Steven Naismith has claimed Celtic look like they “couldn’t be bothered” as they crashed to a derby battering at Ibrox.
Philippe Clement and his Rangers side bagged the bragging rights in the first meeting of 2025 and with that a first victory over Brendan Rodgers for the Belgian boss after a dominant win with goals coming from Ianis Hagi, Robin Propper and sub Danilo late on. The results means the gap at the top has been cut to 11 points heading into the second half of the campaign.
Former Hearts boss Naismith and fellow Sportscene pundit Peter Grant both agreed they still expect the Hoops to go on and win the league title come May with former Ibrox star Naismith admitting they remain the best team in the country, he reckons today they just weren’t up for the game while he also delivered his take on the sports science debate after decisions to leave key personnel out for the defeat to St Mirren on Boxing Day and the draw at Motherwell – after rescuing a point from two goals down at Fir Park.
He said: “Celtic looked as if they couldn’t be bothered. They’ve been excellent under Brendan Rodgers from when he came back until now. The progression is clear. They are a million miles ahead of everybody but today it looked, I think he was spot on in his comments, saying ‘we lacked that edge’ they looked like they couldn’t be bothered.
“I think it has been too easy for them. The cup final you would expect it to be a shock. You’d think they would come into the game and be up for it. But it just lacked that edge.”
On the Sports Science talker, he added: “I think the whole sport science thing has come out and become a thing. Every manager will have that detail. I think he is just giving an honest answer on how things are. A sports scientist is not picking his team.
“They are giving information and it is for you to decide what you want to do with that. I think that has came across and he has been dealt harshly with that. I agree with him in terms of big project and you need to get young players to promote them and to make them better to invest. But at Rangers and Celtic you need to win by doing that.”
With Celtic 11 points clear still at the summit despite the derby day defeat both pundits were asked if Callum McGregor would lift the trophy aloft once again come the end of the season with both in agreement. Grant said: “Absolutely”. Naismith added: “Yeah, Celtic are still the best team in the country.”