 Stanislav Varga missed a great chance in the second half |
Celtic boss Martin O'Neill was left to lament their continued poor away form in the Champions League and a glaring miss from Stanislav Varga as his team prop up Group A after defeat to Anderlecht. O'Neill watched Varga miss from close range and a few other chances were squandered as his side slumped to a 1-0 defeat to 10 men in Brussels.
Celtic have now lost all five of their Champions League games on the road and have three points from three games in this campaign.
Bayern Munich lead the group with five points, while Lyon and Anderlecht each have four.
"We didn't play anywhere near as well as we can but I thought we did enough to get something from the game," said O'Neill.
"We created one or two chances and I thought the one with Stan must go in but it wasn't to be and it went wide from just a yard out. That's how close these games are. "They went down to 10 men after 25 minutes and it certainly galvanized them.
"I know from personal experience how that can work because we've won twice this season after a sending off.
"But that's not the main issue - we just didn't play well enough in the vital areas to really cause them enough problems.
"Our passing wasn't crisp enough and we didn't get hold of the ball enough.
"But I have to give Anderlecht credit. They are a top side and battled well.
"We came here with confidence because we've been playing well but I knew Anderlecht were a good side - they beat Manchester United here a couple of years back - and Champions League games are always very hard.
"I always knew this group would be very tight and it is still wide open but there is no margin for error now.
"It's disappointing to come away with nothing and it puts pressure on us to win at home.
"We have to get ourselves right for the return match in a couple of weeks. "And now we need things to go our way and to get a bit of luck."
Reflecting on Celtic's lack of success away from Parkhead in the Champions League, O'Neill is all too aware that continued failings could prove costly.
"Most teams target 10 points if they have any thoughts of qualification," O'Neill continued.
"We lost out in five attempts now but we won well away from home in the Uefa Cup last season - it was our main strength.
"We've got one more try (a trip to Lyon in the final game) and we may need to take something from it.
"We got nine points last time out (two years ago) and didn't make it but some teams progressed with eight."
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
It's disappointing to come away with nothing and it puts pressure on us to win at home 
