Greg Taylor’s welcome return from injury stabilised the Celtic defence but he only last an hour before having to be replaced. And it was Alexandro Bernabei who failed to defend the back post deep into stoppage time that allowed Watson to head home an equaliser for Kilmarnock as Celtic spilled two more vital points and allowed theRangers to move to the top of the Scottish Premiership for the first time in just over two years.
Celtic v Kilmarnock Brendan Rodgers and Derek McInnes shake hands after the cinch Premiership match at Celtic park, on Saturday February 17, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan
As one of the senior players in Celtic’s young squad, Taylor was joined by the likes of Joe Hart and the captain Callum McGregor in a post match talk about what is actually required playing for Celtic, with so many falling woefully short at the weekend.
It took a first minute fluke from Alistair Johnston to beat Ross County, that and some heroics from Joe Hart. A deflection salvaged a point at Pittodrie but gave us some false hope that Nicolas Kuhn looked half decent, then we needed two penalties to beat Hibs, so not just to put too fine a point on it, that was an accident waiting to happen against Kilmarnock on Saturday.
Celtic captain Callum McGregor and his team mates look dejected at full-time. Final score Celtic 1 Kilmarnock 1. 17 February 2024. Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock
“We had a chat after the game in the changing room,” Taylor said, as reported by Scottish Sun. “It’s important to realise there are still 12 league games to go and we obviously need to improve, that’s clear, in terms of our level of performance.
“We want to hit the levels we know we can hit, but we all talked about that after the game — we’re a team, so it was coaches, manager, and all the players. We’re all united as one, and we all want to put on a better showing for the fans.
“Dropping points is disappointing and I feel for the supporters as they expect so much more from us, and righty so. We need to have perspective, it’s only February so there is still a long way to go. But we do need to find a level of performance.”
Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers, Hyunjun Yang and Paulo Bernardo at full-time. Final score Celtic 1 Kilmarnock 1. 17 February 2024. Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock
Taylor was asked if their were anger and raised voices in the dressing room after the 1-1 draw at Celtic Park against Kilmarnock but he wasn’t prepared to confirm this was the case, but we can surely assume that this did happen, or it would be an even bigger concern.
“It’s probably better just to leave that in the changing room,” the Celtic left-back replied. “When you have leaders like Callum, Joe and myself, the lads have to get it.
“But it’s not just with the new lads, everyone needs to understand. There is no difference between boys who have come in and boys who have been here. It’s everyone as a collective, having to understand that this club demands success, and it demands a way of playing.
“And when you don’t hit those levels then the supporters are rightly disappointed. I thought in the first half we were pretty dominant. We were just waiting on that opportunity coming and Kyogo took it. We had good control of the game.
“But in the latter stages we lost that control, and that’s disappointing. And it’s about us trying to work out why that is. I wouldn’t say it’s because of anxiety from the stands, the players here should be able to deal with that.
“There’s enough experience out there that we should be able to take full control in these games, especially once you get the goal.”
Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers. Final score Celtic 1 Kilmarnock 1. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Cinch Scottish Premiership,Celtic Park, 17 February 2024 Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock
There may be enough experience but whether there’s enough quality and bottle is doubtful. But Brendan Rodgers is paid big money and now it’s his chance to show his place in that dressing room is merited. Because he’s like so many of his players in not delivering for Celtic.
It’s nowhere near good enough.
