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Mjallby slates soft Bhoys
CELTIC assistant boss Johan Mjallby last night slammed his flops after seeing them fall apart during the second half of Sunday’s Old Firm showdown.
The Hoops’ No 2 was furious at Celtic’s capitulation.
He said: “It almost looked as if it was boys against men in the second half.”
Mjallby was particularly incensed that the Bhoys had gone a goal up through Gary Hooper only to crash and burn
thereafter when a Glenn Loovens own goal and a Kenny Miller double sent Rangers on their way to victory and a three
point lead at the top of the SPL.
“I was disappointed with how we lost the initiative and the match in that second half,” said Mjallby. “We just gave the
match away too cheaply, although Rangers were very effective.”
The hapless Hoops surrendered with seven new Bhoys in their line-up and it was a far cry from Mjallby’s own Old Firm
debut back in 1999 when Celtic ran out 5-1 winners.
This time there were nothing but nightmares for the newcomers and although Celtic manager Neil Lennon was
unhappy at referee Willie Collum’s decision to hand a penalty to Rangers, converted by Miller to complete the scoring
after Kirk Broadfoot had gone down in the box, his second-in-command conceded they deserved nothing and now have
to improve dramatically.
“We win and lose as a team and we don’t comment on individual players,” said Mjallby. “There remains a lot to play for.”
Now questions are being asked of the inexperienced Parkhead backroom staff in the wake of this latest setback.
Lennon, Mjallby and Alan Thompson were outmanoeuvred by Walter Smith, Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall in
another big-game defeat.
Mjallby insists they will get things right and fight Rangers all the way.
He added: “We believe in our leadership and our team. We have lost just three points in nine games.”