Celtic in title race confession after costly defeat as Hearts rival woes deepen in fresh injury concern
Celtic lost a key game amid a Premiership title race with Hearts and Rangers.
Martin O’Neill has made a Celtic confession on their title chances after Hearts put extra distance between themselves and the defending Premiership chances.
As the Jambos and second-placed Rangers won on Saturday, the Hoops succumbed to a 2-0 loss against Dundee United. Will Ferry and Emmanuel Agyei goals after half-time sealed victory on a dire day for Celtic who had started to build some momentum, despite unconvincing performances, but now sit third and five points off the top with seven games to go.
Next up is another tricky trip to Tayside against Dundee and O’Neill reckons his team will need to be perfect between now and May if they are to win the title. That will include a clash with Hearts at Parkhead and another match with Rangers also awaits. Motherwell, Hibs and either of Falkirk or Dundee United will be the remaining outfits.
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He said: “I don’t think it’s the end of it, I still think we’re in it. But you’re probably right, I think we’d have to win the seven games. We can’t have any inconsistency now. That was just not good enough. Not good enough for us and when I say us, I mean Celtic Football Club. Not good enough and not good enough for the fans who’ve arrived here and disappointing for the fans from a distance. So not great at all.
“We have to come back, try to get a bit of strength about ourselves and reinvent our character. I’ll have a look at the game back. I’ll have a look at myself, which is as important as players looking at themselves and see what I could have done. Some of you will say I could have done a lot, really, at the end of the day, after the second half.
“I’m just disappointed, naturally. We got ourselves a bit of spirit and determination about the team, which I’ve been saying for the last few weeks. And I felt that so I think that was the disappointment. When we fell behind in the game we didn’t show enough to warrant fighting back.
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“It just wasn’t there. It’s a disappointing result and a disappointing performance – the second half particularly. I thought in the first half we had possession but didn’t really do enough with it. For little periods we camped outside their penalty area but they defended in numbers, which is to their credit.
“The first goal was going to be vital in the game. They got it and they deserved to win. In the second half it just got away from us completely. We have to create more and take our chances, but both were missing.”
Another major blow is right-back Julian Araujo’s continued absence after making an impression since arriving on loan from Bournemouth in January, but he has returned to the Cherries with injury, and his return date is unknown. O’Neill added: “Julian’s missing. He’s down getting treatment and being rehabbed at Bournemouth. I’m not sure when he’ll be back but the extra two weeks could help.”