SHOW SOME BALLS

Brendan tells flops they can't use protests as an excuse as they fight to find their form

- BY MICHAEL GANNON

THERE have been plenty of bizarre scenes already this season but not many would have had Kasper Schmeichel picking up tennis balls on the bingo card.

But then again, these are not normal times at Celtic. The support remains at loggerheads with the board over the running of the club and this was the latest protest on the back of the silent treatment and late walk-ins.

This time it was tennis and rubber balls along with oranges lobbed on to the pitch right after kick-off, causing a five-minute delay and a clean-up mission by the players on the park.

It was hardly the bright start Brendan Rodgers wanted and the latest demonstration from the Hoops fans against the club's board did seem to have an adverse effect on the playing squad.

In fact, this continuing battle between the fans and the boardroom must be having an impact on the pitch.

But Rodgers has to tread a fine line. He isn’t going to slam supporters for any disruptions while he needs them on his side.

Even so, he refused to use the latest protest as any excuse for his team's woeful showing on Tayside. Rodgers said: “I don't know but what I know is it was right at the beginning of the game and we've still got a long, long way to go after that.

“It doesn't stop you giving the ball away and losing a goal on a counterattack.

“It doesn’t stop you getting blocked off on the pitch. We cant use that as an excuse. Of course it's been simmering all summer and into the beginning of the season. But we can only focus on the pitch and we can be better on the pitch, for sure.