Joe Hart believes Sam Johnstone was rocked by the Old Firm atmosphere this past Sunday. Johnstone made his Celtic debut against St Johnstone during the week and was then thrown in for the derby despite looking a little rusty on the ball during his first game and Viljami Sinisalo impressing early in the season.
Martin O'Neill says the decision was made to get a good look at Johnstone and see how he reacts to the situation, but the results were not fantastic. Rangers won because they were the better team, and Johnstone wasn't at fault for the goals, but he did put his team in trouble too many times with poor distribution, struggling to cope with the press he faced from Rangers forwards.
According to former Celtic keeper Hart, Johnstone will have been shocked by the atmosphhere in the Old Firm. He told Sky Sports: "They were coming in with confidence and rightly so. But anything can happen in this games.
“I know that more than anyone. I remember playing my first Derby game, with only home fans. It’s tough. I think that it might have shocked a few of them. I remember being warned going up there. 'Are you ready for this' – I was like, you’re kidding me. Of course I am ready.
"Then I remember the first five minutes thinking, jeez, this is a lot. But it’s got to turn you on. And they’ve got a great opportunity on Thursday in the Europa League then a massive opportunity in the following couple of days at Celtic Park."
Asked if Johnstone will come good at Celtic, Hart predicted: "Of course he will. The whole team were too nervous. The whole team felt it. It might have shocked a few of them.”
As we have already covered this week, Hart's explanation of the Old Firm atmosphere only highlight why it wasn't the game for O'Neill to take a risk with Johnstone. It's all well and good giving players experience of different situations, but you do not take the Old Firm as an opportunity to do that. It is about winning and only winning.
Celtic fans won't have bought into the thought of rotating for a derby, and especially not with a veteran goalkeeper who has already experienced some big games in his career. This was as much about lacking rhythm and game time as lacking experience fo the Old Firm,.
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