‘A JOY TO SEE’ RODGERS

BRENDAN RODGERS says Celtic’s 5-1 triumph in the Glasgow derby at Parkhead was “a joy to see”.

The champions landslide victory saw Moussa Dembele hit a hat-trick, with Scott Sinclair and Stuart Armstrong adding to the tally.

Rodgers said: “That’s why it’s one of the greatest games, if not the greatest derby in the world.

“It was an incredible atmosphere and, of course, our performance lifts the crowd. It was a brilliant performance from ourselves and a great result.

“A lot of these boys, as a squad, have travelled over 60,000 miles across the international break so to come back in here and play at that intensity, that level and be that clinical, was a joy to see.

“You always think optimistically and I think the thing was about the three points.

“It does make it sweet when you play that well and you play with that intensity and concentration so it was a very good performance.”

Dembele came in for injured star striker Leigh Griffiths and put his marker down, with Rodgers full of praise for the man of the match and his other goalscorers.

The Irishman added: “He’s a wonderful player, Leigh Griffiths, but today was about the team.

“You think about the boys that scored, Moussa Dembele is a top talent.

“We’re very lucky to have him here, but he’s been clear on wanting to come to a club that can develop him and he’s picked a great club. 

“He’s always scored since he’s been here, whether it’s from the bench or starting games so his performance was outstanding.

“He scored three wonderful goals and different types of goals which shows his power from the corner, his speed from the counter attack and his finish with his left foot was wonderful.”