CELTIC COAST TO THEIR MILESTONE
Sinclair sets Rodgers’ record-breakers on their way as Saints are pummelled in Perth for Parkhead side to stand alone
FOR a man well read in Celtic history, Brendan Rodgers standing alone with his squad in the record books at 63 domestic games unbeaten was a proud and emotional place to be yesterday.
But you suspect that today he will be turning the page to the next phase of the plan to improve this relentless team of achievers that have known only success in Scotland under what captain Scott Brown described as ‘top-quality management’.
Who stands a chance when Rodgers was so irked not to go into the September international break top of the league — after all of four games — that he referenced that ‘failure’ before this game and ahead of another domestic breather?
Celtic responded by cruising to their milestone at McDiarmid Park in style.
‘The three points was important as we were second before one international break and I didn’t like looking at the table for two weeks,’ said Rodgers after collecting a bottle of champagne to mark taking Willie Maley’s 100-year-old record.
Nine of the starting line-up here were Celtic players when the run without defeat began with a 7-0 dismantling of Motherwell in Ronny Deila’s last game in charge. Only Scott Sinclair and Moussa Dembele were Rodgers recruits.
The rest have all had their Celtic careers transformed by Rodgers. He gave them his gratitude at full-time.
‘On behalf of everyone at the club and, as the manager, I just said thank you to the players,’ he said.
‘For everyone involved, it was a really special day. We’ve broken a century-old British record that was held by Celtic.
The players have had to face everything — going behind in games and playing in big semi-finals and finals. We’ve been tired, played on different surfaces.
‘Everything has been thrown at them. But they’ve set a mentality and standard every day in training and really taken that on to the pitch. It was a proud day.’
Against the Tommy Wright team that served them an almighty fright back in August at Parkhead, the landmark was never in doubt.
Celtic’s line-up was a bold declaration of no fear that mental or physical letdown might spike the attempt. For the first time this season, Rodgers stuck with the starting XI from a Champions League night.
However, it was Saints who looked groggy long before the end. The experienced trio of Brian Easton, Murray Davidson and Chris Millar were all out.
Richard Foster was brought back in from the cold, a first outing since September 23, and given the unenviable task of shackling Kieran Tierney.
That was the last day Saints managed to score a goal, in a 2-1 defeat of Hamilton. This was a seriously energy-sapping shift for Foster.
In fact, it was a tiring day for all in the home ranks. Set the test of breaking down the stuffy home side, Celtic patiently went about the business of passing Saints to pieces and wearing them down.
Saints initially had every clever move from open play covered. Then their stout approach was undone by a subtle dead-ball plot.
Stuart Armstrong kept intentions disguised from the main stand side, drilling low to just inside the penalty box for the arrival of Sinclair. With Scott Tanser blocked off, Sinclair was safely unchecked and able to sweep the ball high into the net.
Clark was at his best with a fingertip swoop to defy Armstrong as Celtic cranked up the pressure in the hunt for more first-half goals.
It wasn’t all pretty. Paul Paton and Brown exchanged meaty challenges, insults and dirty looks and from one such clash Saints enjoyed a rare opportunity to test Craig Gordon.
Blair Alston’s bobbling free-kick was awkward for the keeper to gather and the Scotland No1 succeeded at the second attempt.
Clark’s goal was peppered from all angles in the second half as Saints stuck to the task of limiting damage.
Aaron Comrie and the crossbar contrived to keep out Dedryck Boyata’s header. Callum McGregor worked into a wonderful position but skied his shot.
Michael O’Halloran, introduced to give Saints an out ball on the counter, helped offer a few flickers of hope but it is now 546 minutes since the Perth side profited in front of goal.
Celtic showed how it was done with a beautiful, clinical break for their second goal of the afternoon.
A brilliant spin from Dembele saw him service Tierney down the left. The excellent Armstrong took over from there before ranging in on goal and tapping back for Dembele to guide the ball past Clark with the cutest of touches.
The third was cruel on Saints. Dembele’s powerful burst and low delivery was designed for Sinclair but met by a hapless touch from Steven Anderson, sufficient to leave Clark stranded on his line as the ball trickled off his far post and in.
Substitute Olivier Ntcham finished off the rout against disheartened hosts with a low drive from 20 yards after a terrific move involving Tom Rogic, Dembele and Sinclair.
St Johnstone, the last team to beat Celtic, have accrued one point from their last 18. Their only positive is that they don’t have to meet these Invincibles again until February 17.