Simple and sensational, Celts look hungry for another championship
CELTIC 3 LIVINGSTON 1
It was flag day at Celtic Park yesterday where the champions showed precious little sign of running out of steam.
Just as well, for their European schedule is nothing if not if not arduous.
AEK Athens are due in the East End of Glasgow on Wednesday night for what will be the Hoops’ fifth successive Champions League midweek match.
Get past the Greeks this week and next and they will have another tie, and two games, still to navigate to reach the lucrative group stages of Europe’s most glamourous club competition.
“It is an important time of the season for us, but we’re in a good place,” said Tom Rogic, who made the Celtic starting line- up for the first time in 2018- 19 and celebrated his inclusion with a rapid- fire goal and an impressive midfield display
“The qualifiers are massive games for us. It’s just about keeping that momentum going game after game and keep improving.
“It’s still early in the season and people are still getting up to 100% fitness, every game is important to work on that as well as things as a team and our all- round performance.
“We did that today – it was disappointing to concede at the end, but, for the most part, it was a great start to the season.”
Rogic’s opener was very simple stuff.
Jonny Hayes, himself somewhat of an unexpected selection, swung in a high cross from out on the left touchline and Rogic rose above Steven Saunders to head home the champions’ first league goal of the campaign.
Having given his side the perfect start, the Australian then went on to make sure they used it to kick on and secure the victory.
He was instrumental in Celtic’s second, picking up the ball in his own half and surging forward for some 20 yards before releasing the supporting Olivier Ntcham down the flank.
In space and with time to play with, the Frenchman made full use CELTIC:
(3-4-2-1) Gordon 6; Lustig 7, Simunovic 6, Ajer 7; Forrest 6, Brown 7, Ntcham 7, Hayes 7 (Tierney 60, 6); Rogic 8 (Johnston 73, 6), Mcgregor 7; Eduoard 6 (Griffiths 60, 6). Unused subs – Bain, Hendry, Sinclair, Christie.
LIVINGSTON:
(3-5-1-1) Kelly 5; Gallagher 5, Halkett 6, Saunders 5; Brown 5 (Mcmillan 60, 6), Byrne 6, Pittman 5, Robinson 6, Kaja 6; K Miller 6 (Hamilton 76, 5) L Miller 5 (Lawless 60, 6). Unused subs – Stewart, Lithgow, Jacobs, Cadden.
of both to draw Livi keeper Liam Kelly out of position before centring to countryman Odsonne Eduoard who had a tap- in to make it 2- 0.
After that, the game had a bit of the feel of a training ground exercise with Celtic taking the chance to get some game time practice in an unorthodox formation in which a back three played behind a four- man midfield diamond.
It was a system which allowed Rogic and Callum Mcgregor to be adventurous in their support of lone striker Eduoard with the second named taking his chance to make a positive contribution on the return after the break when winning a penalty by drawing a foul out of Declan Gallagher.
The impressive Ntcham took the kick and converted comfortably to stretch his team’s advantage.
Kenny Miller’s intervention prevented it going to four soon after, the Livingston player manager in the right place at the right time to head Lustig’s
goal- bound effort off the line.
The ex- Rangers man worked away with typical tenacity, but to no avail – with the flak he took from the home support feeling more dutiful than malice- laden.
With the sting completely taken out of the match, Brendan Rodgers grabbed the chance to make full use of his substitutes bench.
On came Scotland striker Leigh Griffiths for his first appearance of the season, along with Kieran Tierney and Mikey Johnston.
Off to be rested went Eduoard and Rogic, goalscorers both, and Hayes, who is building up his match fitness.
With Livi also switching things around, the personnel got a good freshening, but the flow of the game remained the same with Celtic pressing forward in waves.
Somewhat remarkably, it was Livingston who scored the final goal of the game with Scott Robinson dinking the ball over Celtic keeper Craig Gordon and into the empty net from Egli Kaja’s free kick.
MATCH STATS
REF WATCH: NICK WALSH
had very little to do, but deserves credit for staying unflustered throughout.
STAR MAN
As befits a man who didn’t look out of place in the World Cup, the midfielder was almost effortlessly classy here. Looks set for a big season again – if he can stay fit.
TOM ROGIC.
@Agentscotland