Celtic Disappoint Again Under Pressure as We Drop Points

Another two points dropped at Celtic Park, and once again we are left wondering how we have managed to make such hard work of a game we should be winning.

We were knocking on the door, pushing Dundee United back and searching for a winner, but there are still too many questions about this Celtic side. The frustration is that we can see the potential, yet we keep leaving ourselves with too much to do.

One of the biggest talking points has to be Sam Johnstone in goals. Is he giving us the confidence and reliability we need? Celtic need a goalkeeper who commands his area, makes the important saves and gives the defence reassurance. If doubts are creeping in, Martin O’Neill has a decision to make.

The difference Jota and Hassan made was there for everyone to see.

When Jota came on, there was a different energy about our attacking play. He brought the willingness to take players on, create something out of nothing and give the crowd a reason to get behind the team. Hassan offered another injection of urgency, directness and attacking intent.

That is what makes the result so frustrating. We had players capable of changing the game, but why did it take until later in the match for us to see that spark? Celtic need to start games with that same intensity rather than waiting until we are chasing the result.

O’Neill deserves credit for the impact of his substitutions, but we cannot keep relying on players off the bench to breathe life into performances.

There are positives to take, but we are running out of patience with the same old problems. Questions remain over the goalkeeper, our starting approach and whether we are getting the best out of the players available.

We were knocking on the door, but two points have been thrown away.

Jota and Hassan showed what was possible. The question is why Celtic cannot produce it for 90 minutes.