Celtic were beaten 3-1 at Europa League table-toppers Midtjylland to make it a miserable return to European football for Hoops interim boss Martin O’Neill as he suffered his first defeat in charge.
After making a perfect start to life back at Celtic following a home league win over Falkirk and a Scottish Cup semi-final victory against Rangers, O’Neill was handed a reality check in the Europa League.
Midtjylland ran riot in the first half against the Scottish champions with an eight-minute three-goal blitz doing the damage.
Martin Erlic’s 33rd-minute header sparked a Midtjylland onslaught, with Mikel Gogorza superbly curling in just 100 seconds later before the dangerous Franculino Dju hit a third in the 41st minute.
The Danes, who made it four wins from four in the Europa League and are on a 12-game unbeaten run in all competitions, were superior to Celtic as they racked up a total of 23 shots.
In fact, Celtic faced 15 shots in the first half – the most they have conceded in the opening 45 minutes of a major European game since November 2012.
Celtic were blown away in the first half in Denmark
Celtic did, however, show fight in the second half as substitute Reo Hatate scored an 81st-minute penalty, which was won by 19-year-old substitute Callum Osmand.
But the teenager was stretchered off just eight minutes later with a hamstring injury to add more woe for Celtic, who are already short of striking options.
The defeat sees the Hoops fall out of the top 24 of the Europa League table to leave them in danger of failing to qualify for the knockout stages, as O’Neill’s side sit 25th with four games remaining.
O’Neill reflects on ‘tough old evening’
Interim Celtic manager Martin O’Neill speaking to Celtic TV:
“It was a tough old evening. We expected it to be tough but we were well in the game with half-an-hour gone with no score. But then we conceded two goals within a minute and then a third within seven minutes, so that naturally turns the game.
“We showed a lot of resilience in the second half to keep at it because the team could’ve gone under at that stage, but they showed a bit of character which was lovely to see.
“I do genuinely think the emotion of Sunday, the extra time definitely played a part. We just looked a little bit leggy and you’d have thought we’d have been tired in the second half but we showed resilience which was lovely.”
On Osmand’s injury: “He’s pulled a hamstring and he’s never had that injury before, and that’s something we’ll just have to deal with.
Celtic’s Callum Osmand showed his disappointment after suffering a hamstring injury
“It’s come at a really unfortunate time for him, trying to break into the side and that’s a real shame for him, but he will recover in time.
“These injuries now seem to be taking longer, particularly people who’ve had it for the first time so when he comes back again, you want him to be absolutely right so he doesn’t redo it and it becomes an endless proposition.”
Opta facts: Celtic’s away European woes continue
Celtic have failed to win any of their last 15 away games in major European competition (D5 L10).FC Midtjylland scored three goals in the first half of a major European game for the first time.Including qualifiers, FC Midtjylland remain unbeaten against Celtic in Europe (W2 D1), while they haven’t lost any of their last five games against Scottish opposition (W3 D2).Celtic have failed to win any of their last eight games against Danish clubs in Europe (including qualifiers – D3 L5).
