Neil Lennon was critical of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales for the role they played during Celtic’s 2-0 defeat to Lazio.
Heading into the final ten minutes, Celtic and Brendan Rodgers would have been on edge because one goal could have changed everything and brought life back into the team.
But that’s when substitute Ciro Immobile – who was slammed by Alan Brazil – changed the tone and punished Celtic.
Neil Lennon felt it was ‘very poor defending’ by Liam Scales and Cameron Carter-Vickers for Ciro Immobile’s second goal, as he told TNT Sports (28/11/23 at 7:40 pm).
Celtic fans know what Cameron Carter-Vickers is all about, but Neil Lennon thought he ‘sold himself’ when Lazio’s star man faked to shoot before scoring.
When the opening goal went in with eight minutes left on the clock, fans knew the game was up.
And the second goal just rubbed salt into the wounds, as the Bhoys bowed out of Europe in a disappointing fashion again.
Carter-Vickers and Sales
“This is very poor defending,” said Lennon about Lazio’s second goal. “Scales gets all in a tangle. He is just too powerful. Carter-Vickers sells himself.
“But at this stage, psychologically I think the heads are down because they have to go (and get a goal). I know it was a late goal on 82 minutes, this one was on 85 minutes.
“You can’t take away the quality of that man, he is 33. He still has the appetite, hunger and quality.
“I was delighted to see him on the bench, but he has come on and shown what he is all about with two brilliantly-taken goals.”
Too much pressure on the defence
Sometimes, it’s good to attack to defend. But very little was created out in Rome last night.
There were chances here and there, with the first half being really flat, but the forward players just couldn’t get into the match – Paulo Bernardo was also criticised for his performance.
That just results in more pressure being put on the backline and, in the end, Immobile just punished the team.
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