Keep Cam & we can get back to our levels from last season

Carter-Vickers insists Hoops will find groove in time to rescue faltering Europa campaign

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THE disbelief over the VAR shocker that denied Kelechi Iheanacho an equaliser might take some time to die down.

But amid the fury over the bumbling officials after Thursday night's defeat to Braga, there was no hiding from the truth of another stumbling 90 minutes from Celtic.

Cameron Carter-Vickers was quick to point out that the “big moment” went against Celtic.

But in his next breath he summed up where the Hoops are right now, admitting: “We probably weren't good enough to deserve to win the game”

Not for the first time in recent weeks. And against a Braga side who, albeit with plenty of talent, are seventh in the Primeira Liga and hardly setting the heather on fire.

The drop off in Celtic's performance levels in less than a year has been stark.

Carter-Vickers was a central part of a Hoops side who were flowing freely at this stage last season.

A Brendan Rodgers machine that, one disastrous night in Dortmund apart, was forging an impressive path beyond the group stage in the Champions League while regularly battering teams on the domestic front.

But now?

Bashed at home to Braga in the second-tier competition, they lie outwith the qualifying spots in the Europa League and sit second in the Premiership ahead of this afternoons clash with Motherwell.

Just eight goals have been netted in six league games.

At this point last season it was 20 goals — and in 12 games in all competitions the blunt Bhoys have failed to score in five, including in back-to-back games at Parkhead.

If it sounds bleak then that’s because, by Celtic standards, it is.