Ferguson fires emphatic riposte to Gasperini as brilliant brace helps Roma past sorry Celtic
HOW YOU LIKE ME NOW: AS Roma's Evan Ferguson celebrates scoring their second goal with AS Roma's Matias Soule Pic: REUTERS/Scott Heppell
Evan Ferguson delivered the most timely riposte possible to Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini as he fired a brilliant brace to down Celtic at Parkhead.
The Irish striker has been rumoured to be on his way out of the Italian capital in the coming weeks with reports in Italy strongly suggesting his season-long loan from Brighton will be ended early. Veteran manager Gasperini was outspoken in questioning Ferguson's attitude this week.
However, having scored once in his first 14 games, Ferguson delivered one hell of a message with two in the space of just 20 minutes in Glasgow.
Having seen international teammate Liam Scales suffer the misfortune of heading into his own net within six minutes to give the visitors the perfect start, Ferguson saw an early effort hit the post. He didn't let that — or Gasperini's barbs — get to him as pounced for his first on 36 minutes, showing instinctive timing and movement to meet Zeki Celik's cross and produce a delightful side-foot finish.
On the brink of halftime, he went one better as he picked up Matias Soule's ball into the edge of the box, swivelled the hips and turned Scales before rifling home, sprinting to the corner to be mobbed by teammates. With Celtic offering precious little in response, new boss Wilfried Nancy getting his tenure off to a chaotic start, Ferguson was withdrawn in the 69th minute. He will hope he has done enough to merit a starting berth for next Monday night's Serie A meeting with Como.
For the hosts, there is much to ponder. Not least some unfortunate history as Nancy became the first Celtic manager to lose his opening two games.
Celtic were in disarray in the opening 45 minutes and eschewed a reprieve. Arne Engels missed a penalty in first-half stoppage time before Celtic improved following a triple substitution at the break.
They could not make inroads on the scoreline as both sides had second-half goals disallowed for offside following VAR interventions.
The defeat leaves Celtic on seven points in the Europa League with two games remaining, away to Bologna and at home to Utrecht.
Just as Celtic have plenty of time to make up for Sunday's home defeat by William Hill Premiership leaders Hearts, they are still very much in with a chance of progression in Europe.
But Nancy will quickly need to discover a winning formula as his next fixture comes in the Premier Sports Cup final against St Mirren.
The Frenchman took over a side fresh from seven wins in eight games under interim manager Martin O'Neill but his tactical overhaul has left the team struggling throughout the pitch.
The former Columbus Crew manager ditched the green trainers that sparked media comment after Sunday's debut but maintained the starting line-up and system with three left-sided centre-backs in Scales, Auston Trusty and Kieran Tierney.
The only change was that Reo Hatate dropped into a deeper position in the midfield square with Engels playing further forward.
Celtic struggled to build from the back or get forward in numbers in the first half with wide players Sebastian Tounekti and Yang Hyun-jun looking uncomfortable in their wing-back roles.
Roma immediately hemmed Celtic in and took the lead in the sixth minute when Scales intercepted a driven corner that was heading for Gianluca Mancini, who was being marked by Tierney, but headed the ball in off the bar.
Celtic were virtually missing as an attacking force as Roma created chance after chance. They were off-target from five decent openings and Kasper Schmeichel made a good stop before Ferguson converted Zeki Celik's low cross in the 36th minute.
Tierney had been left alone to deal with the two players with Tounekti further up the wing and Hatate struggling to get back.
The home fans, missing the vocal backing of the banned Green Brigade, finally found their voice in response with a rendition of "sack the board".
Celtic soon launched their first attacking move of note but Yang shot over the bar and Ferguson doubled his tally in the final minute of the half.
Matias Soule was allowed yards of space to play a forward pass into the box and on-loan Brighton attacker Ferguson, despite being tightly marked by Scales, found the bottom corner thanks to a brilliant touch and finish.
Engels soon benefited from a soft penalty award for a pull but the Belgian hit the inside of the post.
Nancy brought Colby Donovan into his back three and also introduced Paulo Bernardo and Kelechi Iheanacho and Celtic had more life about them in the second period.
Iheanacho missed a good chance after being played through on goal and finished well from a low cross from Engels, only to be denied by a belated offside decision.
Leon Bailey also fell foul of the video assistants' lines after an impressive finish into the top corner.
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