HAMILTON ACCIES 0 CELTIC 3: Boxing Day 2020
CELTIC relied on the old one-two of Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths to make sure the points weren’t gone with the wind at Hamilton.
The double-act, who went into this game with a total of 15 goals in their nine outings together, took the total to 17 with strikes after the interval to break Accies’ stubborn resistance.
David Turnbull also contributed to give the side a deserved win, but it was a struggle in the first-half, where Celtic’s driving attacking play was as relentless as the rain at storm-lashed New Douglas Park. The nearest they got to a breakthrough goal was a header from Griffiths that smacked off the post in the 19th minute.
SNOW FUN…Ismaila Soro takes to the air as he celebrates Leigh Griffiths’ strike for Celtic’s second goal at Hamilton. Greg Taylor joins in the Festive frolics.
However, Edouard did manage to get the ball past young Kyle Gourlay, making only his second league appearances for the hosts, three minutes after the turnaround when he was decked by Aaron Martin and walloped the resultant penalty-kick into the net.
In the 54th minute, it was Griffiths’ turn to get on the scoresheet and Callum McGregor, stand-in skipper for the day in the absence of Scott Brown, and Jeremie Frimpong were involved before the ball dropped at the feet of Edouard.
The quick-thinking forward back-heeled the ball into the path of partner Griffiths and he struck a left-foot drive from the edge of the box that hurtled beyond the keeper.
In the 74th minute, the Hoops celebrated their third goal after a sweeping movement that saw Edouard send McGregor running clear on the left. His sweet cross into the box was met by the French striker whose header thumped against the keeper’s right-hand post.
The rebound fell perfectly for Turnbull to first-time it into the back of the net from close range.
It took a while for the visitors to unlock the Accies rearguard, but once Edouard’s penalty-kick smashed into the net there was only going to be one destination for the points.
TEAM: Hazard; Ajer, Bitton, Taylor; Frimpong, Soro, Turnbull (sub: Johnston 78), McGregor, Christie; Edouard (sub: Klimala 78), Griffiths (sub: Ajeti 72).
*FAIRYTALE OF NEWCO (with apologies to Shane MacGowan)
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Dundee v Celtic this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
