Loovens hopeful of recovery

Like manager Neil Lennon, Loovens insists the Hoops' third-qualifying round clash is not over, despite a crushing defeat at the AXA Stadium.

But the Dutch defender acknowledges it will take an epic turnaround to prevent his side crashing out of Europe's premier club competition and into the Europa League play-offs.

"Everything happens in football," the 26-year-old said.

"But, you have to be honest. We still have a game to go, but three goals is quite a lot.

"Like I said, though, strange things can happen in football."

Both sides looked off the pace in what was their first competitive match of the season, while the Portuguese heat perhaps also played a part.

But Braga still managed to create several opportunities, while Celtic played like strangers, its four debutants all failing to make any impact.

Asked if he thought the new-look side - containing northern summer signings Joe Ledley, Charlie Mulgrew, Efrain Juarez and Cha Du-Ri - could gel in time to for the second leg, Loovens said: "We will see. After this performance, you would like to think so.

"We need to step up, and step up quickly."

Overturning a 3-0 first leg deficit is not without precedent in European football, but it is extremely rare.

Celtic almost came back from 5-0 down five years ago against Artmedia Bratislava, winning the return leg of the second qualifying round clash 4-0 at Parkhead.

One thing is clear, this tie will be over if it defends next week like it did in the first leg.

Loovens branded the manner in which he and his team-mates conceded two goals in the final 15 minutes as 'a joke'.

The visitor looked to be heading for a 1-0 defeat after conceding a controversial first-half penalty to Alan but it allowed Braga to score twice from set pieces late in the game.

Loovens said: "It was not good enough for the Champions League. We gave away an easy penalty, but I never felt we were in trouble of any sort in the game because they didn't really spread us open.

"To be fair, we have to be better on the ball, because we could not put three passes together.

"In the second half, we continued to play badly on the ball, but hardly gave anything away. Then, two sloppy set pieces and you are 3-0 behind.

"It was already hard. But, how we gave the last two goals away was a joke.

"You would take 1-0 home, and everything is wide open. But now 3-0 behind, it makes it a tough task for us."

Emphasising just how poor Celtic was in possession, Loovens added: "We gave the ball away so sloppily that it was hard to get into the game because they came at us, attack after attack.

"We couldn't get three passes together, and it is hard to get into the game like that.

"Yet, we hardly gave anything away, and to concede three goals from set pieces is hard to swallow."

Although insisting the buck stopped with the players, Loovens echoed his manager's criticism of the officials, particularly assistant referee Frank Bleyen's decision to penalise Ki Sung-Yeung for handball in the box.

He said: "It was hard for me to see. I think it came off his chest. Maybe it touched his arm, but he (Bleyen) could not get his flag up quickly enough."

Summing up the feelings of the entire squad, he added: "With 15 minutes to go, we all felt we had it under control."

Aiden McGeady took part in a training match at Lennoxtown after being left out of the squad against Braga.

The winger's absence fuelled speculation he is on the verge of being sold but Lennon insisted he had a back injury and could play in the second leg.

Meanwhile, Swindon is in negotiations with Simon Ferry and Paul Caddis after Celtic accepted a second bid for the pair.

A new deal believed to be in the region of £350,000 ($608,068) including various add-ons has been agreed, although the official figure will be undisclosed.

Midfielder Ferry, who spent last season on loan at the County Ground, and full-back Caddis are expected to agree personal terms with the League One promotion hopeful over the next 24 hours.