Woeful Celtic defending gives Strachan cause for concern

Celtic's John Hartson, seen here in July 2004, grabbed a first half hat-trick, but Motherwell held the team to a 4-4 draw on the opening day of the Scottish Premier League.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has admitted he may bring in another defender to solve his side's problems at the back after he watched his side lose four goals to Motherwell.

The 4-4 draw at Fir Park on the opening day of the Scottish Premier League season meant the Parkhead club have lost nine goals in two games, following their 5-0 defeat to Slovakian side Artmedia Bratislava in a Champions League qualifier.

Only a miracle will now see Celtic stay in European competition after Tuesday's second leg at Celtic Park.

And this, added to Saturday's result, means Strachan is already under pressure with bookmakers making him favourite to be the first Scottish manager to be sacked this season.

The former Southampton and Coventry boss accepts that the quality of his side's defending is well short of what is required if they are to get their season back on track.

And with Chinese international defender Du Wei due to arrive in Glasgow for a week-long trial next Saturday, it is clear Strachan is losing confidence in the abilities of the defensive players at his disposal.

He said: "The way we are defending is obviously a big concern. After the Champions League game on Wednesday we decided to make changes in the back four but on Saturday we made similar mistakes again.

"We dropped Bobo Balde from the side that played against Artmedia but he was slightly unlucky as it could have been three or four others who were replaced.

"But at the moment we don't have the resources to make that many changes and I certainly wouldn't rule out bringing in another defender before the transfer deadline at the end of August.

"But there is no magic formula. We just have to keep plodding away and once we get a few things sorted out we'll be fine."

The dropping of Balde has led to suggestions the Guinean international may be about to leave the Glasgow club, with speculation linking him to a move to Marseille.

However, Strachan denied their had been any approach from the French side and said the defender was still wanted at the club.

"Every player we have has a future at the club," he said. "There has certainly not been any approach for Balde and we hope he'll stay.

"If he wants to continue playing for Celtic then I'm delighted."

On Saturday Celtic needed a last gasp Craig Beattie goal to salvage a point in a thrilling 4-4 draw at Motherwell, where they had thrown away the title on the final day of last season.

Celtic had taken the lead in the 14th minute when John Hartson headed Alan Thompson's cross into the roof of the net.

But Motherwell were in no mood to lie down to the Glasgow giants and equalised in the 20th minute through Brian Kerr's left-foot drive from 12-yards into the top corner.

In the 32nd minute Celtic regained their lead with Hartson heading home Aiden McGeady's cross.

And three minutes before the break the Parkhead club looked to be on easy street when Hartson completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot to make it 3-1.

But Jim Hamilton took advantage of dreadful marking by centre-halves Stanislav Varga and Stephen McManus to rise unchallenged and head home Alan McCormack's cross in the 58th minute.

And two minutes later Scott McDonald, whose two goals in the final match last season cost Celtic the title, outjumped McManus to score with a fine downward header from Jim Paterson's cross.

With five minutes remaining Motherwell took the lead when William Kinniburgh rose unmarked to head into the top left-hand corner of the net.

But Beattie, who had replaced McGeady in the 68th minute, spared Celtic's blushes when he latched on to a long pass through the middle to poke the ball under the advancing Marshall to tie the match at 4-4.