Ajax 1 Celtic 0: Neil Lennon admits his side left Amsterdam 'with regrets' following lacklustre Champions League performance

The Scottish side missed out on the chance to move into second place in Group H after a poor performance which ended in defeat in Holland

Celtic manager Neil Lennon reacts during his sides 1-0 defeat to Ajax in the Champions League (GETTY IMAGES)

Neil Lennon believes some of his players departed the Amsterdam ArenA "with regrets" following their damaging 1-0 defeat by Ajax which left their Champions League hopes up in the air.

The Scottish champions were far from their best in the crucial Group H encounter and were sunk by a 51st minute strike by Lasse Schone who had scored after coming on as substitute in the Dutch side's 2-1 defeat at Celtic Park.

The defeat consigned the Hoops to the bottom of the table with three points from four games.

Ajax moved above the Parkhead club on four points with Barcelona having qualified on 10 points following their 3-1 win over AC Milan at the Nou Camp.

The Italians visit Celtic Park later this month before Celtic play Barcelona away in December.

While there are still various permutations available, Lennon's men will be out of the Champions League if they lose to Milan.

The Parkhead boss admitted the match was an "opportunity lost".

He said: "Some players will have regrets because they were nowhere near their best and at this level you can't have that.

"We could have done better with the final ball and that has been a concern for the last few weeks.

"We missed some decent opportunities, particularly the James Forrest one when were two-on-one.

"You were thinking 'goal' and that would have got us back in the game.

"Goals change games and from their point of view it was good but from our point of view it was a poor goal.

"When Schone scored we were just getting a foothold in the game.

"It could all flip round if we beat AC Milan and Barcelona come here and take something off Ajax.

"But it is imperative that we beat Milan at Celtic Park if we have are to have any chance of qualification."

Ajax coach Frank De Boer believes Celtic still have a chance of making it out of the group with Barca.

He said: "Celtic still have a chance, they are still only two points behind Milan.

"There was more pressure on us after the game in Scotland so we are relieved."

PA