The Celtic v Kilmarnock match on Saturday has left many fans scrutinising Celtic’s attacking play, especially after the team squandered a lead to draw the game.
The result was particularly stinging as it contributed to Celtic losing their top spot in the league to Rangers.
A critical analysis reveals an underlying issue with Celtic’s forward line, which became apparent towards the end of the match.
Celtic started with a formidable lineup, showcasing a dual-striker formation with Kyogo Furuhashi and Adam Idah, supported by wingers Daizen Maeda and Luis Palma. Despite leading at halftime, the effectiveness of this setup waned as the game progressed. Manager Brendan Rodgers made several substitutions, notably replacing the entire front line in search of a crucial second goal to secure victory. However, these changes did not yield the desired impact.
The attacking trio that finished the game—Oh Hyeon-gyu, Nicolas Kuhn, and Yang Hyun-jun—has a combined scoring record that raises concerns about Celtic’s depth in goal-scoring options.
With Oh leading the group with five goals in 26 appearances, followed by Kuhn’s single goal since joining Celtic, and Yang contributing one goal and one assist in 24 games, the statistical output of this front line is notably low.
That’s just seven goals between them and we’re in February.
It’s no wonder there was a lack of belief from the stands that Celtic would go on to score a winner after Killie equalised.
The reliance on a forward line with such a modest goal-scoring record in critical moments of a match is a glaring issue. It underscores the need for Celtic to reassess their attacking options and recruitment strategy. The inability to close out games and secure points against teams like Kilmarnock hampers the team’s title aspirations.
