DUNDEE UNITED 0 CELTIC 5
RELENTLESS Celtic swept Dundee United aside at Tannadice in their unstoppable surge towards their fourth successive crown this afternoon.
Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah fired in doubles against Jim Goodwin’s shell-shocked side after Ryan Strain had unfortunately put through his own goal to kick-start the rampage.
As ever, Brendan Rodgers’ men did it with a fair amount of style as they hammered in their 100th goal on the way to underling Celtic’s supremacy in the country.
After a slow start, the champions exploded into action with the breakthrough goal on the half-hour mark and they were 3-0 ahead by the interval.
There had been a bit of early sparring between the teams with the hosts emphasising they were not there to make up the number in another Celtic title party.
CHAMPIONS AGAIN…Brendan Rodgers displays his joy as he celebrates his fourth title and Celtic’s 55th crown at Tannadice.
Play was disrupted in the 13th minute when a blizzard of tangerines were launched onto the pitch from a section of visiting fans in a futile protest at the price hike in tickets by the home team.
Once play was allowed to get underway again, the Hoops took control and pushed United back with Kuhn, in particular, looking in the mood after being reinstated to the starting line-up.
The opening goal in the 30th minute was credited to the hosts’ right-back Ryan Strain, but the Australian defender can count himself unlucky.
Arne Engels whipped over an inviting right-wing corner-kick and Liam Scales rose above Sam Dalby to knock the ball down to the far post where Filipe Jota was lurking.
However, before the Portuguese maverick could apply the killer touch, Strain stretched in vain to clear and only succeeded in steering the ball into his own net.
THAT’S MY BHOY…Reo Hatate points to Filipe Jota after the opening goal that was credited to United defender Ryan Strain. A slight misunderstanding that didn’t ruin another title party.
‘Champions again!’ erupted in the stands and the relief the goal brought Brendan Rodgers’ team was evident.
Unfortunately, Jota limped off five minutes after the strike after going down awkwardly after a challenge. Idah came on in his place to lead the attack with Daizen Maeda switching to the left wing.
Three minutes later, the Hoops doubled their advantage with a superb move that shredded United.
Keeper Viljami Sinisalo started it with a quick throw to Engels just inside his own half. The Belgian playmaker swept an astute pass out to Maeda who took in his stride as he raced into the danger zone.
The Japanese speedster zipped a low cross to the back post and Kuhn’s timing and execution were in perfect co-ordination as he tucked a right-foot drive wide of Jack Walton.
And the German flanker struck again three minutes into stoppage time to make it 3-0.
It was Kuhn’s 20th strike of a prolific campaign and also Celtic’s 100th Premiership goal in another successful crusade.
Greg Taylor got the ball rolling with a neat pass to Maeda. Once again, the pacy raider fired an inviting ball into the box and Kuhn duly whipped a first-timer into the inviting rigging from close range.
Job done with half the game still to play!
HEADS I WIN…Adam Idah nods in Celtic’s fourth goal with United in disarray.
There was no way back for United and just to rub it in Idah claimed two before the hour mark as Scotland’s title kings coasted to the 55th crown in their coveted history.
We were only two minutes into the second-half when Celtic netted a contender for Goal of the Season with a move that started halfway in their own half on the left and came to a conclusion with a cross from the right.
Taylor started the sweet move with a throw-in to Reo Hatate who touched it onto Cameron Carter-Vickers. The centre-back stroked a pass out to Kuhn on the right.
He brought it forward before releasing the charging Alistair Johnston who raced to the byline before pitching over a wonderful cross and Idah couldn’t miss from four yards with a header that flummoxed Walton on its way into the net.
In the 58th minute, the Republic of Ireland international striker hit the fifth and final goal with a snap shot after a magnificent run and pass from Callum McGregor.
Idah latched onto the ball before swivelling and walloping a low drive past Walton at his left-hand post.
In the 63rd minute, James Forrest and Paulo Bernardo came on for Kuhn and Engels and 13 minutes later Jeffrey Schlupp and Luke McCowan replaced Taylor and Hatate as the Hoops went through the motions.
Following three minutes of stoppage-time, referee Don Robertson blew for full-time and Celtic celebrated their fourth successive title.
That was also the signal for The Fat Lady to sing.
TEAM: Sinisalo; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor (sub: Schlupp 76); Engels (sub: Bernardo 63), McGregor, Hatate (sub: McCowan 76); Kuhn (sub: Forrest 63), Maeda, Jota (sub: Idah 35).
