DUNDEE 0 CELTIC 2: Boxing Day 2017
BRENDAN RODGERS celebrated his second Christmas as Celtic manager in the anticipated manner – a win and three precious Premiership points.
It was lively winger James Forrest who got the show on the road with the opening strike in the eighth minute to ease the pressure on the visitors.
Rodgers gave the nod to Leigh Griffiths to lead the line with Moussa Dembele, hat-trick hero in the 5-1 pulverising performance against Mark Warburton’s Ibrox side at Parkhead the previous season, among the stand-by squad.
TRIUMPHANT ON TAYSIDE…Brendan Rodgers enjoys a Festive victory at Dens Park.
The Scotland international striker repaid his manager’s faith with the second and clinching goal three minutes after the interval.
Craig Gordon was rarely troubled as the Hoops, with Scott Brown and Callum McGregor in control of the midfield, eased to another win on their way to their sixth successive title during the Invincibles’ season.
Dembele made an appearance in the 79th minute as he replaced Griffiths.
The only blight on an otherwise flawless day for Celtic was a first-half injury to Johnny Hayes that saw the Republic of Ireland international carried off with Mikey Johnston taking his place just before the half-hour mark.
Thankfully, the injury to the versatile Hoops performer wasn’t too serious.
TEAM: Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Ajer, Tierney; Brown, Ntcham (sub: Armstrong 67), Forrest, McGregor, Hayes (sub: Johnston 28); Griffiths (sub: Dembele 79).
*FAIRYTALE OF NEWCO (with apologies to Shane MacGowan)
*DON’T miss the unbeatable match report and best action images from Dundee v Celtic this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
