Green Brigade protests just the tip of Celtic iceberg if board's £40m Champions League gamble backfires
Michael Nicholson and Peter Lawwell will face the music if Celts face to win in Kazakhstan
The Green Brigade made their point.
And it's just as well Celtic's shadow side won all three against Livingston.
Otherwise there would've been hell to pay before a ball was kicked in Kazakhstan.
Michael Nicholson and Peter Lawwell must have thought they were off the hook when a pre-match tifo celebrating the influential ultras group's 20-year anniversary was unfurled before kick-off.
But just 13 minutes later, the under-fire powerbrokers were berated as the North Curve section led chants of "Sack the Board".
Scathing hand-written banners were held aloft in the safe standing area, reading: "Zero ambition. Neglect team. Rinse fans."
The words "world class" were also scribbled out and replaced with "Basic board".
And once again, diehards left their chief executive and chairman in no uncertain terms about where they think they should go.
Just like Wednesday's stalemate with Kairat Almaty, it must have been an uncomfortable 90 minutes for the suits in the directors' box.
Yet it could be about to get a whole lot worse if Celts crash out of the Champions League tomorrow night.
The infamous Shark could be back outside Parkhead if the Hoops’ transfer inactivity comes home to roost.
And the board will be held fully accountable. Make no mistake. Fans have reached boiling point.
Increased season ticket prices without the usual friendly or Euro qualifier, a deteriorating stadium in dire need of investment and another transfer window of discontent have created a chasm between the stands and the boardroom.
The silence from above has only deepened the disconnect.
Supporters have probably forgotten what their CEO's voice sounds like; it's been that long since he spelt out his vision for the club.
In an age where there are so many means of communication through social media, video, podcasts, websites, newsletters, etc., punters have heard heehaw from custodians in yonks.
As the face of the club, Brendan Rodgers has acted as a human shield by fielding the same questions at his press conferences week in and week out.
"Where are the signings? Why have Kyogo and Nicolas Kuhn not been replaced? Why does the club find itself in this position every summer?"
Just as Rodgers is running out of ways to answer, journalists are running out of ways to ask.
And after a month of stalled transfer business, Celtic now risk being consigned to Thursday night football by a team ranked lower than St Johnstone in UEFA's coefficients.
How the richest club in Scotland - who could well end the year with £100million in the Bank of Parkhead - finds itself in this situation is quite astonishing.
The Green Brigade and their Bhoys Celtic chums in the opposite corner of the ground might not be everyone's cup of tea.
But their views are often reflective of the wider fanbase.
Instead of ignoring the noise, the board would be wise to face the growing unrest before it becomes a full-blown revolt.
After a goalless first half on Saturday, the atmosphere could've really turned toxic had Celtic drawn a second blank within three days.
Luckily, classy Benjamin Nygren was at the double to help settle nerves and spare decision-makers from even more flak before a monumental night in Kazakhstan.
Rodgers rested the majority of his big hitters by making eight changes to the side that laboured to a draw midweek.
Liam Scales wore the captain's armband in Callum McGregor's absence, while promising youngster Dane Murray made his first Premiership start and again showed he has all the tools to be a future star.
Days after being told he's not good enough to play in the Champions League, Hayato Inamura was brought in from the cold.
And just like he did throughout pre-season, the rookie Japanese defender impressed at left-back.
Having been plucked from the other side of the world just six months after graduating from university to professional football, it's obvious that the 23-year-old is a project signing.
He isn't viewed as a viable deputy for Kieran Tierney at the moment - Rodgers has made that much clear.
But the £250k arrival from Albirex Niigata didn't look out of place on his competitive bow.
With Adam Idah crocked, Shin Yamada was unleashed up front for the first time.
He had the ball in the net early in the first half, but Arne Engels strayed offside in the build-up.
The Japan cap showed clever movement and nice touches linking play but lacked a killer touch.
Whether he's done enough to start against Kairat Almaty remains to be seen.
But Rodgers certainly doesn't have a selection headache when it comes to Nygren.
The versatile midfielder was one of the few players who kept his place in the line-up as he started on the right and bagged a brace.
He broke the deadlock on 47 minutes by being in the right place at the right time as he tapped in a rebounded effort from South Korean winger Yang.
Nygren netted his second 20 minutes from time by rifling an effort into the roof of the net after neat build-up play.
Sub Johnny Kenny then wrapped up the victory with a clinical first-time finish to send Celtic top of the league.
Tomorrow, it's all about the Champions League. And if the board’s £40m roll of the dice fails, the bigwigs will really face the music.