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Photo by MICHAL CIZEK/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by MICHAL CIZEK/AFP via Getty Images

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Celtic fans praise Olivier Ntcham despite heavy defeat to Sparta Prague

Will Butcher
Will Butcher

When it rains, it pours and that was certainly the case for Celtic on Thursday night as they suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Sparta Prague for the second successive clash aganist the Czech outfit – but some Hoops fans have praised Olivier Ntcham.

Having come into the match with just two wins in eight games and their Europa League campaign hanging by a thread, Celtic needed to win not only to ease the pressure on Neil Lennon – but to give themselves any chance of Europe after Christmas.

They started in excellent fashion. Odsonne Edouard looked back to his best with an exquisite finish. But from that point on, it was downhill for Celtic and Lennon. The result read 4-1 at the end of the match, the same scoreline in the previous fixture.

Celtic FC Media Access
(Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)

Ntcham was largely to blame for Sparta’s third goal. With Celtic pressing, Sparta broke and the French midfielder allowed Lukas Julis to run past him, with the Czech ace netting. Julis has scored five goals in his two games against the Hoops.

Despite that, Ntcham did show glimpses of quality with a number of good passes and touches – but it was not enough to prevent Celtic from receiving another heavy defeat. The pressure is now enormous on Lennon, with some keen to see the back of him.

Celtic supporters reacted on Twitter to Ntcham’s display and while many criticised the £35,000-a-week () midfielder for his lack of effort, some applauded the ex-Manchester City star. One fan tweeted: “He was by far our best player.”