FINAL FAIL IN THE COFFIN

Celtic dithering over new forward options comes back to bite them as Rodgers' shot-shy side falls to shocking & costly play-off defeat

- BY GAVIN MCCAFFERTY

CELTIC'S failure to strengthen their attacking options came back to haunt them as they missed out on the Champions League following a goalless 210 minutes against Kairat Almaty.

The Scottish champions lost 3-2 in a penalty shootout in Almaty, an eastern Kazakhstan city 250 miles from the Chinese border.

The relationship between the Celtic fans and their board will now be equally distant after manager Brendan Rodgers did not get the attacking options he has been calling for since July.

Adam Idah (right), Luke McCowan and Daizen Maeda all saw their efforts saved by Kairat’s 21-year-old second-choice goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov in the shootout after Maeda missed a glorious chance shortly before Celtic dominated in extra-time.

Celtic have failed to add any wingers following Jota’s long-term injury in May and the sale of Nicolas Kuhn to Como more than six weeks ago.

And Shin Yamada, the only experienced striker to arrive since Kyogo Furuhashi left in January, stayed on the bench throughout the second leg.