Celtic have it all to do in Spain next week after falling to a 2-0 defeat at home to Valencia in the last 32 of the Europa League last night. Manager Brendan Rodgers has inisted Celtic can still progress to the next round of the competition, saying after the game: "We go next week to Valencia for what will be a very difficult game. But if we get the first goal it brings a different possibility for us."
Midfielder Callum McGregor echoed his manager's assertion that scoring an early away goal could swing the tie in Celtic's favour. McGregor said: "It is important that we learn from that tonight, and then when we go out there try to start well in the game, and if we can nick a goal that changes the tie completely. It kind of reverses it. We have seen 2-0 scorelines so many times when teams think they have comfort, they lose a goal and the whole thing falls apart."
We've published Celtic player ratings from the game last night, where you can see how each individual got on over the course of last night's disappointing defeat.
And the Herald's Stewart Fisher has drawn up a list of five lessons that Celtic can learn from the chastening loss at Celtic Park.
Ex-Rangers striker Kenny Miller has said that he agrees with the SFA's decision to uphold his old team-mate Allan McGregor's two-match ban for his challeneg on Aberdeen's Lewis Ferguson. "I thought the ban would remain, I can see what the defence would be but if it was against me I would be expecting some sort kind of action to be taken," admitted Miller. "Allan has been involved in a couple of situations like that this year, you think of the Ajer one against Celtic – he got away with that one a wee bit."
PFA Scotland, Scotland's professional footballer association, has handed over a petition to the SFA calling for artificial surfaces to be banned in the top flight. Every Premiership player signed the petition, apart from those on the books at Kilmarnock, Livingston and Hamilton, who were asked not to sign.
But Livingston manager Gary Holt has refuted the suggestion that clubs gain an advantage from playing on artificial surfaces, branding the argument as "a load of s***e".
And the Herald's Graeme McGarry has argued that as it is the players that have to deal with these pitches, it is their opinion that carries the most weight in the debate and we should ultimately defer to their judgement.
New Hibernian manager Paul Heckingbottom insists he is relishing a reunion with Stevie Mallan – despite the mercurial midfielder struggling to make the grade at Barnsley. "I worked hard with Stevie, and he worked hard when he was down south to improve his game," revealed Heckingbottom. "I left Barnsley before him so I don’t actually know what happened at the end and why he decided to leave."
And ex-Partick Thistle defender Liam Lindsay, who played under Heckingbottom at Barnsley, said his old manager's appointment at Hibs should serve the club well. Lindsay said: "The main thing about him is that everyone will know what they are doing. Tactically and in terms of organisation, he is brilliant."
Partick Thistle manager Gary Caldwell has been handed a one-match dugout ban ahead of the Jags' biggest game of the season at Alloa this weekend. The Jags boss was punished for comments about referee Andrew Dallas after his side's 1-1 draw with Falkirk last month, when he claimed the official was "arrogant".
Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta was disappointed that his side did not see off Malmo in Sweden in their Europa League fixture last night. "We had chances to have the result more comfortable but at the end they scored and there's still a lot to play for next Thursday," the Spaniard admitted.
Ever pondered which Scottish Premiership side makes the most mistakes? Well, wonder no more. The Herald's James Cairney has created an Incompetence League based on the amount of errors each side has made this season, in an attempt to discover who the top flight's most gaffe-prone club is.
In rugby, Scotland have been dealt another injury blow with the news that centre Huw Jones has been ruled out of next week's meeting with France and could miss the remainder of the Six Nations tournament.
And Edinburgh coach Richard Cockerill has set his players the target of becoming the best rugby team in the world. Cockerill said: "These guys are only going to get better, so we have some real talent in the squad. Why not have some ambition to be the best in the world?"
Elsewhere, the Scottish Sun are reporting that Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson is determined to keep a hold of his young winger Jake Hastie, who has reportedly been drawing admiring glances from the English Championship.
And SFA compliance officer Clare Whyte is under pressure from a group of 8,500 football fans who have signed a petition calling for her resignation, according to the Daily Record.
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