Chriss Sutton hit out at Martin O’Neill with brutal verdict after late 2-2 draw vs Heart Fc
Chris Sutton did not dress it up after Celtic’s 2-2 draw with Hearts at Tynecastle. The former striker looked past the noise of the game itself and focused on what he sees as a wider problem.
For Sutton, the result and the performance only sharpened the question around how Martin O’Neill has been backed since returning earlier this month.
Celtic went to Tynecastle knowing the margins were tight. Hearts were six points clear, the stadium was charged, and the fixture had the feel of a game that could tilt the season either way. Celtic led twice and still left with a point that kept them alive, but also exposed familiar limits.
The match itself was scrappy in spells. Hearts pulled Celtic into a physical contest, pressed high, and made the game uncomfortable whenever the ball went dead. Celtic had moments of control, but too often found themselves reacting rather than setting the tempo.
By full-time, attention had already shifted away from the scoreboard. Questions around the red card, the late pressure, and the running power left in the side fed into a bigger debate. That debate is one Sutton believes should be aimed higher than the dugout.
CELTIC WERE DRAGGED INTO THE GAME HEARTS WANTED TO PLAY. GOOD POINT IN THE END. NOT CONVINCED TRUSTY WAS A RED. NOTHING NEW LEARNT. FOR MARTIN TO ONLY HAVE ONE PLAYER IN IS AN EMBARRASSMENT AND IT’S NOT ON HIM… FAIL TO PREPARE PREPARE TO FAIL…
— CHRIS SUTTON (@CHRIS_SUTTON73) JANUARY 25, 2026
Sutton’s frustration centres on preparation. O’Neill returned earlier this month to steady a side still fighting on league and European fronts. Since then, only Tomas Cvancara has arrived, and even that deal came late in the window.
The Tynecastle game showed why depth matters. Celtic finished with ten men again, having already spent long spells shorthanded in Europe days earlier. Legs tired, spaces opened, and Hearts pushed Celtic back with direct play and set pieces.
Cvancara’s debut offered a glimpse of what fresh options can do. His run and cross for the second goal cut through Hearts and gave Celtic a lead they deserved at that point. It also underlined how thin the options are when one new player makes such a clear impact straight away.
Sutton’s comment about Trusty’s red card reflects a wider mood. Many felt the decision changed the shape of the game rather than punished an obvious goal chance. Once down to ten, Celtic’s job shifted from control to survival.
That survival instinct is not in question. Celtic have shown it in Europe and again at Tynecastle. But survival is not how you chase a title when you are already behind.
The board’s role comes into focus here. January is short, but it is also predictable. Injuries, suspensions, and fixture load were not surprises. Celtic entered this period knowing the squad was light in key areas.
O’Neill has not publicly complained. His tone has stayed measured, even when asked directly about numbers. Sutton, with less to lose, has said what many supporters are thinking.
Failing to add players does not only affect the bench. It changes how starters manage games, how risks are taken, and how much energy is left late on. At Tynecastle, Celtic needed fresh legs and clearer options when the game turned.
The title race remains open, but it is narrowing. Hearts look settled, Rangers are gathering pace, and Celtic are asking the same group to carry the load again and again. That is where Sutton’s criticism lands hardest.
For O’Neill, the job has been about keeping belief alive. He has done that through performances, resilience, and results that have not collapsed. But belief without backing only stretches so far.
Celtic still have time in the window. Whether that time is used may define how the rest of the season plays out. Sutton’s words were blunt, but they came from watching a game that felt all too familiar.
At Tynecastle, Celtic showed they can still compete. They also showed why competing and winning are not always the same thing. That gap is where recruitment matters most
