Celtic legend Pat Bonner voiced immense frustration on BBC Sportsound following Celtic’s dismal 3-0 defeat to Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final at Ibrox. Banging his fists on the press desk in disbelief, the former Hoops goalkeeper heavily criticized Martin O’Neill’s side after a Dan Neil double and a Kevin Kelsy strike sealed a comfortable victory for Derek McInnes’s men.
Key Players Called Out
Bonner singled out four Celtic attacking signings for their total lack of impact:
- Kasper Hogh: Failed to offer a credible threat upfront or hold up play.
- Camillo Duran: Remained trapped in an inside-right position, making it effortless for Rangers’ three centre-backs to man-mark him rather than dragging defenders wide.
- Sebastian Tounekti: Completely quiet on the wing, failing to reach the byline once during the first half.
- Mika Baur: Unable to make any meaningful contribution before being neutralized by the opposition press.
(Substitute Hasseim Hassan largely escaped criticism, with Bonner noting he only came on in the second half).
Tactical Breakdown and Mentality
- Lack of Courage: Bonner stressed that playing at Ibrox without away supporters requires elite mental strength, accusing the Celtic players of shying away from responsibility rather than making runs to get on the ball.
- Predictable Passing: Celtic repeatedly resorted to sideways and backward passes to their goalkeeper because no one made runs to exploit the open spaces behind the Rangers backline.
- Midfield Trap: Rangers’ decision to deploy James Penrice in the middle was highlighted as a tactical masterstroke that pinned Celtic to one side of the pitch and prevented them from switching play.
With a crucial rematch scheduled for next weekend in the Scottish Premiership at Celtic Park, Bonner warned that the squad must alter their approach. He emphasized that home fan support will mean nothing unless the players show the bravery needed to dominate the match from the opening whistle.