CELTIC TURN SHEEP INTO TURKEYS

CELTIC 3 ABERDEEN 0

JAUNTY Jonny Hayes fired in his first goal for Celtic as the champions hammered Aberdeen to move eight points clear at the top of the Premiership.

There was just no stopping Brendan Rodgers’ men as they surged to another triumph in the east end of Glasgow in front of a delighted audience.

Hayes, facing his former team-mates, looked in the mood right from the start and was determined to make his mark on this encounter.

His big moment arrived in the 69th minute when he doubled the Hoops’ advantage following Mikael Lustig’s deflected opener five minutes before the interval.

The Republic of Ireland international was swift to react to a rebound in the penalty area before burying an unstoppable left-foot effort behind the exposed Joe Lewis.

It was a just reward for the attacker who went off to a rousing reception in the 76th minute with Callum McGregor coming on to take his place.

Celtic capped an excellent day’s work as Olivier Ntcham completed the scoring in the 76th minute with the Dons defence in total disarray.

The French midfielder showed fabulous composure to round the keeper before rolling the ball over the line for the killer strike.

The Hoops were in superb form throughout and were well worth the three points.

They won by three clear goals against the Pittodrie side for the second time this season and have beaten Derek McInnes’ outfit eight times on the bounce.

As well as the goals, Kieran Tierney, Stuart Armstrong and Ntcham had shots blocked as the champions took control against last season’s runners-up.

There was a lot of Christmas cheer for the support who can now look forward to a Boxing Day confrontation against Dundee at Dens Park.

On this sort of form, it looks as though no-one will stop Celtic from streaking away with their seventh successive Premiership title.

CQN Man of the Match Scott Brown

TEAM: Gordon; Lustig, Ajer, Boyata, Tierney; Brown, Armstrong; Hayes (sub: McGregor 76), Ntcham, Sinclair ( sub: Forrest 70); Dembele (sub:Edouard 81).

NEW CQN PODCAST OUT TODAY! CHRISTMAS JUMPERS FOR GOALPOSTS

Paul John Dykes and Kevin Graham are joined by Celtic authors, Stephen Sullivan and Stevie Murray for a special festive episode – Christmas Jumpers for Goal-Posts.

Stephen Sullivan is a former Celtic View reporter who wrote the much-lauded Sean Fallon biography, ‘Iron Man’. He is now the editor of FIFA.com.

Stevie Murray has now written two books on Celtic – ‘Ten Men Won The League’ and ‘Kenny of the Celtic’ – and he is a respected and authoritative voice on the club.

Connect with A Celtic State of Mind @PaulDykes, @acsom and @CQNMagazine and subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or through your podcast player.

Treat yourself to a signed copy of Jim Craig – Right Back to 67 and you will receive a copy of That Season on Paradise signed by Bertie Auld, just order the Jim Craig book at CQNbookstore.co.uk and we’ll do the rest…