Neil Lennon did not hold back in his criticism of Adam Idah after the Celtic loanee saw his first-half penalty saved as the Hoops were beaten by Hearts on Sunday.
Brendan Rodgers’ men could have hardly endured a more frustrating afternoon at Tynecastle. Celtic, of course, had the chance to capitalise at the top of the Scottish Premiership after Rangers were beaten by Motherwell on Saturday.
And it seemed as though everything was going to plan in the first 11 minutes. Hyun-jun Yang was fouled inside the penalty area to give Celtic the chance to take the lead from 12 yards.
Neil Lennon critical of Adam Idah after missed penalty in Celtic loss
It was Adam Idah who stepped up, looking to bag his sixth goal for the Bhoys following his loan move to Parkhead in the January transfer window.
Unfortunately for the champions, Idah’s penalty was put straight down the middle. And with that, Zander Clark was able to keep the ball out with his legs.
Speaking on Sky Sports afterwards (broadcast on 3/3; 14:13), Neil Lennon suggested that the Republic of Ireland international should have done so much better with the penalty.
“It’s an awful penalty. I mean, Zander Clark, he’s done well. He’s kept his balance with his legs. But the contact from Idah’s poor and it was a big opportunity for Celtic to put down a marker early in the game,” he said.
Early goal could’ve changed everything
The afternoon just went from bad to worse from there for Celtic. Yang was sent off shortly after after catching Alex Cochrane in the face with a high boot.
Hearts meanwhile, would go on to score in either half as the Hoops were beaten 2-0.
Celtic fans would be forgiven for wondering how the game would have been different had Idah found the back of the net. Idah had some bright touches in the first-half, but it did not quite click for him at the crucial moment. And perhaps that may not have been the case had the 23-year-old broken the deadlock from the penalty spot.
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