RODGERS: WE'RE A CLAPPED OUT OLD BANGER

BRENDAN RODGERS reckons he's been chucked the keys to a spluttering banger but needs to turn his Celtic side into a supercar to get back into pole position in the Premiership.

- BY MICHAEL GANNON

The Bhoys boss is facing the toughest test of his two spells at Parkhead with Hearts speeding into a five-point lead in the title race after Celts suffered a dismal 2-0 defeat to Dundee. Hoops fans delayed the game at Dens with a tennis ball protest against the club's board while Rodgers admitted his side needs major repair work ahead of a huge week with Sturm Graz up in the Europa League ahead of Sunday's mammoth showdown with the Jambos at Tynecastle.

He said: "Listen, it's not all linear and all smooth right the way through the season. That's for sure.

"I think the challenge from the summer, now leading into here, where we lost a lot of firepower, a lot of goals out on the team.

"And there's no way you'll go into a race and be given the keys to a Honda Civic and say, I want you to drive it like a Ferrari. It's not going to happen.