The chant from the Celtic supporters at Rugby Park was not especially aggressive, but the message was unmistakable. Martin O’Neill may have sidestepped questions about transfers, yet the mood among the travelling fans was clear, and it was underlined by one of his closest allies speaking publicly after the game.
As Celtic laboured past junior outfit Auchinleck Talbot in the Scottish Cup, the cry of “Sign a player” rang out from the stands. Former captain and manager Neil Lennon was on media duties and did not shy away from reinforcing that message to those in charge at Parkhead.
Lennon said O’Neill knows reinforcements are required and will push the board accordingly. He stressed that while the manager may not issue ultimatums, he has been clear about what he needs and expects backing in the coming days. Lennon added that any new arrivals will be O’Neill’s choices, with recruitment now firmly back under the manager’s control, and that additions through loans or permanent deals are needed to get Celtic through the remainder of the campaign.
The pressure is mounting on Celtic’s hierarchy. Progress in the Europa League against Bologna would be viewed as a bonus, but a defeat away to Hearts on Sunday could be damaging, with the Edinburgh side already six points clear and Rangers gathering momentum.
O’Neill is well aware of what lies ahead, describing the coming period as a huge week both on and off the pitch. There was a sense of relief rather than satisfaction after the cup tie, even if Celtic were never truly at risk of an early exit.
Despite reaching the fifth round, the performance was far from convincing. A heavily rotated Celtic side dominated possession but struggled badly for creativity, managing only a handful of efforts on target against opponents from the sixth tier.
Johnny Kenny opened the scoring late in the first half and it took a composed finish from Sebastian Tounekti near the end to finally settle matters. O’Neill admitted the display lacked fluency but insisted the result was all that mattered, pointing to missed chances and an inability to break Talbot down despite controlling the ball.
The ten changes made to the starting line-up disrupted Celtic’s rhythm, and few of the fringe players truly made a case for more regular involvement. O’Neill acknowledged the impact of rotation, saying he wanted to assess players who had not featured under him before. He added that nerves can play a part when players feel an opportunity is on offer, and while the team could have been much better, they managed to see the game out.
The match also gave O’Neill his first proper look at Michel Ange Balikwisha, though the winger found space hard to come by against a packed defence. The manager felt the Congolese attacker did reasonably well, noting it was his first start under him and that he completed the full 90 minutes.
O’Neill was far more glowing in his praise of Auchinleck Talbot, commending their organisation, spirit and the work of their long-serving manager. He said they made the contest difficult by committing bodies behind the ball and deserved credit for their performance.
Kenny, meanwhile, was pleased to get a start and end his goal drought, having last scored in November. He admitted it has been a challenging spell but hopes the strike can spark a run of form, adding that every appearance is a chance to impress the coaching staff.
After a difficult winter under the previous regime, Kenny believes the outlook at Celtic is improving. He said the squad remains confident in its quality and is determined to move forward, with attention already turning to Thursday’s Europa League fixture.