BREND OVER BACKWARDS

Rodgers goes on front foot as he hits out at fans who booed stars for passing the ball back at 0-0

- BY MICHAEL GANNON

THERE are times when Brendan Rodgers just wants to get something off his chest.

This was one of them. It was clear the Celtic manager was pleased to get an immediate response from his team after the shock stinker thrown in at Ibrox a few days previously.

But it was also obvious there was something else eating at the boss aside from that uncharacteristic display in the defeat to the old foes.

His players might have got a bit of flak from their gaffer in the dressing room in Govan.

But it was the supporters who were in for a strongly worded telling off yesterday.

Rodgers was seething at the singing about former hero Kieran Tierney towards the end of the 3-0 stroll against St Mirren.

But it was some of the groans when it was still 0-0 after half an hour that really got his back up.

Rodgers said: "I have a big respect for this group of players, especially on a day like today.

"Because when it was 0-0 for the first 20 minutes, and when we'd make a backward pass, the crowd would be on to the team.

"That can not happen. One, if you know about football, and two, if you can understand it when teams come here, they're going to make it really difficult.

"You can't turn up every single week and be 3-0, 4-0 up in 20 minutes. Teams are well organised, teams are well set up, you have to work the game.