Strachan angered by defensive lapses

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan blamed his leaking defence for the latest blow to his side’s hopes of retaining their Clydesdale Bank Premier League title.

The Hoops needed substitute Jiri Jarosik to rescue a point on a fraught afternoon against managerless Hibernian at Parkhead.

Strachan’s men were shocked in the 20th minute when Hibs defender David Murphy, ironically a Parkhead target, crashed a shot from the edge of the box past Mark Brown and in off the crossbar.

Jarosik’s leveller 12 minutes from time moved Celtic three points clear at the top of the table but Rangers have three games in hand, starting with a trip to Aberdeen tomorrow.

Celtic have now dropped nine points from their last 15 and Strachan is in little doubt where the problem lies.

He said: “It was a great start to the game for the first 20 minutes then they go up the park and score.

“It was a good finish by the lad but we were a bit shocked, thinking how did that happen.

“In terms of character both teams were equal but in terms of chances we were out of sight.

“We won that by a long way but we couldn’t finish off the moves.

“Our problem right now is letting in goals. I’m concerned about that.

“If we sort that out then I’m sure we will score goals.

“If you want to be top of the league you have to defend better than we are doing.

“If you are playing against us you will say there is a chance of scoring against them.

“It puts a lot of pressure on our lads up front to know that you must score two or three goals to win the game.

“And when you are not scoring, it puts a lot of pressure on the defenders not to let a goal in.

“I need to find out a formation from what we’ve got or do something else.”

Strachan played it safe with regards recurring speculation that Everton striker James McFadden will be arriving at Celtic Park in January.

He said: “We are all bluffing each other at the moment. January is when the cards are on the table and we will see what it is all about.”

Celtic skipper Stephen McManus accepted his share of the blame for two more dropped points and admitted that the initiative in the title race has been handed to Rangers.

He said: “You have to be honest and say that things are not going right.

“As a team we are not defending well and that is clear for everyone to see.

“It’s clear to see that the ball is not in our court.

“When you get to this stage of the season you always want to see yourselves at the top because you deserve to be there.

“Right now we are only there because Rangers have got three games in hand.”

Hibs assistant boss Tommy Craig, in temporary charge following the surprise resignation of John Collins this week, was rather coy when asked if he would be interested in the Easter Road hotseat full time.

Craig said: “The chairman spoke to me and asked me to take the team over the festive period. Full stop.

“If the job ever came up it would be discourteous of me not to speak to anyone.

“My CV is in, it’s 14 months long. They know me and they know what I can do.”