BRENDAN RODGERS hailed his seven-goal wonders, but also spared a thought for devastated Dundee after an entertaining 7-1 romp in a downpour in Paradise last night.
The champions were unstoppable as they raced to a 6-0 interval advantage as the goals stacked up with six different scorers putting the hapless visitors to the sword.
Cameron Carter-Vickers, with his first strike of the campaign, got the parade underway with a headed opener and Adam Idah collected his debut goal at Parkhead with another slick header shortly afterwards.
BIG NOISE…Brendan Rodgers has his say as Celtic roar to a 7-1 triumph over Dundee.
Matt O’Riley also used his head to divert in a cross from Greg Taylor before Daizen Maeda neatly whipped in No.4.
Left-back Taylor got in one the act with a close-range effort and Callum McGregor slotted in No.6 deep in first-half stoppage-time.
Teenager Daniel Kelly, who replaced the captain at half-time, collected his first-ever goal for the club with an eye-catching right-foot drive high into the net which earned special applause from the delighted manager.
The only hiccup came six minutes from time when the defence took their eye off Michael Mellon at the far post and he volleyed a drive past the helpless Joe Hart.
It was scant consolation for the Dens Park side who had been routed and Rodgers said sportingly: “It’s a tough one for the Dundee guys.
“They worked very hard and gave everything in the game, but I just thought that the speed and quality of our game and the quality of our goals was at a really high level and I’m so pleased for the players.”
NICE ONE, SON…Matt O’Riley and Daizen Maeda congratulate teenager Daniel Kelly on his first goal for Celtic – the seventh in the runaway romp.
Looking at the game overall, the Hoops gaffer, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “It was outstanding. The tempo and the passing and the creativity was all there, so it was a fantastic night, great goals, and obviously one of our young guys, Daniel, gets his first-ever goal for the club.
“He’s been here since he was eight years of age and that’s all that hard work – and it was a great finish from him.
“I’m so happy for the players because they didn’t give up in the game, they kept fighting and kept working, and some of our football was absolutely outstanding.”
Rodgers also paid tribute to the backing from the fans on an evening of monsoon conditions in the east end of Glasgow when he added: “I think it is a big congratulations for the supporters.
“We’re here to entertain them, but we need their backing and encouragement and at half-time it filled us with great pride.”
It looks like harmony has broken out in Paradise with the champions now preparing for what could be a difficult encounter against Hearts in Sunday’s High Noon showdown at Tynecastle.
SEVENTH HEAVEN AS HOOPS GO ON GOAL SPREE
