A BEAMING Brendan Rodgers offered up three cheers for Celtic’s goal heroes in the 3-0 victory over Dundee United at Parkhead that kept the champions on course for their fourth successive title.
Callum McGregor, Filipe Jota and Adam Idah claimed a variety of eye-catching strikes to put a bounce in the step of the Hoops as they prepare for Tuesday’s must-win Champions League second leg encounter against Bayern Munich in Bavaria.
The skipper arced in his eighth strike of a prolific campaign to get the show on the road in the 23rd minute to wreck the Tannadice team’s strategy of holding on to what they had at the kick-off.
The dancing feet of comeback Bhoy Jota sliced open the opponents to present the Portuguese pin-up with the opportunity to sweep in No.2 before the turnaround.
And Idah brought down the curtain on a solid, selfless 84-minute display when he whipped in an unstoppable right-foot drive from the edge of the box that exploded over Jack Walton’s left shoulder to send the fans home happy.
GOAL No.1…Callum McGregor’s low drive is straight and true.
GOAL No.2…Filipe Jota leaves keeper Jack Walton helpless.
GOAL No.3…Adam Idah (extreme left) thumps in the final strike.
And, of course, deposit another three points in the bank as Rodgers’ men thundered 16 clear with their nearest challengers in action against Hearts at Tynecastle at noon today.
The manager was all smiles in the afterglow of another successful outing and reflected: “The attitude was very good and right from the off we were looking to impose ourselves in the game.
“I thought the quality of our football – and the pitch is very difficult, as people can see – was so good.
“Work-rate, quality, mentality – it was a really professional performance.
“All of Callum’s goals have been superb this season and I said to him that’s like rollback to when I was first here because he used to be higher up the pitch and dribbling inside.
“It was a bit of individual brilliance which gets us on the way and he nearly got a second one coming in off the other side. He was instrumental in everything and got us off to a really good start.”
CELTIC VIEWS…Brendan Rodgers talks to the club’s TV station after the triumph.
Looking at Jota’s mesmerising strike that doubled the side’s advantage, Rodgers, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “Jeffrey Schlupp opens up the space for him to go outside, he makes a really good run that clears the space inside and then it’s a wonderful finish.
“Everyone in the stadium has seen his quality before, so it’s really good that he’s getting back to that feeling of scoring goals and working hard.”
Idah was rewarded for a hard-working shift with his 13th goal of the crusade and Rodgers added: “He worked very, very hard. Greg Taylor was unlucky because the keeper made a really good save from his strike.
“The ball comes out, Tony Ralston’s there to counter-press the game, the cross comes out and then Adam’s finish was absolutely superb. He really deserved that because he worked ever so hard.
“The mentality of this team has been relentless all season and obviously after a tough game, Dundee United coming here fresh, I thought the performance level was really good.
“So, we’ll get back in, recover tomorrow and prepare for a really exciting game on Tuesday. We go in with a good feeling.”
