WRITING ON THE WALL

Celts were in trouble minute back line crumbled for opener

FIRST there was the crack in the wall. Then the entire structure crumbled.

Celtic fans have seen this movie too many times in the Champions League.

The Hoops laid the foundations for a solid night's work in Rotterdam.

Then they managed to shoot themselves in the foot spectacularly to end the evening pointless.

Celts have a habit of unravelling at this level just when it looks like they are building something sturdy.

Brendan Rodgers' side were a match for Feyenoord for 45 minutes until the wall went to bits for Calvin Stengs curling free-kick.

And all hopes of a fightback went up in smoke when they ended up with NINE men after two daft red cards in the space of five chaotic minutes.

Gustaf Lagerbielke walked for a second yellow after giving away a penalty that was missed - then sub Odin Thiago Holm cemented Mats Wieffer for an instant dismissal. Sure enough, Feyenoord sealed it soon after through Alireza Jahanbakhsh and a promising night ended up sticking to a painfully familiar script.

Rodgers returned with a plan to be competitive in Europe and while there's plenty of money in the back, the Parkhead men still can't buy a win at this level.

Anything is possible, was the Rodgers mantra going in. What was plausible is another matter.

There is no doubt Rodgers would have preferred to have some of his key men on board for his first Champions League test since his return.

He knows more than anyone it's a hard enough environment with a full team out, never mind a patchwork one. But those were the cards he was dealt. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liel Abada were big misses and it was a heck of a challenge for Lagerbielke and Liam Scales.

Luis Palma too, getting his first start for Celts in this Dutch bear pit.