Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner knows the buck stops with manager Neil Lennon - but admits he is stunned that the players appear to have downed tools.

Lennon is fighting for his job after Celtic's poor form continued on Sunday with a 2-0 Betfred Cup last-16 defeat at home to Ross County.

The result, which was the Bhoys' first cup loss in 36 games, led to some supporters violently protesting outside the ground and calling for Lennon to resign.

However, Bonner insists the players need to have a long, hard look at themselves, and even singled out defender Kris Ajer's part in a run of only two wins in ten outings.

Bonner said: "If it wasn't ten in a row and all of that in the background then every manager deserves to go through a period when things aren't going well but it's the reaction from the players that has shocked me. 

"Huge disappointment, these are well paid players, the fans have paid their season tickets this year to back the club. The basic technical ability has gone from them, their work rate has gone, their attitude looks like they're not fighting for each other. There are so many things wrong at the moment."

Bonner, who played for Celtic between 1978 and 1998, added: "It was the same against Hibs at times. The one basic thing in my time was hard work, putting the effort in. 

"For me, you've got to point the finger at the players, put Kris Ajer into that a well. 

"He was one that there was talk of leaving the club and going to something big, but it looks as if he is not interested at times.
 
"He is a young man and had such great times and Celtic put him into that position that teams are looking at him.

"That's the issue at the moment, a group of players we were praising when they were performing and wiping every team off the face off the earth but now they've gone so far back it's incredible."

Celtic, who have two league games in hand, are also 11 points adrift of leaders Rangers in the Premiership and out of the Europa League with two group games to spare.

And despite laying the blame at the players, Bonner cannot see Lennon surviving much longer in the dugout.

Speaking to BBC Sportsound, he added: "It's going to be very difficult for him to stay in a job and I do feel sorry for him because he is Celtic through and through. 

"The players responded to him when he came back after Brendan Rodgers left but they're not responding to him now. 

"When you're in a crisis like this, the longer you let it go it's almost the worse it becomes and you have to make decisions."