Scott Brown and Pat Bonner describe Celtic as ‘passive’ and ‘in trouble’ after the derby loss.

Celtic Suffer Another Setback

Celtic’s difficult run of form continued on Sunday as Rangers secured a 1-0 victory at Parkhead, leaving Martin O’Neill’s team facing a third consecutive defeat.

The latest loss came during another disappointing week for the Hoops. Celtic had already suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat against Rangers in the previous weekend’s League Cup encounter before losing at home to Ferencvaros in the Europa League during midweek.

Sunday’s Old Firm meeting therefore represented another opportunity for Celtic to respond, but they were unable to produce the reaction their supporters wanted.

Instead, Rangers left Glasgow’s east end with another victory, while Celtic’s performance raised further questions about the team’s approach, organisation and ability to respond under pressure.

Former Celtic captain Scott Brown was part of the BBC Scotland punditry team for the match and offered a critical assessment of what he saw from O’Neill’s players.

Brown Questions Celtic’s Approach

Brown believed Rangers were superior in several important areas, particularly when it came to competing for individual battles across the pitch.

According to the former Celtic midfielder, Rangers won more duels and appeared more responsive during key moments of the match. Celtic, meanwhile, struggled to apply pressure effectively and failed to demonstrate enough collective intensity.

Brown argued that Celtic’s pressing lacked aggression and cohesion. Rather than moving forward together as a unit, he felt the home side attempted to apply pressure in isolated groups.

The former captain suggested that Celtic’s players were not working together sufficiently and were ultimately outmuscled across the pitch.

He described the situation as unacceptable, particularly because similar problems had appeared during the team’s previous meeting with Rangers.

Celtic’s consecutive defeats against their city rivals have therefore increased scrutiny on O’Neill and his players, with Brown highlighting the importance of the upcoming international break.

O’Neill Faces Important Period

With domestic football temporarily paused, Brown believes O’Neill now has an important period in which to assess his squad and determine how Celtic should move forward.

The manager needs to establish which players should form his strongest team and identify the tactical system that best suits those individuals.

Brown pointed to O’Neill’s extensive managerial experience, noting that the Celtic boss has previously experienced both difficult periods and successful spells during his career.

However, the former captain stressed that O’Neill’s immediate responsibility is to find a way of getting the best possible performances from the squad available to him.

The three-match losing streak has placed additional pressure on the manager, and the international break could provide valuable time for training, analysis and tactical adjustments.

For Celtic, the challenge will be turning that time into a meaningful response when competitive action resumes.

Bonner Questions Celtic’s Current State

Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner was also at Celtic Park for Sunday’s derby and shared his assessment during BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound programme.

Bonner felt Rangers were worthy winners and believed the visitors could have finished the match with an even more convincing margin.

In his view, Rangers created enough opportunities and controlled enough of the contest that Celtic were fortunate to remain within touching distance for so long.

Bonner’s assessment was particularly concerning because he believes the performance was far removed from the standard Celtic supporters have become accustomed to seeing from their team over recent years.

The former goalkeeper questioned whether the problems stem from the players themselves, although he acknowledged that responsibility ultimately falls on the management team to find solutions.

Management Under Pressure

Bonner’s comments placed significant emphasis on the responsibility facing O’Neill and his coaching staff.

While the exact reasons for Celtic’s struggles remain unclear, Bonner believes the management team must address the problems quickly.

The recent sequence of results has created a situation in which Celtic cannot afford to simply wait for performances to improve naturally.

The back-to-back defeats against Rangers, followed by the Europa League loss to Ferencvaros, have created a difficult atmosphere around the club.

Celtic now have an opportunity during the international break to reassess their approach, but the next few matches could be important in determining whether the team can regain momentum.

Questions Over Players And Shape

Brown’s comments also highlighted uncertainty surrounding Celtic’s strongest starting lineup and tactical structure.

O’Neill must decide which players are capable of delivering the intensity required in major matches and determine how best to organise them.

The former captain’s criticism of Celtic’s lack of collective pressure suggests that the problem may not simply be individual performances.

Instead, the team could need greater coordination when pressing, defending and competing for possession.

Rangers’ ability to win more individual battles was another significant factor identified by Brown, making physical competitiveness an obvious area for Celtic to address.

The next phase of the season will reveal whether O’Neill can make the necessary adjustments.

Celtic Must Find A Response

Sunday’s defeat has left Celtic facing difficult questions after a week in which they lost three consecutive matches.

The pressure on O’Neill is now greater, although the international break provides him with an opportunity to work with his squad and attempt to correct the issues identified by the pundits.

Brown believes the manager must find his best team and shape, while Bonner insists that the problems need to be resolved quickly.

For Celtic supporters, the biggest concern is whether the team can rediscover the intensity and collective organisation expected in major fixtures.

Rangers have now claimed two victories over Celtic in the space of a week, while the Europa League defeat has added another setback.

With the international break providing a temporary pause, O’Neill and his coaching staff have time to consider their options.

The response when Celtic return to action could be crucial as they attempt to halt their losing run and restore confidence around Parkhead.