Under pressure Deila not ready to hit panic button

By Joe McHugh

RONNY DEILA claimed that he wasn't worried about Celtic's mid-table position after the Hoops lost 1-0 at home to Hamilton Accies.

A 49th minute goal from Ali Crawford gave the Lanarkshire side their first win at Celtic Park since 1938.

Patience in Deila is wearing thin among supporters who watched their side beat Barcelona less than two years ago while listening to a manager that seems obsessive about diet and fitness as his side hurtles from one embarrassment to another.

Going into the international break Celtic are sitting in sixth place with 14 points from eight matches having failed to beat Motherwell, Dundee, Inverness Caley Thistle and now Hamilton Accies.

"I'm not worried at all," Deila claimed. "I think we created chances, we played quite well, we created enough chances to win the game.

"The result is very disappointing, we didn't get anything from so many chances, we need to put the ball in the net, that's what football is about. If things are 10 per cent down in attitude or preparation then it gets dangerous, we need determination to really want to get the ball into the net.

"Today I think we have more to do, it was a wee bit too sloppy, the runs into the box weren't powerful enough, we need more accuracy and determination.

"It's very disappointing, to lose at home is not what we want, things happen in football and it's about what you do with it, we have to turn this around and bounce back in the next match. We are still involved in everything and have the chance to make it a very good season."

The international break will take some of the spotlight away from Celtic's failings but the pressure is building on Deila to deliver.

Celtic Park has been less than half full for the last four matches, against Motherwell, Hearts, Dinamo Zagreb and Hamilton Accies, with fans voting with their feet about the new man in charge and the system that he is trying to impose on reluctant players.