Eye-opening: Sutton highlights the big threat to Celtic’s title charge

Chris Sutton has identified the exact source of the biggest threat to Celtic’s title ambitions. 

Lawrence Shankland will lead the line for Hearts today as Steven Naismith’s side look to inflict their third defeat of the season on Brendan Rodgers’ side. 

There have been circumstances involved in the last two defeats- the absence of the Green Brigade and the incompetence of John Beaton and Don Robertson- but the bottom line is that six lost points have hurt Celtic badly. 

The hoops did win easily at Tynecastle in October but even in that match there was a warning with Shankland scoring with an opportunist strike when Celtic were cruising on a 3-0 lead. 

Cutting out the supply to the Hearts skipper will be critical today with Sutton telling Daily Record readers about his concerns over recent Celtic performances. 

Discussing Shankland he explained: 

He’s the captain, the talisman. And he does it against the best. Had Hearts not given away a stupid penalty in stoppage time, his precise header against Rangers would have seen Steven Naismith’s side win at Ibrox last October.

Shankland scored a similar goal against Celtic six weeks later and, with the hosts unable to mount a response at Parkhead, it did lay the platform for a win. His anticipation and finish against Rodgers’ team at Tynecastle at the start of March sealed another win over Rodgers’ 10 men.

Shankland has a much better recent scoring record against Celtic than he does Rangers and my old team better be wary of him. Those headed goals against the Old Firm this season, given what I am seeing from Celtic’s defence right now, make you think he could be onto something again today.

It’s hardly as if having trouble defending cross balls is a new thing for Celtic. It’s been an issue for long enough. Nonetheless, the last two games have been even more eye opening.

Two Aberdeen goals at Hampden in the Scottish Cup semi-final delivered from the same place to the same area almost ripped that trophy out of Celtic’s hands. Last weekend at Dens Park wasn’t any better. Dundee won various balls into the box from Owen Dodgson’s delivery.

Even in injury-time, young Michael Mellon was free at the back post and missed the target. There were other instances beforehand and Celtic didn’t get punished. But, if Shankland is in the mood, he won’t miss like young Mellon. 

Since scoring against Celtic on March 3 Shankland has only scored once, at home to Livingston but remains the main threat in the Hearts side. 

Celtic Park today will be much different to the hushed arena that Shankland scored in back in December but the threat from the club captain remains very real.