Hat-trick puts Hoops hitman back in the Scotland spotlight
If timing is everything, Leigh Griffiths’ place in the Scotland squad next week is as good as guaranteed.
On Friday the striker, who has been out since taking an extended break from the game for mental health reasons last season, talked up his desire to return for the crucial Nations League play off against Israel.
And yesterday to the delight of the Hoops support and his manager alike, he underlined his current wellbeing with a clinical hat-trick.
It was his first treble in over four years, the last coming against Hamilton Accies in January 2016, and his fifth for Celtic.
“If Steve hasn’t seen Leigh today that might be a message to him from the player himself,” said Celtic manager Neil Lennon.
“His timing is pretty good. If you need a goal, then why not? He’s answered all his critics.
“And there is definitely more to come from him too.”
Lennon deserves credit because he was the one who made it all possible by going 3-5-2 here, the system which fans argue should be the Hoops’ default formation.
The case was certainly lent support here as throughout the 76 minutes Griffiths and Odsonne Edouard operated in tandem up front.
The opening goal, in particular, was a demonstration of the near-telepathic understanding between the pair.
Edouard, standing 20 yards out and on the angle, chipped the ball over Saints’ back line as they attempted to push up.
His strike partner went the other way to collect the ball at the back post
from where he had the simplest of tasks to score.
The visitors protested for offside but the referee’s standside assistant was satisfied Griffiths had timed his run just right and the goal stood.
There was no dubiety about the Scot’s second. It was a terrific goal.
James Forrest worked the ball inside to Griffiths from the right flank who
then looked up, dinked a quick pass to Nir Bitton and then darted forward to receive the return.
The Israeli weighted a perfect pass to compete the one-two and he slipped the ball past the hapless Hladky and in off the far post for 2-0.
Griffiths then repaid Edouard for his earlier assist when teeing up the Frenchman for 3-0.
To be fair, the scorer had plenty to do when he received the ball with his back to goal some 12 yard out.
He did it in style, spinning in a tight circled before squeezing a shot into the tiny area of the goal the diving Hladky was unable to cover for his 28th goal of the season.
That was just about it for Saints, who had actually looked pretty decent in the first half.
Skipper Sam Foley impressed as a cool composed figure, Calum Waters made some fine raids down the left and Tony Andreu had some clever interchanges with his colleagues around him.
As has been the story all season, though, they lacked a cutting edge up front and paid a hefty price for it.
The same certainly could not be said of Celtic. They were razor sharp all afternoon.
Griffiths made it 4-0 with a low drive to complete his hat-trick after a slick move involving Ryan Christie, Callum Mcgregor and James Forrest plus a cameo step-over by Edouard.
Then, just to mix it up a little, they rounded things off with a goal from someone who wasn’t a striker.
Sam Foley’s foul on Celtic substitute Hatem Elhamed gave Callum Mcgregor the chance to try his luck from the penalty spot and the Scotland midfielder converted in style.
It was tough on St Mirren as by then their race was run and Jim Goodwin can only hope that by Wednesday night and the visit of Hearts he can have his players lifted again for their relegation battle.
“There was an element of picking a team today with a view to Wednesday night,” he admitted.
“We set up in a manner to give us the best chance of picking up something from the game but I’d be lying if I said Wednesday night wasn’t more important.
“We’ve got Hearts on Wednesday night, then Kilmarnock and Ross County.
“We also have Rangers at home which we believe we can potentially pick something up in.”