Reo Hatate made up for Brighton-bound Matt O’Riley’s absence with a midfield masterclass to assist Celtic return to the highest of the desk with a 3-0 win at St Mirren.
Paulo Bernardo took O’Riley’s spot within the Celtic engine room within the driving Paisley rain, nevertheless it was player-of-the-match Hatate who shone brightest. He created 5 possibilities and netted a composed second purpose when his side-foot end nestled in off the far submit within the thirty third minute.
That purpose added to Celtic’s early benefit by Callum McGregor, whose 20-yard strike within the third minute beat Ellery Balcombe at his close to submit and set the tone for what was to return.
“We need goals from everywhere,” supervisor Brendan Rodgers advised Sky Sports activities after the sport. “It’s how I like my teams to operate.”
Hatate was awarded participant of the match by Chris Sutton
Celtic are nonetheless but to concede a purpose within the Scottish Premiership this season – they didn’t even give away a shot heading in the right direction in a dominant first half at St Mirren Park and will have been additional forward on the interval.
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Hatate fires in off the submit as Celtic double their lead
A half-time double change from dwelling boss Stephen Robinson improved his aspect however they nonetheless failed to check Kasper Schmeichel, and as a substitute Celtic wrapped up victory 20 minutes from time.
Canada worldwide Alistair Johnston saves his targets for St Mirren, netting solely his third Celtic purpose – however his second in opposition to their hosts – with a positive end into the highest nook from substitute Nicolas Kuhn’s tee-up.
The emphatic outcome moved the champions again two factors clear on the high of the early standings – the proper preparation for subsequent Sunday’s Previous Agency recreation, stay on Sky Sports activities – although Aberdeen might be part of them on 9 factors with a victory in opposition to Kilmarnock in a while Sunday.
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Alistair Johnston rounds off a superb group transfer with a beautiful end to make it three for Celtic
Boyd: Celtic are clicking irrespective of who performs
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd on Sky Sports activities:
“When you look at Celtic overall, they all seem to be clicking at the moment – it doesn’t matter who comes in. Maeda started today, Kuhn came off the bench and got an assist as well. They’re in a good place on the pitch.
“Getting that early purpose, then groups want to return out and attempt to come again into it. Stephen Robinson will probably be very disillusioned with how they went about it in the present day – I do not suppose they’d one participant below 6ft of their beginning line-up.
“That suggests to me they were going to try to ask questions of Celtic defensively, get the ball in the box, but they never did that.
“You have to give Celtic a variety of credit score, as a result of any time St Mirren did attempt to put it within the line was very excessive. It was 28, 30 yards out from purpose.
“Fans will want more signings, but you expect that’ll come this week. It was a good 60 minutes for Idah, and Kyogo came on and did what he does.”
Rodgers praises Celtic response to situations
Celtic supervisor Brendan Rodgers talking to Sky Sports activities:
“The attitude in the conditions was very good. We started the game well, had good control. We scored three really good goals, the third one was particularly pleasing with the runs against that back-five system.
“We performed their system very properly, the focus was superb in actually tough situations. The sport from St Mirren was most likely to limit us to some counter-attacks, and for them to have counters and set-pieces.
“We defended the few set-pieces we gave away very well against a big team. That tells you the team’s very connected, and we had that conviction when we pressed the game.”
On a possible O’Riley alternative: “We will, fingers crossed, get that sorted this week. We have options which hopefully will be close.
“However so long as we are able to get it into the membership by subsequent Friday, I will be actually happy. The group’s performing properly, however we wish to strengthen that too.”
Robinson: Forwards should have tracked McGregor
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson:
“Credit score to Celtic. Horrible day, they got here and did the soiled bits. The gamers are all shouting to one another, ‘choose up second balls’. That is what individuals do not at all times see about good groups, they do the easy issues properly.
“We didn’t do that, we didn’t pick up second balls, we didn’t land the ball or pass it. We weren’t at our best, far from it.
“We did not perform the sport plan, that is for certain. We seemed like we had two proper up high once we had been meant to have one dropping off on McGregor, after which he scores.
“We didn’t implement our plan anywhere near what we wanted to. Plans don’t matter if you don’t land second balls, or do the simple things.”
On half-time adjustments: “We asked them to be more aggressive, put more pressure on the ball. We were very passive in the first half, and obviously the goal knocks you with the worst possible start.
“We have now to play higher than this, easy as that.”
