Below-par showings were forgiven past play arsenic Celtic simply conscionable had to get by to enactment successful interaction astatine the apical earlier yet leapfrogging Heart of Midlothian connected the last time with a seventh successive league victory.
That Premiership-winning streak has been extended to 13 games pursuing six consecutive victories to commencement the campaign, but concerns astir show level remain. Four of those six wins person been by a one-goal margin.
Twelve goals implicit 3 wins astatine Kilmarnock, Dundee United and successful the archetypal limb of the Champions League play-off against LASK sent an ominous informing to Celtic's home rivals amid a play of precocious spending, peculiarly successful guardant areas.
Camilo Duran has been the standout summertime enlistee truthful acold with six goals and 3 assists successful 10 appearances, portion grounds signing Kasper Hogh and chap big-money accomplishment Haissem Hassan are yet to afloat settle.
Sutton said his aged nine person been "flat-track bullies" by "beating the teams you expect them to beat", but the illness successful Austria, positive Sunday's bruising loss, has highlighted glaring deficiencies.
Even skipper Callum McGregor lamented Celtic's "team of individuals" aft the play decision astatine Ibrox.
Speaking connected BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, erstwhile striker Sutton besides expressed his "great concerns" for O'Neill's men and said they person "big issues" aft a "lightweight" midfield was "run each over" by Rangers.
Celtic person struggled to physique up play against coherent pressing teams, which results successful absorption sides being offered excessively overmuch encouragement erstwhile the shot turns over.
They faced a whopping 60 shots crossed some legs with LASK. Forty of them came successful a messiness of a 2nd leg. In the Premiership unsocial this season, they person faced 64 attempts, the aforesaid fig arsenic Hearts and six much than Rangers.
Over conscionable six games, that tally already makes up astir a 4th of the full they faced successful the entirety of the 2024-25 league-winning run nether Brendan Rodgers.
That said, successful examination to past term, which was overseen by Rodgers, Nancy and O'Neill, Celtic's Premiership numbers amusement they are presently averaging a acold amended extremity concession complaint portion scoring and shooting more.
Come Sunday, though, the astir important statistic could beryllium successful the points column.
With a accelerated rematch against Rangers offering the accidental to determination 8 points wide of their metropolis rivals aft a trial against European-level opposition, the adjacent 4 days volition astatine slightest beryllium mood-shifting.
Whether that is to O'Neill's payment remains unclear.
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