FIVE goals in a five-star performance that powered the champions to a five-point advantage at the Premiership pinnacle.
Is it any wonder Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers was beaming after watching his side pummel Ross County 5-0 at Parkhead following a breathtaking first-half performance that brought the Highlanders to their knees.
The eager Hoops hit the woodwork three times after the turnaround while substitute keeper Jack Hamilton produced a couple of top-class saves to deny the hosts.
Rodgers freshened up his team with six changes from the side that draw 1-1 with Club Brigge in the Champions League in midweek and the likes of Luke McCowan, Paulo Bernardo and Liam Scales – three of the goalscorers against the devastated Dingwall line-up – took the opportunity to press their claims for first-team starts.
LUKE THE NUKE…Celtic midfielder Luke McCowan celebrates netting against Ross County.
After the eye-catching display, the Irishman smiled: “It was a complete performance. I thought in the first-half our pressing and counter-pressing was so good, a few of our goals came from that.
“The speed of our game was at a really high level. So was the structure in the team and the hunger and greed to want the ball.
“Second-half was a similar performance, but you’ve got to give credit to Ross County because we could have another few goals.
“But, overall, an absolutely brilliant team performance. It was a joy to watch.”
Callum McGregor and Adam Idah joined the scorers’ list with two whizzbang efforts that almost ripped the net away.
McCowan provided the assist for the tenth-minute opener with an inviting right-wing corner-kick that was thumped into the County net via the forehead of Scales.
PORTUGUESE PRIZE GUY…Paulo Bernardo grins after claiming a strike against the Highlanders.
Seventeen minutes later, the Republic of Ireland international defender returned the favour with a superb pass to pick out the midfielder who tamed the ball with his right foot and then struck a quickfire effort with his left before it took a nick off Elijah Campbell on its way to its destination.
McCowan, a £1million arrival from Dundee on transfer deadline day, deservedly was acclaimed as Man of the Match and earned a special round of applause from his manager.
Rodgers, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “Luke is now really settling in to being a Celtic player.
“He’s maybe unlucky to not have started more games but whenever he’s been asked to come in, he’s performed. “Both he and Paulo Bernardo, I thought, were excellent.
“They created goals, scored goals, pressed the game and their overall quality was outstanding.”
