Celtic slumped to another defeat in a disastrous defence of their title
John Collins has taken issue with Neil Lennon’s tactics after Celtic’s shock defeat against Ross County.
The Staggies beat Scotland’s champions for the second time this season, having knocked them out of the Betfred Cup with a 2-0 win at Celtic Park in November.
Their goal came from Jordan White with 19 minutes remaining, but there were issues with Celtic’s performance throughout the game.
Collins, who spent six years at the club as a player and went on to serve as an assistant under Ronny Deila, felt Lennon’s tactical approach asked too much of his full-backs.
Speaking on Sky Sports after his former side’s 1-0 loss in Dingwall, Collins said: “I think they dominated the game. Dominated possession. In the first half they had good chances, should have scored at least a couple in the first half.
“But as the game wore on, the penetration wasn’t there. In the second half there weren’t any clear-cut chances, one-v-ones against the goalkeeper.
“Partly because Ross County defended so well and so deep. They found it difficult to play the killer passes and get space between central defenders and full-backs.
“I just think they go through the middle a little bit too much. They ask too much of their full-backs in the final third. The ball’s getting to (Diego) Laxalt, it’s getting to the other full-back at the other side (Jonjoe Kenny), and they’re asking one-v-one to go and dribble, do what a winger does.
“Sometimes you can put a Ryan Christie or a (David) Turnbull right on the touchline wide and just feed it to him and get a full-back going round them because they’re clever players. They can take it inside.
“What Celtic didn’t do, they don’t get to the byline enough. They get to the byline, you get cutbacks.
“This system that they play with the diamond and the two up front, it means you don’t get two-v-ones, you don’t get to the byline as often.
“It’s worked the last five games, they’ve won five-in-a-row, it’s been working, but tonight in a game like this I just think with a narrow pitch you’ve got to try and make it as wide as possible.
“And I just think they’re asking a little bit too much of the full-backs.”
The defeat leaves Celtic 18 points behind Rangers, with Steven Gerrard’s side having beaten Dundee United 4-1 at Ibrox earlier on Sunday.
With eight Premiership matches remaining, wins for both sides in their next two matches will mean Rangers can win the league at Celtic Park on March 21.
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