KIERAN TIERNEY heaped praise on Man of the Match Daizen Maeda after Celtic’s 3-1 triumph over Falkirk at Parkhead.
The World Cup-bound left-back labelled his team-mate “unstoppable” after the Japanese speedster’s significant contribution as the champions moved joint top of the Premiership with Hearts on 70 points.
That, of course, could change later this evening after Derek McInnes’ side have taken on Hibs at Easter Road in the Edinburgh derby which kicks off at 4.30pm.
THREE CHEERS…Arne Engels, Daizen Maeda and Kieran Tierney celebrate the defender’s whizzbang strike to make it 2-0 against Falkirk just before the interval.
In the meantime, with just four games to go in the Premiership programme, the Hoops can reflect on a job well done against stubborn opponents in the sunshine of Paradise at a stadium that rocked from first kick to last and celebrated the double from Maeda and a ferocious strike from the Scotland international.
Tierney, speaking to Celtic TV, said: “I thought our performance was good and I thought our pressing was good.
“The first-half was a bit frantic for our liking, but we were 2-0 up and tried to control the game a bit better in the second-half.
“They got a good goal, but Daizen is on fire. He’s unstoppable. There’s no player like him and when he’s playing like that, it lifts the full team.
“I’m happy to get the goal and the second goal is always crucial, coming right before half-time. I’m delighted for it.”
So, too, were the Hoops fans who may have been a bit anxious after Kyrell Wilson pulled one back with a spectacular strike that left Viljami Sinisalo helpless as the ball roared high into his net in the 70th minute.
Thankfully, Maeda had the final say when he whipped in his second and the hosts’ third in the 83rd minute.
Now all eyes are on the capital and the showdown with Hibs a week today as the league adventure heads for a dramatic climax.
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