BRENDAN RODGERS‘ champions completed the set with a 2-0 triumph over stubborn Dundee United at Parkhead last night.
Jim Goodwin’s side were the only Scottish team Celtic had failed to beat or score against and they put the record straight with a goal in each half from Japanese duo Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate.
The hard-fought victory powered the Hoops into a 16-point advantage at the league summit and they now prepare for Saturday’s trip to Dingwall to take on a Ross County outfit who made life difficult in October before late strikes from Alistair Johnston and Nicolas Kuhn earned a 2-1 success.
PRE-MATCH CUDDLE…Brendan Rodgers and Jim Goodwin get up close and personal.
The German winger, who is ripping it up this season with 16 goals, called off just before kick-off against the Tannadice side and Yang Hyun-jun was swiftly promoted from the substitutes’ bench.
The emergency switch didn’t faze the hosts as they took care of business and boss Brendan Rodgers marked himself pleased as he observed: “It was a very good win for us.
“We were excellent in the first-half and got the goal, but didn’t quite capitalise on that.
“In the second-half, towards the last period of the game, you put yourself in a position that you shouldn’t be in, when it’s 1-0 and maybe you haven’t taken chances and their keeper has made some really good saves.
NUMBER ONE…Daizen Maeda finds a way through to open the scoring.
NUMBER TWO…Reo Hatate fires in the clincher with United keeper Jack Walton helpless.
“But we weathered that little bit of pressure that came our way, then we got the second goal and obviously thoroughly deserved it.
“So, it was a very good three points.”
Rodgers, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “You have to be able to deal with that as a team.
“No matter how dominant you are as a team, there are going to be little spells where you have to defend long throw-ins or balls into the box.
“I thought the players did that very well and we’re very deserving winners.”
