NO GUILT TRIP

Near Sligo stall will do little to bother Brendan's conscience

- MICHAEL GANNON

BRENDAN RODGERS admitted beforehand it felt like a crime he couldn't give some of his fringe men more first-team game time.

The Celtic boss needed Luis Palma to get his side out of jail as the Hoops nicked a 3-2 win against Sligo Rovers when it looked like the Irish outfit were going to leave them red-faced.

Rodgers' men got a result in the end but he might not feel quite so guilty as several of his back-ups don't look like ready to break into the first team any time.

Palma gave it a go and has a better chance than most as Celts got off to a flier.

The Showgrounds was bursting at the seams and Celtic likely expected a stroll when Palma drove in from Yang HyunJun's cross in eight minutes.

But a couple of howlers from Scott Bain put Celtic on the back foot for the rest of the half.

Kailin Barlow curled an effort and the keeper seemed to be caught between catching it or pawing it over but did neither as the ball squirmed into the net.