‘Sixy football’ sees the Hoops sweep past ICT with ease
MUCH more of this and they are going to have consider introducing a handicap system.
In strengthening their treble bid here to make it 24 straight wins in a row, Brendan Rodgers’ side could scarcely have been more impressive.
Moussa Demeble grabbed his second hat-trick in a row – the first Hoops player to achieve the feat since Henrik Larsson in 1999.
It was a contribution which ensures Celtic’s name was the first through into the Scottish Cup quarter final draw, to be held at Ibrox today.
And it would be a very brave man who would bet against them also being the last man standing when the dust settles at the national stadium on Saturday, May 27.
Not when Dembele, who hit three in 14 minutes, insists neither he personally nor the team itself, have any intention of slowing down.
“It’s our mentality that keeps us pushing on. We always have to keep going,” said the 20-year-old.
“We’ll never stop until the last whistle. We’ll give everything to push more and score more goals. We’re an attacking team.
“We know what we’re capable of. When we create chances, with the quality we’ve got, we expect to score. It’s hard for us to miss.
“We just have to keep going and believing in ourselves, to keep producing good football.
“As a striker you always want to score. Three is not enough.
“You always want more. You give everything to score and I do feel like I’m becoming a better player.
“I came here to improve, as a man and a player. Every day with the manager I try to progress.
“And everything’s looking positive for me so I’m enjoying it.
“It’s another hat-trick and I hope it’s not the last one of the season.
“I’ll keep improving every day and working hard in training so hopefully there’s a lot more to come.”
Last week against St Johnstone, the Frenchman was given a flying start towards his hat-trick when referee Craig Thomson awarded Celtic a penalty that never was.
And here, against a Caley Jags team who weren’t able to live with their hosts, it was a similar story with Owain Fon Williams culpable for his first of the treble.
The keeper got a hand to a shot pretty much hit straight at him by Demeble but somehow lacked the strength to prevent it squirming through into the net.
His second also got a little assistance with David Raven’s tackle pushing the ball into his path.
There was no quibble with the quality of the Frenchman’s finishing this time as, from a tight angle, he swept a beauty of a shot into the far corner.
Then, as if to demonstrate his versatility, he completed his hattrick with a powerful header.
More impressively, he was the man who started the move when showing good strength in midfield to hold off his opponents and release James Forrest down the wing.
From that point on he matched the winger’s dash forward to get on the end of his cross and beat Fon Williams as if missing were never an option.
His weren’t the only goals too, of course.
Mikael Lustig got things started with a goal that would do credit to any striker, controlling a precision pass from Nir Bitton with one touch of his right foot before scoring with his left.
As if inspired, fellow defender Kieran Tierney also grabbed himself a goal when arriving late in the box to head Forrest’s cross high into the net.
Arguably the pick of them was the last, from the skipper Scott Brown who fairly crashed a loose ball home before standing with his arms aloft in his traditional victory salute.
It could have been worse for the visitors, with Forrest passing up a great chance when left with time and space in front of goal.
By then it was easy, almost too easy and the crowd had already started to drift away.
“It was absolutely freezing but hopefully that warmed them up a bit,” said Rodgers, with the smile of a man who knows there can have been few complaints about what was served up on the park.
MATCH STATS