Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Rodgers urges invincible Celts
CELTIC boss Brendan Rodgers is looking for a last-day win over Hearts to complete a “remarkable” Ladbrokes Premiership campaign.
The champions were at their very best in their 5-0 win over PartickThistle last night.
Striker Leigh Griffiths started the rout in the 17th minute with a penalty although he blotted his copybook when he revealed his unhappiness at being replaced in the 63rd minute, with Scott Sinclair coming on.
On-loan Manchester City winger Patrick Roberts grabbed a brace with midfielders Tom Rogic and Callum McGregor also on the scoresheet as the Hoops extended their unbeaten domestic record to 45 games since the start of the season.
In doing so they moved on to 103 points, a record set by Mar tin O’Neill’s Celtic title-winning side of 2001-02, which also brought 33 wins, a feat which was equalled at Firhill.
Celtic will be presented with t he l eague trophy against t he Jambos at Parkhead on Sunday and Rodgers is looking to finish the league campaign on a high, before preparing for the William Hill Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen the following week.
He said: “The incentive is to win and even more importantly to play well.
“If we can beat the 103 points, great. More goals, of course.
“To end the season with 34 wins out of 38 would be a remarkable achievement and we could celebrate a wonderful season i n the league, which would be great for t he supporters and, hopefully, they are enjoying the football.”
Meanwhile, former Dundee United striker Nadir Ciftci has returned to Celtic after his loan deal at Polish side Pogon Szczecin was cut short due to an ankle injury.