Luis Palma Celtic hat-trick spares Scott Bain blushes after two Sligo Rovers blunders

Luis Palma sent Brendan Rodgers a timely reminder of his quality by bagging a hat-trick against Sligo Rovers last night.

And the out-of-favour Honduran spared Scott Bain's blushes after Celtic's deputy keeper shipped two calamitous goals. The Scottish champions made the trip across the Irish Sea last night for a mid-season friendly at the sold-out Showgrounds, with a host of fringe players earning valuable minutes.

Despite having stars on international duty, boss Rodgers was still able to field a fairly strong starting line-up as Bain, Palma, Maik Nawrocki, Luke McCowan, Alex Valle, Stephen Welsh and Yang all featured from the start. Celts took an early lead as Palma slotted in Yang's cross at the back post inside nine minutes.

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But the hosts levelled moments later when Bain somehow parried Kailin Barlow's effort from the edge of the box into the net. It was an embarrassing goal to concede for the third-choice keeper in what really should have been a simple shot to deal with.

Four minutes later and Sligo were in front through Simon Power, who tucked the ball inside Bain's near post from 25 yards out. Bain's positioning was questionable, and the ball even bounced a couple of times before making its way past the Scotland cap.

The Hoops looked to be heading for a defeat before Palma's late double saved the day. Palma equalised in the 89th minute as he latched onto youngster Sean McArdle's pass at the back post. And the £4million playmaker snatched the victory at the death by bundling in Samuel Isiguzo's deep cross to complete a hat-trick and comeback win.

Celtic: Bain, Agbaire (Bonetig 61), Welsh, Nawrocki, Valle (Robertson 45), McCowan, Turley, Bonnar (McArdle 61), Yang, Palma, Dobbie (Isiguzo 61).

Subs: Morrison, Rice, Robertson, Bonetig, McArdle, Dargie, Davidson, Cannon, Haddow, Isiguzo.