BRENDAN RODGERS beamed with delight as he watched his Celtic team equal one of his own records in the champions’ 3-1 win over Hibs at Parkhead.
And then the Irishman set his sights on one of Martin O’Neill’s Hoops achievements.
Reo Hatate fizzed in No.3 past Easter Road keeper Jordan Smith for the side’s 106th league goal of the campaign to match the tally claimed by The Invincibles in Rodgers’ debut season in 2016/17.
Now the Hoops gaffer is aiming to surpass O’Neill’s team’s scoring feat in the east end of Glasgow which has stood for more than two decades.
106 – AND COUNTING…Reo Hatate leaves Hibs keeper Jordan Smith helpless with Celtic’s third goal.
Rodgers, speaking to the Daily Record, said: “I’ve been setting many targets for the players. Of course, going into this block of games, we had items that we wanted to achieve.
“I think there was a record number of goals at home, which was 62 in a league season, when Martin was here in 2003/04.
“So, we’re now on 61, with one home game to go. So, we’ll be hungry to make Trophy Day special, but I’ve also given them targets to achieve beyond winning the trophies – and so you see the hunger in the team in order to achieve those.”
St Mirren are the team who will be tasked with making sure Rodgers’ men have to battle all the way to hit the target.
The players didn’t fail their demanding manager against Hibs with their response to going behind to Martin Boyle’s opening strike at a sun-kissed Parkhead.
Nicolas Kuhn levelled with a wonderful piece of anticipation and clinical finishing and Adam Idah slid in an angled drive for No.2.
That paved the way for fans’ favourite Hatate to hit a perfect first-time drive beyond the sprawling Smith to seal yet another triumph in Paradise.
It’s worth a second look, courtesy of those good folk at Celtic TV Unique Angle.
Please enjoy!
