Celtic go 16 ahead as Daizen dazzles and Engels shows true worth while fans on song with top patter – 3 talking points
Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate were on target in either half to seal a 2-0 win and send Celtic soaring 16 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership as Dundee United’s Parkhead hoodoo continued.
The Japan stars netted for the Hoops on a night when they were far more dominant than the narrow scoreline suggested, albeit the visitors enjoyed a lot more joy after the restart having been penned in for almost the entire opening 45 minutes.
It was sub zero temperatures and the game took time to warm up with Auston Trusty crashing a header off the crossbar from an Arne Engels corner - the same combination that led to the American netting his first goal agains St Mirren at the weekend.
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The opener arrived midway through the first half and it was that man Maeda. Alistair Johnston’s ball into the box came off Yang - a last minute replacement for Nicolas Kuhn who dropped out of the XI - and fell to Luke McCowan. The midfielder’s effort was parried by Jack Walton into the path of Maeda and he despatched beyond the United keeper.
Celtic kept searching for more goals and the second arrived late on with Hatate on the scoresheet. Luis Palma's deep cross found Maeda and his pass was dummied by Paulo Bernardo for fellow sub Hatate to rifle home. The Hoops are now 16 points clear of nearest rivals Rangers, who take on Dundee on Thursday evening. Here’s three talking points from a freezing Parkhead...
Excellent Engels sets the tone
The £11million club record fee has weighed heavily on Arne Engels since his summer move from Augsburg with many questioning it. Brendan Rodgers has tried to play down the pressure on the young midfielder but he really showed his quality here as he ran the show and the cash splashed could prove a snip on this kind of form.
His delivery from corners was exceptional and he must wonder how he didn’t find the net with half a dozen attempts. But it was just all-round play in the engine room that was so impressive.
Let the People Sing
Brendan Rodgers had his say on the fans chanting for Kieran Tierney in the win over St Mirren, claiming it showed a lack of respect to current left back Greg Taylor. So how did the Parkhead punters respond? With a bit of fun, of course, as they went through the songbook for a string of former heroes. It started with Henrik Larsson and Scott Sinclair before Paddy McCourt and Stuart Armstrong had their names chanted and then Jonny Hayes, Artur Boruc, Charlie Mulgrew and Odsonne Edouard. They even went back to the club’s halcyon days of the great Billy McNeill and Jimmy Johnstone. Surely even the Parkhead boss would have seen the funny side having dialled down when he spoke before the game, saying: "I don't want to put light on to this story. The Celtic support is what makes Celtic. The club's status is built round the supporters.”
United Hoops hoodoo continues
It’s just over 32 years and a staggering 48 visits since Dundee United last won at Parkhead when the legendary Jim McLean was in charge. Jim Goodwin has plenty to do to match a Scottish managerial titan and even emulating him by picking up a victory here never looked likely. The Irishman admitted before the game he had one eye on St Mirren on Saturday and that was reflected in his starting XI with five changes, including red-hot striker Sam Dalby. It was as one-sided a game as you are likely to see in the top flight with the home side enjoying 83 per cent possession in the first half. The Tangerines remain third in the table and have had a solid season and Goodwin could clearly see the bigger picture.
