Brendan Rodgers signalled Celtic mayday but then something happened that didn't make sense – Keith Jackson at Parkhead

It really wasn’t supposed to matter this much.

But what began as a fairly, lifeless affair in Glasgow’s east end, ended in the kind of bedlam which serves as a reminder to us all of why we fell in love with this game in the first place. It meant nothing. And yet it felt like everything. Almost enough to forget, for a while at least, that this entire Group E campaign has been a wholly miserable experience from the outset for a Celtic side which went into this one just to fulfil the fixture list. But they ended it with clenched fists, puffed chests and a major monkey off their back, with a first Champions League win on home soil for ten years.

And the consolation of proving to themselves that good fortune doesn’t always abandon them at the first sound of UEFA’s favourite anthem. For once in this competition, lady luck was wearing a green and white shirt as sub Gustaf Lagerbielke - of all people - popped up with a last gasp winner to spark scenes of celebration which made it feel like qualification was at stake instead of Celtic’s elimination confirmed.

Luis Palma’s first half penalty had them in front but it seemed like a sorry old story repeating itself when Feyenoord levelled nine minutes from time. And yet, on a night which defied all the established logic, Lagerbielke came off the bench to claim the mantle of Celtic’s most unlikely hero.

More and more lately, Rodgers’ team selections have felt like some sort of coded cry for help. But when the name of Stephen Welsh appeared on this latest team sheet, the messaging lost whatever subtlety was left. With Nat Phillips and Gustaf Lagerbielke left on the bench, this was Rodgers effectively standing on the sidelines, waving both arms in the air while screaming ‘mayday mayday’