STUART JUST TWO SPECIAL
Armstrong’s double puts rampant Celtic way out in front as Jags are blown away
AMONGST the impressive feats Brendan Rodgers has pulled off as manager of Celtic, the reinvention of Stuart Armstrong is pretty much up there.
It’s hard, now, to recognise the confidence-shorn, moping midfielder driven to distraction by Ronny Deila’s insistence on sticking him out on the left flank. By the end of last season, Armstrong looked a busted flush.
Last night the rebooted version continued full pelt with goals either side of half-time as Celtic made it nine straight league wins in succession; 12 in all domestic competitions.
Armstrong’s fourth of the season — in ten league appearances — was a thumping finish before the interval after fine work by Leigh Griffiths, making his first start since Bonfire Night. His fifth of the campaign was a thudding longrange effort within three minutes of the restart which posed questions of Thistle keeper Tomas Cerny.
Griffiths should probably have been the story here. Making a rare start, the Scotland striker scored the third goal within 16 seconds of Thistle kicking off again. His wild celebrations marked a release of frustration.
Most games end now in words of praise from Rodgers for Armstrong. Last night was no exception.
‘Stuart is at a really high level,’ said the manager. ‘For the first goal, his desire to get in the box — he’ll always have that. If I played him at right-back, he’d have that. He’s got that brain for the goal.
‘The second was a wonderful strike. He’s finished it really well.
‘His pass for the fourth goal was sublime, dead weight for Emilio Izaguirre to set it up for Callum McGregor. His pressing of the game was of a high level.’
Thistle had their moments; but most came at 3-0 with the game gone.
They pulled one back through Liam Lindsay and, but for an assistant’s flag, might have had a second through Sean Welsh. Sub Ade Azeez was also contentiously booked for simulation after Craig Gordon denied him a goalscoring opportunity. Thistle boss Alan Archibald plans to appeal.
‘We lost goals at key times,’ said Archibald, ‘I don’t think you can do that against teams like Celtic.’
Sub McGregor’s low left-foot drive from an Izaguirre cut-back was the final nail in the coffin. A mere 72 hours after facing Manchester City in the Champions League, the fluency and urgency of the 1-1 draw in the Etihad took time to replicate. But this was an emphatic win in the end. One which opened an 11-point gap over Rangers with two games in hand.
As half-time approached, Celtic hadn’t created a great deal.
Towards the end of a turgid first half, Griffiths produced the spark Celtic needed, producing some lovely work to press towards the touchline on the left flank and whip a skidding, inviting low ball across the face of goal. Cerny missed it, Armstrong didn’t.
The crazy state of play in the Scottish Premiership saw Thistle enter this game knowing three points could propel them from 11th to sixth.
Without a win in the league since the end of October, however, it was always unlikely.
Chris Erskine’s left-foot half volley flashed across the face of goal in 33 minutes. Armstrong’s goal, thumped into the net from six yards, broke their dogged, organised resistance.
Armstrong’s second of the game was an impressive curling drive from the corner of the area, bouncing past Cerny in a crowded area into the bottom right-hand corner. Give the keeper the benefit of the doubt; he may have seen it late. Either way Celtic had a two-goal cushion.
Shell-shocked, Thistle shipped another within seconds.
It was a terrific effort from Griffiths, pirouetting in the penalty area before driving high into the net with his left foot
Give Thistle their due. They briefly threatened a fight.
Erskine got to a loose Rogic pass before keeper Gordon and floated a fine effort over the bar.
Following a raft of subs, defender Lindsay pulled one back with a header from a set-piece for 3-1.
Briefly, Celtic felt a slither of alarm when Welsh headed a freekick from sub Ryan Edwards high into the net. Thistle were already celebrating, trotting back to the centre circle when the assistant’s flag cut short their moment.
Thereafter, the next goal always looked likelier for Celtic. Griffiths was denied by Cerny after a brilliant solo run and rising shot. On for a limping Patrick Roberts, Moussa Dembele was then denied by a desperate late block. McGregor slotted the fourth goal into the net nine minutes from time after fine work from Armstrong and Izaguirre.
Asked who might stop his team now, Rodgers admitted: ‘Offensively, we’re very aggressive, we defend well. The goal we conceded shouldn’t have been given tonight. The player was offside when it comes in. We teach the line to be high until the last kick.
‘I don’t think Thistle had lost by more than two goals up until tonight, so I can see why Alan has done a great job with his team. He organises them well, they give everything and we had to be patient.’