On the back of two matches without scoring Celtic headed to Ibrox with a defensive partnership that had a combined tally of three hoops appearances in the previous 18 months. Gustaf Lagerbielke had yet to discover the win bonus.
After Sunday’s spineless capitulation Beale is unlikely to surface until next Friday when he has to preview the match at St Johnstone.
When the team news was released Dujon Sterling was listed at left-back with the word being that Barisic had failed a fitness test.
Apparently football is a team game, you win or lose together but Roofe would rather highlight his moment of personal glory which was nullified by a foul from Cyriel Dessers in the build up
Brilliantly he stands by his claim that Barrie McKay is a better player than Kieran Tierney while he has found a website that backs up his claim that James Tavernier has been the greatest player in Scottish football this decade.
In the most testing of circumstances Rodgers came up with a way to win, his delight after the match told you everything about the importance of today’s result.
Pushing, pulling, kicking and stamping were par for the course with those ‘tactics’ not exclusively used against Celtic.
The timing, announced on Transfer Deadline Day, seems a little strange but after recent speculation that he could be on the move Celtic fans will be delighted by tonight’s news.
Rodgers did briefly discuss Benfica midfielder Paolo Bernardo who is expected to join on loan but beyond that there was no hint of further incoming activity.
Celtic will be entitled to a fee of around £300,000 for developing Vata but clubs will have to wait until next summer to get that move completed.