By Giorgos! Boss Ange has something to Sing about
Giakoumakis (11, 18, pen 60) Maeda (26) ROSS COUNTY 0 Ange Postecoglou believes his team are as strong as they have been all season.
A comprehensive victory over Ross County means the Celtic boss doesn’t have to stress about how Rangers get on against Dundee this afternoon.
In fact, Postecoglou reckons his family might decide to watch the animated musical Sing 2, leaving him scrambling for the television remote control.
The prospect of missing out on the action from Dens Park isn’t something that troubles the relaxed boss. He said: “My Sundays are dictated by my wife and kids. If Sing 2 is on, I’ll have to fight for the remote control.
“I don’t worry about things I can’t control. What we can control is games like this.
“We got three points, why would we even bother looking at anything else?
“We are in good shape. It’s still two weeks away from playing Rangers.
“We have guys away on international duty and others we can do some work with.
“But at the moment our squad is in the best place it’s been all year.”
The 4-0 scoreline doesn’t show just how much Celtic dominated.
It was as comfortable a victory as they’ve enjoyed in a long time.
Postecoglou’s side enjoyed 80% possession and there would surely have been more goals if the manager hadn’t decided to use the bench to give a few players an early rest.
It never looked like being one of those afternoons when Celtic would toil to break down a deep-lying defence.they looked in the mood from the off.
They were too quick, too sharp and too powerful for County.
Jota showed there would be no messing about with a shot that flashed just over the bar within the first 60 seconds.
But the Portuguese trickster was the provider for Celtic’s opener.
He sent in a cross from the left and Giorgos Giakoumakis powered in a header at the back post.
Number two came when Maeda nodded a ball into the danger area for his Greek team-mate to head towards the net. His first effort was repelled by Baldwin but the striker stretched his neck muscles to score with his second attempt.
County look a beaten side and their fate sealed by Kayne Ramsay’s ordering-off.
The Englishman could have easily been booked earlier for a foul on Maeda but he got a straight red for his challenge on Tom Rogic.
It was an incident that forced Celtic’s Australian midfielder to limp off.
Giakoumakis then looked like claiming a hat-trick but that feat was merely delayed.
He headed down a corner and
Maeda got a touch to make it three. The treble came to Giakoumakis from the penalty spot and showed just how his confidence has grown.
He was happy to step up and slide the ball home after Iacovitti was penalised for hand-ball.
There were a couple of other claims for penalties but were these quickly forgotten because the points were secured with such ease.
Postecoglou was impressed with the way his team dealt with opponents who came to Celtic Park having won three games in a row.
He added: “I don’t think our players had lost ruthlessness but it’s very easy to succumb to anxiety at this time of the year.
“It’s important that we keep playing our football.
“That’s why it was important not just to win but to make a statement about playing our football against a side that has been in great form.
“We went in determined to set the tempo and pace of the game.”