Celtic were beaten 3-1 at Europa League table-toppers Midtjylland to make it a miserable return to European football for Hoops interim boss Martin O’Neill as he suffered his first defeat in charge.
After making a perfect start to life back at Celtic following a home league win over Falkirk and a Scottish Cup semi-final victory against Rangers, O’Neill was handed a reality check in the Europa League.
Midtjylland ran riot in the first half against the Scottish champions with an eight-minute three-goal blitz doing the damage.
Martin Erlic’s 33rd-minute header sparked a Midtjylland onslaught, with Mikel Gogorza superbly curling in just 100 seconds later before the dangerous Franculino Dju hit a third in the 41st minute.
The Danes, who made it four wins from four in the Europa League and are on a 12-game unbeaten run in all competitions, were superior to Celtic as they racked up 23 shots, with 12 of those on target.
Celtic did, however, show fight in the second half as substitute Reo Hatate scored an 81st-minute penalty, which was won by 19-year-old substitute Callum Osmand.
But the teenage striker was stretchered off just eight minutes later with what appeared to be a hamstring injury to add more woe for Celtic, who are already short of striking options.
The defeat sees the Hoops fall out of the top 24 of the Europa League table to leave them in danger of failing to qualify for the knockout stages, as O’Neill’s side sit 25th with four games remaining.
