Celtic‘s derby day 2-2 draw on Sunday afternoon just about summed up their perplexing season to date. Play poorly and then leave it late to score and rescue a result.
Martin O’Neill said after the game that the Hoops were “not even second best” in the first half, an accurate depiction of what was a dire opening 45 minutes in which he watched his men concede twice to Youssef Chermiti.
There were a whole host of issues for the Bhoys, not least Dane Murray’s shambolic attempt to make a clearance ahead of Rangers’ second goal.
The centre-back wildly swung a boot at a ball in from the right-hand side but got it all wrong, slicing it to Chermiti who got possession ahead of Julian Araujo and then found the net.
While O’Neill’s men were suspect at the back, the display of those in attack must have been a source of great frustration for the Irishman.
How Celtic’s attack faltered against Rangers
This game is not for the faint-hearted but sadly for those in the away end at Ibrox, those in Celtic’s forward line certainly shied away from the big occasion.
Chief among their woes was certainly Junior Adamu, the winter signing who had made such a positive impact in that dramatic win against Dundee just a few weeks ago.
While his goal in that remarkable comeback win was full of class, everything about his performance on Sunday was a struggle. He was hauled off at half-time having managed to complete just three passes. He also only had six touches.
That said, his anonymous display was not helped by those around him, chiefly Daizen Maeda who looks so far off his best.
Last term, the Japan international was in remarkable form, netting 33 goals in 51 games. His form in 2025/26 has been the polar opposite of that. He has scored eight goals in 41 appearances and has now failed to beat the goalkeeper in seven straight Premiership matches.
Maeda’s finishing against Rangers told the whole story. In the second half, he headed a brilliant opportunity straight at Jack Butland and arguably should have scored the chance that the penalty came from.
The winger met a wicked ball into the box but with the goal at his mercy, somehow missed via a collection of Dujon Sterling and Butland. Fortunately for Maeda, his blushes were spared when replays showed that the ball struck Sterling on the arm. A penalty was given, subsequently missed by his international colleague Reo Hatate, before the rebound was bundled home.
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Celtic player ratings vs Rangers |
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Sinisalo – 6 |
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Araujo – 5 |
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Scales – 6 |
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Murray – 4 |
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Tierney – 7 |
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Nygren – 6 |
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McGregor – 6 |
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Oxlade-Chamberlain – 5 |
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Yang – 5 |
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Maeda – 4 |
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Adamu – 3 |
For Maeda, time may well be ticking on his Celtic career but at least for his own sake, he is still starting matches. On the contrary, one of his teammates may well be finished in the famous green and white.
Celtic star looks finished in a Hoops jersey
If a team comes in for the Japan forward in the summer then it’s likely supporters will be telling the board to take the money and run.
That said, he may not be the only player of prominence to be fleeing Parkhead once the next transfer window opens. Indeed, for a certain Kasper Schmeichel, he may not play another minute for the Glasgow club.
Truth be told, this has been one of the worst few weeks of the Dane’s club career. Having replaced Joe Hart, the former Premier League winner looked like a solid pick-up. He was very much cut from a similar cloth as Hart with regard to experience.
However, at the age of 39, it looks as though the goalkeeper’s performances are now deserting him and it looks as though O’Neill is deserting him too.
It all started with the clash against Killie two weeks ago when he allowed Joe Hugill’s effort to loop over him in bizarre circumstances. His performance against Stuttgart in Europe a few days later was even worse, notably allowing Jamie Lewelling’s effort to squirm through him and into the back of the net.
Sadly for those connected with Celtic, it did not get much better for the stopper against Hibs a week ago. While he wasn’t to blame for any of the goals, Schmeichel was fortunate not to be punished in the first half when he played a pass straight to Owen Elding.
As a result, O’Neill made the decision to take him out of the firing line in the second leg against Stuttgart in midweek and that decision was vindicated with Viljami Sinisalo keeping a clean sheet.
Because of that, the Hoops boss saw no reason to change his goalkeeper for the derby on Sunday, with Sinisalo starting once again. In truth, there was absolutely nothing he could have done about the two pieces of genius from Chermiti.
So, you sense that ahead of another big week with clashes against Aberdeen and Rangers again in the cup, the Finn will start those two matches as well.
The campaign is at a crucial venture and while it’s sad to say, Schmeichel’s time at Celtic has now run its course. His contract expires at the end of the season and thus, there is not much more he can do if he wants to earn a new deal.
Don’t expect Schmeichel to get a new contract. Perhaps don’t even expect the Denmark international to play again for the Hoops. Sinisalo deserves his place in the team now.
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