BRENDAN RODGERS acclaimed Celtic’s performance in the 2-0 triumph over Hibs at the tricky hurdle of Easter Road.
However, the hard-to-please Hoops gaffer reckoned the champions should have piled the agony on the hosts and been more clinical in their finishing.
Two first-half goals from Nicolas Kuhn and Callum McGregor set the visitors up nicely for their second consecutive Premiership success following the 4-0 victory over Kilmarnock at Parkhead on Flag Day the previous weekend.
Kyogo Furuhashi missed two reasonable opportunities in each half, Warren O’Hora deflected an Alistair Johnston cross onto his own crossbar and McGregor also rattled the post shortly after the interval with another long-range drive that took a nick off a defender.
Other opportunities were made and scorned as the Hoops failed to apply the killer touch.
FOILED…Kyogo Furuhashi, who missed two good chances, is denied on this occasion by a super save from Hibs keeper Joe Bursik.
Rodgers said: “I thought that for long periods in the game we were very good.
“We started the game how you would want – you want to start quick. We did that and we had lots of really good moments.
“I said before the game that when you have that combination of a winning mentality and attitude in the team, along with quality, then it gives you an opportunity to win games.
“Easter Road’s one of the toughest places to win in Scottish football, so to come here and for long spells dominate the game.
“If I’m nit-picking, I would say that we should score more goals. We arrived into some very good areas and weren’t clinical enough.
NUMBER ONE…Nicolas Kuhn races away in triumph after giving Celtic a third-minute lead at Easter Road.
“But the approach play, the build-up play, some of it was very good and we showed the attitude to defend and keep a clean sheet.”
Looking at the ones that mattered, Rodgers, speaking to Celtic TV, analysed the first goal and continued: “We won it back really well and then we go into the depth in behind.
“Nicolas plays a great pass, he’s up for the slider, Kyogo takes the shot and then like what the wingers have done really, really well, James follows it in and squares it for Nicolas.
“We encourage the wingers a lot to get in the box, get in the second post – don’t be stood outside watching. Get in there because that’s where the goals will be scored. It was a really good goal and set us on our way.”
On the second goal, he observed: “I‘m very lucky to have Callum over both of my spells here and he’s played a lot of games for me.
“He’s an absolutely brilliant leader on and off the field.
NUMBER TWO…Callum McGregor (extreme right) watches as his thunderous drive arrows into the top corner of the Hibs net.
CAPTAIN’S ROLE…Callum McGregor acknowledges his wonder strike.
“He’s very intense, which I like. He’s very concentrated and focused and his goal – I’ve seen that so many times and seen him score so many great goals in my time at Celtic.
“We worked it well in that area of the pitch. He comes up and supports the move – and it was an absolutely fantastic strike.
“He’s an absolutely brilliant player, tactically so good in the game and he really led the team as he always does very well.”
Celtic and Hibs meet again in the Premier Sports League Cup in the east end of Glasgow on Sunday and Rodgers added: “There’s a nice chance now to analyse the game and see the areas we can be better in.
“We can also reinforce a lot of the really good moments we had in the game.
“The objective is to get into the next round. It’s another special game for us. That’s our mantra. So we’ll prepare well in the week.
“We’ll now recover from this game, have a good week’s training and then be set up for Sunday’s match.”
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