Celtic Fan View: Bhoys send out big statement with crushing win over Aberdeen

Much of the rhetoric prior to this game centred around Aberdeen ending Celtic’s unbeaten run. The match at Pittodrie was billed as a heavyweight clash between the first and second placed sides in the Premiership. And the Red’s chances of finally toppling the champions were being talked up.

Dons manager Derek McInnes insisted his players don’t suffer from an “inferiority complex” while Kenny McLean said: “We know we’ve got the quality, we know we’ve got the players who can hurt them. And you’ll see that tonight. It would be a massive statement but it’s something that we’re more than capable of doing.” Pittodrie legend Willie Miller also chipped in, calling on the hosts to take advantage of Celtic’s “defensive vulnerability.”

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There were even some murmurs of the Hoops suffering from fatigue within their own camp. But Brendan Rodgers and his men aren’t unbeaten domestically for 61 consecutive games for no reason. This encounter was being set up for Aberdeen to grab the headlines but it only served as a reminder of just how great a gulf there is between the Celts and everyone else in Scotland.

The Bhoys put on a sublime show in the Granite City. This was comfortably their best performance of the campaign and the 3-0 scoreline was kind to Aberdeen, it could easily have been double that. What made it even better was Rodgers decided to rest Scott Sinclair, Patrick Roberts and Leigh Griffiths and their replacements responded with superb individual displays.

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In previous weeks those who have come into the XI as part of the rotation have struggled to make an impact but that was far from the case on Wednesday. Moussa Dembele is hitting top form again as he bullied the home side’s backline with his pace, movement and power and notched another brace. Tom Rogic was as classy as ever providing a magic touch for the opening goal while James Forrest gave Andrew Considine a torrid time down the right flank.

Individually there were some mesmerising displays but as a collective this was quite a statement. In a much anticipated match with huge pressure, they soaked it in and cruised to victory. Rodgers decided to play with a back three and four central midfielders which gave Celtic the advantage in the wider areas and the numerical superiority in the middle of the park.

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It meant there was total control of the midfield along with a brilliant flow and speed when the Bhoys moved forward with purpose. The movement of Dembele and the midfielders was unplayable and on the wings Kieran Tierney and Forrest caused destruction. What we seen was a Celtic outfit that is strong in all departments and devastating when all of those areas are in sync. Even at the back they remained untroubled only passing up one chance of note.

Rodgers called this a “wonderful demonstration of football.” This was certainly one of the most complete performances from the Bhoys in their last 61 domestic games. And to put the icing on the cake, it was at the home of their ‘nearest challengers’. The show goes on.