It wasn't Celtic’s day as Ange Postecoglou’s team came up short on their attempt to go a calendar year without defeat in the Premiership. Now the Rangers support say it’s time for their team seize the moment and make sure its game on in the title race after the Hoops’ slip-up in Paisley.
George Wilson, West Sussex, called to say: “I heard after Celtic beat Rangers 4-0 that the league was over as Celtic had won it even though there were still 32 games to play. Can someone explain the rules to me please as this seemed nonsense? Also Celtic were apparently world-beaters who wouldn’t lose a league game all season as they are relentless and never stop.
“This also seems nonsense to me as Celtic haven’t won now in three games and the gap at the top is now back to just two points after losing to St Mirren. It seems that Celtic can’t cope with having to play league games after a European tie, unlike Rangers who are used to it.”
Alan Milligan added: “St Mirren showed us how to beat Celtic. If you let them play they will easily take goals off you. If you get into their faces and chase them down they can’t handle it.”
But Graham McAdam, Carluke, reckons it’s too soon for the Ibrox side to be getting carried away after they were made to sweat for victory against Dundee United. He said: “I was among the 50.000 Rangers fans on Saturday who were watching some shocking football and asking myself what is happening to our team? One thing I did see was Alfredo Morelos supposedly out to do some loosening exercises, while in fact he was standing with his hands in his jogging pockets. Not a good sign.”
And Celtic fan Arrin Geddes, Irvine, also had a warning for the Bears: “Celtic have an off day and the Rangers fans think they’re done, wishful thinking! Celtic handed them a boost that their manager is incapable of but we’re still top of the league with a far superior squad.”
Postecoglou’s team selection for the Buddies clash drew some stick. Fraser Davison, Glasgow, emailed in: “A shocking performance all round. We were bullied on and off the ball, outfought, outmuscled and second best in the air all day - mainly due to lack of height in team which Ange has alluded to before.
“A fair few players were starting to believe they were world-beaters and just thought they would have a stroll in the sunshine. Daizen Maeda was the main culprit but David Turnbull and Greg Taylor were not far behind. An eye opener for Ange on who can be trusted to step in and who cant I think.”
Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, added: “Stephen Robinson must have thought all his Christmas’s had come early when seeing the decimated team that Postecoqlou sent out. I would ask Ange why disrupt the fluency of the side especially the international break and not having to rest his influential for a Champions League tie in midweek? Instead all he’s achieved is throw a few crumbs of comfort to Rangers in getting back in the title race.”
But Michael Emonds, Northampton , said: “There are guys on here who blame the coaches every time Celtic have a bad result but on Sunday Aaron Mooy passed to the opposition then switched off when he should have been marking the runner Mark O’Hara for St Mirren’s first goal, hence he was hooked at half time. Once the players cross the white line the responsibility for performance is 100 per cent down to them.”
Kenny Wilson, Moffat, called to say: “Not very often I have criticised Ange but his team selection was baffling. Why so many changes when we don’t have another game for two weeks?
“But still, the team selected should have been good enough to win but we were not at the races from the kick-off. Credit to St Mirren for their performance as they stopped Celtic playing their usual game, something bigger clubs have failed to do this season."
