Moussa’s but Leigh
PREMIERSHIP LATEST Griffiths lets Hoops know Dembele exit isn’t a disaster
LEIGH GRIFFITHS roared out a message he’s still the man.
And as Moussa Dembele edges closer to a potential move away the Scotland striker’s long-term commitment to Celtic as well as his scoring prowess make him just the man to dull the impact if his colleague goes.
In their 18 months together Griffiths has had few problems covering for the Frenchman, whether it be cup finals, Old Firms games or Champions League qualifiers.
Back-up or not the 27-year-old has made his absences a non-issue – and took his opportunity to prove it again at Dens Park.
The Hoops want in excess of £20million for their sought-after youngster next month yet you could argue Griffiths’s contribution over the past four years has been priceless.
An expert strike at his former home ground served as another reminder of what he has achieved and what he can still do.
Dembele will likely start against Rangers on Saturday and Celtic might yet not get the bid required to sell him.
But regardless of what happens they’ll still have Griffiths when the January transfer window closes and that’s a source of serious comfort.
He was good on Tayside and so were most of his team-mates on a day clouded only by a sickening injury to Jonny Hayes – even if hopes are rising it may not be as bad as first feared.
The Irishman’s departure on a stretcher after a first-half crunch with Dundee defender Josh Meekings took some of the initial gloss off the triumph but couldn’t disguise the performances of a host of his colleagues.
James Forrest produced another super show with his 50th Hoops goal while the imperious Scott Brown was outstanding in control of the pitch.
There was a third straight clean sheet for the backline with Kieran Tierney again classy at full-back and Kristoffer Ajer once more looking adept.
Dundee just didn’t have any answers with Neil McCann’s team lacking aggression and intent as they were swept aside for 45 minutes.
They managed to gain something resembling a foothold after the break and made one or two chances but Celtic were already in cruise control. And as they stormed 11 points clear at the top with a third win on the trot following their Hearts setback the champions proved they still have plenty of guns to fire with or without Dembele.
Brendan Rodgers had taken his side north on Christmas night to make sure preparation was thorough despite the festivities – and it paid off with a team right at it from the moment it began.
Tierney won a corner inside 90 seconds that was half cleared for Forrest to drive wide, setting the tone for a rapid opening. Callum McGregor should have scored after a brilliant move involving Forrest, Olivier Ntcham and Griffiths released Mikael Lustig on the overlap. His cutback was ideal but the midfielder sidefooted off a post.
It was merely a taster for another sweeping passage of play that brought an eighth-minute opener.
Scott Sinclair wasn’t even in Dundee due to injury but Ajer and Hayes had been rewarded for impressive shows against Aberdeen with starts. Griffiths was also back, his pass releasing Tierney down the left and this time the cutback was turned home by Forrest.
It was a brilliant goal and typified Celtic’s start. Fast in possession, fast to get it moving and fast to get after it when they lost it.
Dundee were toiling. McCann clearly thought it was worth having a go with starts for Sofien Moussa, A-Jay Leitch Smith and Faissal El Bakhtaoui suggesting a front-foot approach.
But the trio were redundant in the opening third of the contest with Celtic dominant. Hayes couldn’t climb high enough to nod home a Forrest cross for No.2 before the sickening moment when Meekings and the Irishman