Pat Bonner rang the Celtic alarm bells during the Parkhead side’s draw at St Mirren that may give Ange Postecoglou further problems, speaking on BBC Sportsound (22/12, 21:01).
Jim Goodwin’s Buddies held the Bhoys to a goalless stalemate at the SMISA Stadium on Wednesday night. The result leaves Celtic six-points behind Rangers, having now matched their Glasgow rivals on 19 Premiership games played this season.
Celtic travelled to St Mirren having won their last six league fixtures, and last failed to score on October 30. They had also scored in all six of their last away games since September 19.
St Mirren, however, managed to batten down the hatches and hold Celtic to a vital point. Even though they started with three teenagers, after 11 players tested positive for covid.
Bonner rings the Celtic alarm bells against St Mirren
Celtic had a raft of chances to try and break the deadlock during their draw with St Mirren. The Hoops registered a staggering 30 shots, but only hit eight on target, per WhoScored.
St Mirren managed to block 13 of the Bhoys’ attempts, while nine missed the mark. Celtic have not offered more shots in a single Premiership game since thrashing St Mirren 6-0 on August 21. WhoScored recorded the Hoops as attempting 37 shots with 12 on target then.
Former Celtic goalkeeper Bonner noted around the hour mark of the St Mirren stalemate that Postecoglou’s side were not in panic mode yet. But the BBC pundit raised alarm with the lack of options on the Bhoys bench who could make a difference.
“Celtic don’t have to panic yet, but Ange Postecoglou needs to be thinking how he’s going to change this up. There isn’t a lot on offer on the bench,” Bonner noted.
Injuries highlight Postecoglou’s lack of key depth at Parkhead
Bonner’s alarm with the depth Postecoglou had on the bench against St Mirren points to a bigger problem for Celtic. The Bhoys were without a number of key players, with Kyogo Furuhashi, Jota and David Turnbull joining their injury list.
The trio represent the Hoops’ top-scorers in the Premiership so far this season. Furuhashi has eight in 13 games, Turnbull five in 18 and Jota five in 11. Only Anthony Ralston (5 in 16) has offered more assists than Turnbull (4) and Jota (4), as well.
Postecoglou will hope the rescheduled winter break and the upcoming January transfer window will let him address Celtic’s need for depth the St Mirren stalemate highlighted.
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