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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Joe Donnelly

Rodgers: I didn't think 2nd half could be worse than 1st, I'm unsure it improved much

Brendan Rodgers has given a scathing but honest assessment of his side's 3-0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox today (Thursday).

Goals from Ianis Hagi, Robin Propper and Danilo closed the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 11 points in a match that marked Philippe Clement's first derby win over Celtic.

Speaking to Celtic TV after the full-time whistle, the Irishman lamented a "disappointing" performance during which his players inflicted a series of unforced errors in and out of possession.

He said: "Yes, [it was] a really disappointing performance. We made too many mistakes with the ball.

"We're normally precise and crisp with our passing and get through the pitch well, but we were so loose, even under no pressure, kicking the ball out, misplacing passes, giving it away too easy. Obviously, that culminates in the first goal.

"I thought we started the first few minutes how we wanted to. Pressure in the half, we got in, but then we gave away a really, really disappointing goal. So that gives the stadium a lift, gives them players a lift because they haven't beaten us in such a long time."


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Rodgers added: "We weren't very good with the ball. We can reflect on that. It's a really, really disappointing performance.

"I think that's what the players will feel. We didn't show the personality of the team, we didn't show the mentality of the team in that performance today.

"But you've got to give Rangers credit. They've won the game, we have to accept that and as a collective, evaluate, recover and now get to our next game.

"I didn't feel that after the first half it could be any worse than the second half. I'm not sure it improved so much, if I'm honest. I've been behind here before, so I know what it's like to come back. But we didn't show anywhere near enough in order to do that."

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