TANNADICE was engulfed in gloom on the previous occasion Celtic played Dundee United on Tayside before yesterday’s 3-0 romp with Tom Rogic, David Turnbull and Liam Scales contributing the goals in a stylish, accomplished performance.
Contrast that to the shambolic, lacklustre display on March 7 earlier this year when the Hoops couldn’t source a goal in a drab scoreless stalemate as they relinquished their nine-year grip on the Premiership title.
Caretaker gaffer John Kennedy, in charge following the departure of Neil Lennon 12 days earlier, watched his team fumble their way through an hour and a half of unispired tedium as the last forlorn hopes of a historic tenth successive championship were obliterated.
THE SURVIVORS…Callum McGregor congratulates David Turnbull on his strike to make it 2-0 at Tannadice.
Remarkably, only two of Postecoglou’s line-up – skipper Callum McGregor and David Turnbull – figured at the start of the game nine months ago. Tom Rogic and James Forrest made second-half appearances.
Highlighting the whirlwind of change that has swept through Parkhead, EIGHT of the team utilised that dull Sunday afternoon are no longer at the club.
Odsonne Edouard, Kristoffer Ajer and Ryan Christie were sold in the summer and Scott Brown left at the end of his contract to take up a player/coaching role at Aberdeen.
IN CONTROL…captain Callum McGregor on his midfield beat on Tayside.
BY THE RIGHT…David Turnbull fires in a free-kick.
Loan signings Jonjoe Kenny (Everton), Diego Laxalt (AC Milan) and Mohamed Elyounoussi (Southampton) returned to their parent clubs following an instantly-forgettable campaign that saw the team limp through their first trophyless term in 11 years.
Technically, Leigh Griffiths is still a Celtic player on loan to Dundee, but it is almost certain the 31-year-old forward’s future in the east end of Glasgow is over.
HAIL! HAIL! Ange Postecoglou salutes the travelling support at Tannadice.
Among the unused substitutes, Shane Duffy went back to Brighton after an uncovincing temporary switch to his boyhood favourites and Patryk Klimala was sold to MLS outfit New York Red Bulls with the Hoops recouping the £3.5million they spent on the Polish striker in January 2020.
All indications that the changes made, on and off the pitch, are for the better.
CELTIC MARCH 7: Scott Bain; Jonjoe Kenny, Kristoffer Ajer, Stephen Welsh, Diego Laxalt; David Turnbull (sub: Tom Rogic 62), Scott Brown (sub: James Forrest 78), Callum McGregor, Ryan Christie; Mohamed Elyounoussi (sub: Leigh Griffiths 84); Odsonne Edouard. Unused subs: Vasilis Barkas, Shane Duffy, Albian Ajeti, Patryk Klimala, Ismaila Soro and Adam Montgomery.
CELTIC DECEMBER 5: Joe Hart; Josip Juranovic, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt, Greg Taylor (sub: Liam Scales 75); David Turnbull, Tom Rogic (sub: Nir Bitton 70), Callum McGregor; James Forrest (sub: Liel Abada 46), Kyogo Furuhashi, Mikey Johnston. Unused subs: Scott Bain, Adam Montgomery, James McCarthy and Albian Ajeti.
CQN‘s ace snappers were at Tannadice yesterday to capture the action. Here is the best of the best.
