Celtic lost at Falkirk, they still lead the Scottish Premiership by four points, and somehow both facts feel equally alarming. The defeat was their sixth in 10 matches in all competitions, and Chris Sutton wasted no time in giving it a name. On Sky Sports he said the club and the team are in regression.
The numbers say Celtic should have won
It is hard to explain this one with statistics alone, because the statistics point the other way. Celtic had 24 shots to Falkirk's six and put nine on target to their opponents' two, which were also the two goals. They had more than double the possession, nearly three times as many touches in the opposition box and won 14 corners to none.
The explanation is partly Scott Bain. The goalkeeper played against his former club and excelled, something Martin O'Neill acknowledged afterwards. Falkirk also defended well when they had to. But Sutton's complaint went deeper than one afternoon. He said the team is not functioning well, that it is hard to see how Celtic are set up, and that they look deficient in every area.
Ageing legs and a manager under scrutiny
Former Falkirk manager Ian McCall agreed with the broad point and added a different explanation. He named Carter-Vickers, Tierney, McGregor and Forrest, saying that for different reasons none of them is quite what they were. Injury and heavy use, in Callum McGregor's case, may have caught up with once peerless performers. In McCall's words it is simply not a vintage Celtic.
O'Neill pushed back, and he did it in a spiky post-match interview. He pointed out that Celtic sit top after 12 games and that at the same point last season they were four behind leaders Hearts. He also defended the number of changes to his lineup, saying that with so many games and European football, the same players cannot be asked to play every week.
Besiktas and the Rangers question
The timing is awkward. Celtic drew 2-2 with Dundee United on Wednesday, a chance to stretch their lead that went begging, and now Rangers and Hearts could close the gap if they win their games in hand. Rangers are already in the League Cup final after winning their semi-final with Aberdeen. Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner called it a brilliant weekend for Rangers.
Next up is Besiktas in the Europa League at Celtic Park. Celtic lost their first three matches in the competition, so a home win is close to essential if they want to stay in it. Fans writing to the BBC were divided, with some urging patience and others calling for change from the board down. O'Neill has dealt with a wobble before, having twice returned to the dugout last season and led the club to a league and cup double. Another bad result in midweek would make the questions louder.
Match facts: Falkirk 2-0 Celtic, Scottish Premiership. Celtic had 24 shots (nine on target) to Falkirk's six (two), and 14 corners to none. It was their sixth defeat in 10 games in all competitions, and they remain four points clear at the top after 12 league matches. Celtic host Besiktas in the Europa League next.
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