Brendan Rodgers sparked controversy among pundits over his choice to deploy Tomoki Iwata in Celtic’s defense on Saturday instead of substituting Gustaf Lagerbielke. Cameron Carter-Vickers exited the game when Celtic held a comfortable 3-0 lead over Craig Levein’s team. Rodgers opted to send Odin Thiago Holm onto the field and shift Iwata to the backline, a move that drew scrutiny.
Former Celtic star Pat Bonner raised concerns about the decision, suggesting that having Lagerbielke in defense might have prevented St Johnstone from scoring and potentially affecting Celtic’s goal difference. Given the tight title race, such decisions could have far-reaching consequences.
Rodgers decided to keep Lagerbielke on the bench, with former Celtic defender Wilson shedding light on the manager’s rationale. Wilson explained, “I think he wanted Holm to come on the field, with Celtic comfortably ahead. Iwata was instrumental in starting moves from the back, a key aspect for the team.”
He continued, “However, Lagerbielke, though unused, could have been a better fit. On merit, players must earn their place in the lineup. If not starting, they should demonstrate in training why they deserve a chance off the bench.”
Reflecting on Celtic’s conceded goals, there’s a growing concern among fans that such lapses could impact the title race. Throughout the season, Celtic have let in avoidable goals that have led to dropped points. The late goals against Motherwell and St Johnstone are cases in point, where defensive errors proved costly.
In other instances, such as matches against Ross County, Kilmarnock, and Hibs, Celtic conceded late goals despite holding significant leads, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities. As the title race intensifies, Rodgers and his team will need to address these defensive lapses to ensure they secure crucial points and maintain their goal difference.
December 30th saw Celtic edge out Rangers 2-1 after being 2-0 up but allowing James Tavernier to score a late 88th-minute free kick from 30 yards. Similarly, on February 28th, Celtic were comfortably ahead 7-0 against Dundee when Michael Mellon scored in the 84th minute. All these late goals were avoidable and cost Celtic valuable points. These slip-ups could potentially impact the title race, with fans hoping that the league championship will not once again hinge on goal difference, leading them to reflect on these games and wonder about the missed opportunities.
