BRENDAN RODGERS was delighted to see Celtic hit the ground running the 4-1 Premier Sports League Cup triumph over Falkirk at Parkhead last night.
And the Hoops boss will demand an action replay when the team begin their European assault in the Champions League first leg play-off against Kazakhstan’s Kairat at the same venue on Wednesday evening.
John McGlynn’s Premiership newcomers were swept aside following a fast and commanding start by the hosts where Daizen Maeda claimed his first strike of the season with a flying header in the 26th minute to get the show on the road.
NUMBER ONE…Daizen Maeda celebrates putting Celtic ahead.
Alistair Johnston doubled the advantage eight minutes after the turnaround before Dane Murray celebrated signing a three-year contract extension with his first goal following a glancing header from yet another excellent deadball delivery from Arne Engels.
The unfortunate Liam Henderson deflected No.4 past ex-Hoops keeper Scott Bain after Yang Hyun-jun, only moments following his appearance as a substitute for Maeda, raced away from two defenders before whipping over a low cross from the left.
Shin Yamada, on for Johnny Kenny, was ready to swoop for his debut strike, but the visiting defender got there first to divert the ball into his own net.
A beaming Rodgers said: “Every game, the opening five minutes is very important for us, so that’s something we want to bring to the game on Wednesday.
“Being at home in the first leg, you want to bring an advantage away with you, so if we play like that and put in that performance then we can have a really good opportunity to take a lead away with us.
JOY BHOYS…Luke McCowan congratulates Dane Murray on his first Celtic goal.
“I thought it was a very good performance. We started the game where we wanted to in that first five minutes.
“The tempo was really good, we were precise in our passing and scored some outstanding goals.
“To be fair to Scott Bain, he’s made some very good saves for them.
“Falkirk are a dangerous team if you let them play. They’ve got good flexibility and good technical players, but I think we dominated the game and, overall, I’m really pleased.”
The Hoops gaffer also had a special word of praise for Canadian international right-back Johnston and, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “We said to him at half-time that he needed to come inside the pressure and that was a great example.
“Plus it was a wonderful finish.
“He guided it into the far corner, so I’m really pleased for him.”
Holders Celtic will discover their quarter-final opponents when the draw is made around 8pm tonight.
COMMAND PERFORMANCE FROM FULL-THROTTLE HOOPS
