Celtic blow the rest away as Engels sizzles, Kyogo strikes and ultimate Rangers boast returns – 3 talking points
All-weather Celtic overcame the elements to blow St Johnstone away 4-0 and tee themselves up for a definitive Premiership date with Rangers.
Heavy winds engulfed Glasgow's east end but the runaway Premiership leaders were unmoved from first whistle to last as they underlined the class difference between the top and bottom sides. Brendan Rodgers was enthused from the off and Celtic's dominance was apparent long before Nicolas Kuhn scored in the 30th minute. It was a party atmosphere from the off, with Rangers toiling and the champion purring – the punters in attendance liked what they were seeing and hearing. Yang was another who caught the eye, thriving on the right wing as he linked-up admirably with Alex Valle.
And Kuhn's opener underlined what makes Celtic so dangerous, a team who can dominate you and also hit on the break at warp speed on the rare occasions teams dare to cross the halfway line. Arne Engels was brilliant throughout and St Johnstone were lift dizzy in their failed efforts to keep him at bay. The dominance of the first half hinted towards another second half goal blitz. And it duly arrived with Kyogo netting a brace, with both strikes showing off his uncanny knack of sniffing out opportunities when his team-mates offered up opportunities. Dynamic Daizen Maeda – up to 14 goals on the season – climbed off the bench to get in on the act.
READ MORE: Kris Boyd not having Rangers full time gesture as raging fans back up an Ibrox legend
Rodgers is overflowing with options to choose from ahead of his side's dust-up with Rangers at Ibrox as they sit 14 points clear. A win would all-but seal another season as the top dogs of Scottish football. Here's 3 talking points from Celtic Park...
Arne's a last action hero
He's here, there and everywhere – this is the £11m man who caught the eye upon arrival. Autumnal aches followed for the Belgium international, however, Engels appeared back on form at just the right time. Yes, he'll be kicking himself over the gilt-edged chance in the first half but this is more like it, much more like it. The teamsheet hinted he'd be playing the sitting role in absence of Callum McGregor but that duty was given to Paulo Bernardo. And that looked like the right call.
There was a four-minute burst midway through the first half where Engels picked the ball up in five separate advanced positions with his passing, shooting and tigerish runs causing the Saints into a series of sins as they tried to repel the champions. And the best bit for the boss is there is evidently more to come, with an assist to boot. Engels appears a cast-iron starter for Ibrox.
Saints don't shirk it
Fair play to Makenzie Kirk, ploughing a lone for against Celtic at Parkhead is a brutal assignment but his hold-up play was as impressive as it could be, with only a hot dog poke and an assortment of stray rubbish keeping him company at the top end of the pitch on a windy day in Glasgow. Surely Hearts' Jamestown Analytics would have spotted a player that fits their algorithm. Perhaps a loan rather than a permanent would have been a better route for the Jambos. His substitution at half time was no reflection of his effort on the pitch. But Valakari is a proactive boss and he knows plaudits over his style of play will count for nothing if points remain beyond a side who have started to sink. But Saints fans know their boss and his players are willing to think outside the box in their pursuit of results.
Rangers offer first half entertainment
Celtic and their rivals rarely kick off at the same and when they do it can offer almost pantomime style banter. But there was no fear that 'they're behind you', with Rangers' first tribulations at Fir Park leading to a series of title yells, which resulted in a chant of 'here we go, 10 in a row', a fan boast which feels like a trip back in time. But if Celtic make it four this season, they'll be setting themselves up for another tilt at Scottish football entertainment. Rodgers will always stress his only focus is about his own team but fans sense recent results have teed their side up to have a crowning day at Ibrox - with half the season still remaining.
