Cameron Carter-Vickers tells raging Celtic fans they're heard loud and clear but 'disappearing' lead is no source of worry

Cameron Carter-Vickers admits fan anger at Celtic’s weekend horror show was understandable. But the Parkhead defender says the squad must stay clear-headed, calm and take emotion out of the equation in the hunt for answers.

Brendan Rodgers issued an instant apology to supporters following the 2-0 loss to Hearts. The manager hit out at a lack of “desire” and “passion” as his side crashed to a second-successive top-flight defeat for the first time in 10 years. Some Celtic fans erupted in fury during the demise with chants of “Sack the Board” as their disgust flowed at the performance and also, more pointedly, the recruitment work over the past year which has seen form decline and left Rodgers stating quality signings are urgently needed in next month’s window.

Carter-Vickers was aware of the fans’ frustrations at the team’s woeful showing and said: “You can always sense that, and it’s understandable from the fans. We know as players that we have to be better and, if we’re feeling that, the fans are going to be feeling that as well.”

But when it was put to Carter-Vickers that the key for the squad now was to stay calm and not panic, he continued: “Exactly that. You’ve got to try to take the emotion out of it as much as you can. Look at the football, analyse the game and try to improve. That’s all you can really do.

“The emotion is understandable. When you lose a game, that’s how we feel as players and that’s how the fans feel as well, but there is no point looking at a game in an emotional state. You’ve got to look at it clear-headed, stay as calm as you can and try to improve.

“We need to focus on our performance levels, and when they get better, the results will start coming.”

Hurt captain Callum McGregor called it one of