John Hartson names his biggest Celtic concern after Rangers defeats

Former Celtic striker John Hartson says his old club have a physicality problem after being beaten by rivals Rangers in back-to-back derbies. The Bhoys lost 3-0 and 1-0, but they were bullied in both games, failing to find any control in the games.

That's what was most concerning for the Bhoys fans, and it clearly concerned Martin O'Neill, who didn't seem to have any answers. There are personnel and mentality issues in this Celtic side, but Hartson believes they are lacking physicality, which is certainly true of the midfield, in particular.

“I was up there for the last league game when they lost 1-0 against Rangers," he said on TalkSport. "With physicality they struggled. I think Derek McInnes had read the room and though ‘I’m going to go big and physical’.

“Duran was up top on his own… he was like a fish out of water. He is a very good player, but up there, he was isolated for a lot of the game. Rangers had two big centre-backs, two big lumps up top, could go in behind… they’re neat and tidy in the middle of the park.

“But we welcome the challenge. We’ve won fifteen titles and sixteen years, including five trebles. So we do welcome the challenge – but it was a little bit concerning how comfortable it was for Rangers on that particular afternoon. Celtic were second best.

“A lot of people have said to me: ‘Look, John, it was like watching Rangers playing against your team’. When I was there, we had big men from corners. Myself, Chris Sutton, Henrik was great in the air, Johan Mjallby, Stan Varga, Valgaeren…We used to go to the box and head the ball, and head the ball in both boxes. Celtic lack that physicality at the minute.”

Celtic certainly need to find a more physical element in their game, with even Callum McGregor struggling to produce on that front currently. Mika Baur says he has become more physical, but he doesn't have that presence, and you wonder where it will come from in this Celtic side.

Aside from the centre-backs and Alistair Johnston, who has been absent of late, there really isn't much physicality or presence across the team, and O'Neill is going to have to get creative.

There are some tough games coming up, too, so he has little time to find it, if he hasn't managed to during the international break.