Celtic advanced to the next round of the Scottish Cup with a 2-1 victory over Kilmarnock, but Brendan Rodgers admitted his side made life difficult for themselves yet again.
It did seem to echo issues from their midweek draw against Dundee.
The Hoops dominated much of the game, creating numerous chances, but their inability to finish those opportunities allowed Kilmarnock to claw their way back into the match, making for a nervy second half at Celtic Park.
Celtic looked in cruise control for much of the first half and created a series of gilt-edged opportunities. However, a combination of poor finishing and solid defending from Kilmarnock kept the game closer than it needed to be.
Reflecting on the missed opportunities, Rodgers said: [Celtic TV]
“I thought that we created a lot of opportunities in the game.
“The game should have been dead by half time. That’s the reality because there were really good chances.
“Sometimes there are maybe half-chances, but there were so many good areas through really good bits of play and we didn’t quite take the opportunities
“Then of course, from a defensive throw, we concede, but, okay, we reinforce our good moments at half time, but also we need to tighten up.
“In the second half again, we created opportunities, defended well in the main, because there were a lot of long balls, a lot of throw-ins from the side and everything else.
“So, we dealt really well with it and it was good to get into the next round.”
In the second half, Celtic upped the tempo and eventually found the winner through Daizen Maeda. The Japanese winger’s cool finish settled the nerves of the home crowd and ensured Celtic’s progression in the competition.
This latest display will likely frustrate fans who have seen similar patterns emerge in recent weeks. Much like the draw against Dundee, and in games weeks gone by, Celtic’s wastefulness in front of goal and moments of defensive vulnerability have given opponents hope where there should be none.
While the result was ultimately positive, Rodgers will be keen to address these recurring issues, particularly with crucial Champions League fixtures on the horizon.
