BEAMING Brendan Rodgers bristled with positivity after Celtic’s 2-0 win over a stubborn Dundee at Parkhead.
The manager’s much-changed side took an hour to ignite and it was substitute Alistair Johnston, only on the pitch a matter of three minutes, who got the party started.
The Canadian international defender, not a noted goalscorer, claimed his second in successive matches when he prodded in a Yang Hyun-jun low right-wing cross at the near post.
Arne Engels sealed the three points with an immaculate penalty-kick that kept the champions at the Premiership pinnacle with a far superior goal difference of plus 15 over Aberdeen with both clubs on 28 points.
The Dons warmed up for Saturday night’s Premier Sports League Cup semi-final at Hampden against the Hoops with a 2-1 triumph over Philippe Clement’s Ibrox side who are now nine points adrift of the pacemakers.
LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BHOYS…Brendan Rodgers applauds the Celtic fans.
It could have been an easier ride for the hosts in the east end of Glasgow, but the normally deadly Kyogo Furuhashi contrived to miss two easy chances inside the opening 10 minutes before Johnston showed his team-mate how it’s done.
Reflecting on a job well done against the Dens Parkers, Rodgers said: “It was a good win for us. A positive night in many ways.
“We win the game, which is important. I think we can have a lot more comfort in the game if we take the two early chances.
“Going in to the second-half, our ambition was good, we make the changes and Ali comes in and does what he’s been doing.
“He gets the goal and then that it opens it up for us.
“So, a very pleasing night and a clean sheet. We can play better, but I understand maybe why we didn’t with so many changes.”
LOOKING DOWN…Kyogo Furuhashi after one of his early misses against Dundee.
Wingers Yang and Luis Palma both made rare first-team starts as Rodgers freshened up his team with Cameron Carter-Vickers also in for the kick-off for the first time in nine games.
The Hoops gaffer, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “It’s important to make those changes, otherwise with the guys playing so many games, you lose that energy.
“Especially in our next two games which are going to be really intense games both physically and mentally.
“We’ve come through it really well, players have got that little bit of recovery time, players who will be needed throughout the season have had some game time, we win the game, our support was great and we move on to the next one now.”
The immediate focus is now on Hampden at the weekend and that will switch to matchday four in the Champions League against RB Leipzig at Parkhead on Tuesday evening.
JOY BHOY JOHNSTON LEADS THE WAY
