CELTIC have scored three goals in their last three competitive games, five hours of football including extra-time in the Scottish Cup Final.
One of the strikes has come deep in stoppage-time, one arrived with three minutes of regulation game time to play and the other was an own goal courtesy of an Aberdeen defender.
I don’t know about you, dear reader, but I believe that is a damning and horrifying statistic.
The champions required an equaliser from James Forrest in added-on time to prevent a Trophy Day loss to St Mirren in the final day of last season, a massive deflection from the Dons’ Alfie Dorrington at Hampden and it was left to substitute Luke McCowan to get the business done against the Paisley Saints on the opening day fixture yesterday.
Does anyone really require a road map to find the source of the Hoops’ main problem?
LOOKING DOWN…Adam Idah searches for the answer against St Mirren.
Adam Idah had the ideal opportunity at the turn of the year to show he was worth £9.5million when Kyogo Furuhashi left for Rennes.
The Republic of Ireland international frontman collected 11 of his season’s haul of 20 during the absence of the Japanese star. There were 23 games to play in all competitions after Kyogo left.
It was abundantly clear Idah didn’t do enough to convince Brendan Rodgers he was the man to lead the attack hence the switch in positions for Daizen Maeda, moving in from the wing to the main central role.
And the powerhouse frontman demonstrated there is still much to be done on his game at Parkhead yesterday.
With 12 minutes to go – and the Hoops desperately seeking a goal from anywhere – he was removed from the action to be replaced by Johnny Kenny.
That’s Johnny Kenny who has scored one goal for the club in 11 appearances.
It wasn’t exactly an inspirational substitution and I doubt if it struck terror into the hearts of the opposition.
Unless the manager switches Maeda back into the middle or Shin Yamada proves to be the signing of the century, the Idah/Kenny double-act is the best Rodgers can provide at the moment.
That could all change, of course, if a proven goalscorer can be magicked up from somewhere before the transfer window closes in just under a month’s time.
HIT AND MISS…Adam Idah thumps a close-range drive against the St Mirren post.
Alas, Idah did nothing against the Paisley side that would dispel fears he is not equipped to carry the burden of being the club’s main man in attack.
He certainly lacks composure when it is most required. Witness his shot off the post in the 72nd minute. The frontman did well to knock down the excellent angled left-wing cross from his compatriot Liam Scales to present himself with a one v one with the keeper.
From four yards, Idah waywardly belted the ball off the woodwork and it ricocheted for miles. A calm head would have seen him utilise precision ahead of power. He rushed his effort, pulverised the post and, in an instant, the chance was gone.
He should have scored. Twice in the first-half, he fluffed reasonable opportunities. His header from an astute left-wing delivery from Kieran Tierney was straight into the arms of a grateful Shamal George and it was a similar story when Idah tried to turn and hit a shot and once again the attempt was in the powderpuff category.
On top of that, the attacker was caught offside three times in the opening 45 minutes. That can frustrate team-mates as they attempt to build play and, of course, immediately hands possession to rivals.
This is not a wanton criticism of the player for the sheer hell of it. It would be much more satisfying to applaud than condemn any Celtic player.
But there can be no denying where Rodgers’ priority lies in the remaining days of the transfer window if he hopes to strengthen his squad for the rigours that are ahead at home and abroad.
The only stumbling block is the fact available consistent goalscorers are as plentiful as hen’s teeth. Plus they cost an awful lot of money.
There is much negotiating to be done before September 1.
ALEX GORDON
McCOWAN THE HERO FOR DEFIANT CHAMPIONS