NafisaCeltic supporters have unleashed their fury on Sam Johnstone following a disastrous night against Celta Vigo, with some fans demanding that the goalkeeper never be allowed to wear the Hoops shirt again after their latest European humiliation.
Martin O’Neill’s side went into Thursday’s Europa League clash at Celtic Park desperately needing a result after losing their opening two matches against Ferencváros and Benfica. With their knockout-stage hopes already under pressure, the hosts knew another defeat would leave them facing a difficult battle to rescue their campaign.
For a while, Celtic looked capable of delivering the response their supporters wanted. Mika Baur put the hosts ahead early in the second half, raising hopes that the Scottish side could finally collect their first points of the league phase.
But the advantage did not last.
Celta Vigo fought their way back into the contest through Javi Rodriguez, who equalised before scoring again just minutes later to complete a damaging turnaround. Celtic were left stunned, their European struggles continued, and Johnstone found himself at the centre of an angry reaction from supporters who were far from impressed with his performance.
The goalkeeper’s handling of Rodriguez’s first goal became a particular talking point, with fans taking to X to express their frustration in brutally direct terms.
Celtic supporters turn on Sam Johnstone after Celta Vigo equaliser
Johnstone was criticised after Rodriguez headed home Celta Vigo’s equaliser from a free-kick, with some supporters believing the goalkeeper should have done considerably better.
The goal was especially painful for Celtic because they had worked hard to establish their lead and appeared to have put themselves in a strong position to secure a much-needed European victory.
Instead, Celta Vigo were allowed back into the game, and the equaliser shifted the momentum towards the visitors. Rodriguez then struck again shortly afterwards, leaving Celtic unable to recover.
The reaction online was fierce, with some supporters questioning whether Johnstone should continue to feature for the club.
One angry fan wrote: “Fwck him aswell, the big fwcking fat donkey. Send him back tomorrow iv seen more than enough of him”
Another supporter was equally dismissive, posting: “I Don’t rate him, I think he shite..”
The criticism did not stop there, with one fan expressing just how quickly patience appeared to be running out.
“Fwcking feed him to the wolves at this rate”
Another supporter delivered a blunt message about the goalkeeper’s future, writing:
“Send him back to Wolves tomorrow”
The comments reflect the level of frustration among sections of the Celtic support following another European night that failed to deliver the result they desperately needed.
‘Straight fucking at him’ — goalkeeper comes under fire
One of the most pointed reactions focused directly on Johnstone’s handling of the effort that led to Celta Vigo’s equaliser.
A supporter wrote: “Sam Johnstone inevitably parrys it in to his own net with a shot straight fucking at him”
The comment captured the anger surrounding the goalkeeper’s contribution to the goal, with some fans arguing that he should have dealt with the situation more effectively.
For a club already struggling to find consistency in Europe, another costly moment from a goalkeeper is bound to attract attention. Celtic needed their defensive players to provide stability after taking the lead, but Rodriguez’s equaliser instead gave Celta Vigo the opportunity to take control.
However, the criticism remains the supporters’ assessment of the incident. The goal also involved a free-kick delivery, Rodriguez’s movement and the space he was afforded to attack the ball. Johnstone’s handling was questioned, but Celtic’s defensive organisation must also come under scrutiny.
The goalkeeper was not the only factor in a defeat that saw the entire team struggle to recover once the visitors found their equaliser.
Martin O’Neill faces mounting questions after third straight defeat
The defeat to Celta Vigo was Celtic’s third consecutive loss in the Europa League, following their earlier setbacks against Ferencváros and Benfica.
That leaves O’Neill facing a difficult task as he attempts to revive a campaign that has gone badly wrong during its opening stages.
Celtic had opportunities to strengthen their advantage against Celta Vigo, with Liam Scales hitting the woodwork and Benjamin Nygren forcing a save from goalkeeper Ionut Radu. But they failed to make those chances count, and their defensive weaknesses were exposed once the visitors increased the pressure.
The disputed refereeing decisions also added to the frustration. O’Neill was furious after believing Celtic should have received a foul before Celta Vigo’s equaliser, while an earlier penalty appeal involving Callum Osmand had already sparked criticism from pundits.
Nevertheless, Celtic cannot afford to focus exclusively on the officials. Their inability to protect a lead and respond after conceding has become a major concern, and the latest defeat leaves their European ambitions in serious danger.
Johnstone’s performance has consequently become another talking point in a night that raised questions about the team as a whole.
Will Celtic supporters get their wish?
The demands for Johnstone to be sent back to Wolves demonstrate how quickly frustration can turn into calls for major changes after a damaging result.
However, the angry comments on X do not establish that Celtic intend to terminate his involvement or that the club has made any decision about his future. No such decision is confirmed by the reactions provided.
What they do show is that sections of the support have lost patience following the defeat, with the goalkeeper bearing a significant share of the criticism for the equaliser.
For O’Neill, the priority will be finding a way to stop the European slide and restore confidence before Celtic’s next challenge. Whether Johnstone retains his place will be a decision for the manager, who must weigh the goalkeeper’s performance against the wider defensive problems that contributed to the defeat.
After three losses from three Europa League matches, Celtic have little time to dwell on the disappointment. But if the reaction online is any indication, Johnstone will face intense scrutiny from supporters demanding an immediate improvement.
For some of them, Thursday’s performance was enough to call for a drastic change. Whether those demands influence O’Neill’s selection remains to be seen.
Nafisa
