Celtic attacker Yang Hyun-Jun has come in for heavy criticism following his display against Kilmarnock, with Martin O’Neill withdrawing him at half time on Sunday.
The Hoops endured a torrid first half at Rugby Park and trailed 2-0 at the interval. Despite the sluggish start, they mounted an impressive comeback after the break, capped by Julian Araujo’s dramatic 97th minute winner to keep their Scottish Premiership title push alive.
O’Neill responded to the poor opening period with a triple substitution at half time, a clear signal of his dissatisfaction. The changes transformed the contest and ultimately delivered three vital points, but the manager is unlikely to forget how underwhelming some of his starters were before the interval.
Yang was singled out in particular. In their post match analysis, 67 Hail Hail were scathing in their verdict on the South Korean’s contribution. Having been rested in midweek after operating on the left against Dundee, there was an expectation he would make a strong impact. Instead, his performance was labelled “hopelessly ineffective,” with the outlet insisting there were no excuses for such a subdued showing.
Thankfully for O’Neill, Celtic found another gear in the second half. The turnaround proved crucial, especially with rivals Rangers and Hearts meeting later that evening. Rangers’ 4-2 victory at Ibrox means Celtic remain three points off the top of the table.
Yang’s withdrawal underlined O’Neill’s frustration. After being given a breather against Livingston, more was anticipated from him, and his display is unlikely to strengthen his case for a starting role in the coming weeks. In contrast, his replacement Sebastian Tounekti seized the opportunity by coming off the bench to score Celtic’s first goal and spark the revival.
While Kasper Schmeichel also faced scrutiny for his part in the goals conceded, Yang’s lack of impact in attack during the first half did little to help his side on a challenging afternoon.