Celtic Football Club’s quest for a goalkeeper to save a penalty in regular play continues. Joe Hart remains the last player to achieve this, over 30 months ago. In September 2023, Celtic’s goalkeepers have faced a total of eleven penalties. Notably, ten of these resulted in goals, marking a significant challenge for the club in this area.
Celtic’s Penalty Record Since Joe Hart
Excluding shootouts, Joe Hart’s last successful penalty save came in a Champions League match against Feyenoord. Since then, Celtic has not been fortunate in the penalty area, with only one miss detected during this period. That miss came from Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, who failed to convert his attempt.
Penalty Conversions Against Celtic
- Total penalties faced: 11
- Goals conceded: 10
- Last successful penalty save: Joe Hart (30 months ago vs. Feyenoord)
- Only missed penalty: Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
In addition to Hart’s efforts, Celtic has participated in four penalty shootouts since his last save. Unfortunately, they have saved only one of those attempts. Kasper Schmeichel, who joined Celtic, has not saved any penalties during three shootouts against various opponents, including Rangers and Aberdeen.
Individual Contributions and Performances
This season, Schmeichel conceded all eight penalties he faced, including two in a single match against Borussia Dortmund. Other players scoring penalties against him include Robbie Muirhead and Martin Boyle.
Recently, goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo faced penalties for the first time in a match against Aberdeen, conceding to Kevin Nisbet. He also faced the challenge of Erling Haaland earlier this season, marking a difficult start to his Celtic career.
In Hart’s final season, he faced three penalties, all of which were scored against him. As Celtic explores its options between the posts, fans have hope that Sinisalo can turn things around, especially after receiving praise from Martin O’Neill for his performance in recent games.
Looking Ahead
Goalkeeping competition at Celtic is intensifying as selectors weigh experience against youth. O’Neill emphasized the importance of giving young keepers a chance to prove themselves in high-stakes matches. Whether Sinisalo can seize this opportunity will be closely watched in upcoming fixtures, potentially affecting his future with the club.
Celtic’s ongoing struggle with penalties highlights a critical area for improvement. Fans and management alike are eager to see if the tide can turn in upcoming matches.
