitutions were all wrong.
Celtic need to start matches with two competent wingers. Any striker is going to struggle without supply.
When the wingers came on Hogh had been replaced with O’Neill piling more pressure onto the £11m Danish striker.
https://youtu.be/QzWDrmrbt0E
MARTIN O’NEILL EXPLAINS
3 minutes 10 seconds
QUESTION: You mentioned Kasper Hogh, when you see the balls flashing into the box in the second half, would he feel a bit aggrieved that he didn’t get that service in the first half?
That’s probably very true.
QUESTION: He just needs to keep plugging away and hope that it works?
You know, he, as I said to you, he played a part. I thought he worked exceptionally hard for us again.
One or two things that he tried maybe didn’t come off, but overall he’s made the goal. That will give him a boost of confidence. Yeah, and you’re right.
So we put on two wide players and then I’m sure he probably was frustrated that he’s sitting and not playing a part in the second half.
O’Neill’s half laugh answering that question was telling.
The problems in the forward areas have been hampering Celtic since the start of the season, continuing from the struggle to score last season.
Hassan is very pleasing on the eye but has a real lack of end product. His crosses carry little pace although there was a great shot in the second half that forced a save from the United keeper.
Jota is restricted to no more than 45 minutes playing time.
Beyond that Celtic have virtually nothing to offer from the wings. Osmand and Duran try their best but are both most comfortable coming inside.
The days of James Forrest and Liel Abada on the right with Daizen Maeda and Jota on the left are long gone.
Next up Celtic take their troubled formation to the plastic pitch of the Falkirk Stadium. Team news on Sunday will be eagerly awaited.
