CRAIG GORDON described European football as a “different test” for Celtic. On this season’s evidence, they have forgotten to do their homework. The gulf between the challenges that await them in domestic and European football was again brutally exposed on Thursday night by a Molde side who recorded back-to-back victories over countryman Ronny Deila and his players to qualify for the knock-out phase of the Europa League. Celtic retain only the slimmest chances of joining them, and will likely need to win their remaining two games to do so.

This was a ninth successive Europa League tie without a win for Celtic. In contrast, they have lost only one of their 13 league games this season to enjoy a six-point lead at the top of the SPFL Premiership. Molde, Ajax and Fenerbahce in their current guise could hardly be considered the elite of European football but between them they have caused Celtic problems that they could not handle.

“I don’t want put the Scottish Premiership down or the teams we come up against as we have some very difficult games there as well,” said Gordon. “It’s not easy to win those games but more than often not we’ve managed to do that. This season, though, we’ve not matched that in Europe. A lot of people will point towards that being the case. We’ve got two games left and we’ve got to try to get six points.”

Gordon, though, also admitted that Celtic would have to play rather better at home to Ajax and away to Fenerbahce if they are to achieve that aim. They were poor here - conceding two soft goals either side of Kris Commons’ equaliser - and unconvincing defensively throughout.

“I never felt as though we were ever really in control of the game,” admitted Gordon. “It felt like we were always chasing it. We are far too easy to play against. We can have no complaints. European football is a different test, we have to learn to adapt to it. We like to attack and throw bodies forward but teams can catch us on the break. It calls for a different type of game.

“Can we go through? Not if we play like that. We’ve had some good performances this year but it will take two massive performances to get through. We are capable of doing it. We didn’t show that tonight but it is still in us to bounce back. But we’ll need to be a lot stronger defensively to give ourselves a chance. We’ll need to be an awful lot better than we were tonight.”

The pressure will mount on Deila after another poor result and Gordon knows only the players can help remove the manager from his predicament.

“The only way to get the heat off him would be to win the next two games to progress. That’s all we can concentrate on doing. In terms of performances, that’s something that is within our control. The players deserve criticism, too. We are the ones out on the park. There have been a lot of errors throughout the campaign and we all need to take responsibility for that. I certainly take my responsibility for it. Collectively and individually there have been a lot of mistakes.”

Celtic have been hampered again by a lack of consistency in defence and it was a similar story here. First Jozu Simunovic went off injured after five minutes, Tyler Blackett was sent on in his place but then removed himself an hour later, while his replacement in defence Nir Bitton was then sent off. Gordon admitted it has been far from ideal.

“The constant chopping and changing of the defence doesn’t help but for whatever reason we’ve not been able to get a settled back four due to injuries and guys coming in. A number of players have been playing in a number of positions across the backline. If we could get it settled down to a back four then that would definitely help.”

Simunovic revealed his frustration at the reoccurrence of his ankle injury but added that he would only return once he is fully fit. He does not expect to be available to play Ross County on Sunday.

“It wasn’t a risk to play because I felt very good. But I twisted it again and I had to come off. I will not play if I feel I’m not right. If I feel okay then I will play. It is not as if it will be the last game of my life. It’s not necessary that I play if I’m not 100 per cent.”