SPFL

Sunday, December 5, 2021

Tannadice

DUNDEE UNITED…0

CELTIC…3

(Rogic 19, Turnbull 40, Scales 81

Celtic produced one of the performances of the season to dispatch Dundee United 3-0 at Tannadice, to stretch our unbeaten domestic run to 12 games.

It was a devastating attacking display, inspired by some individual moments of brilliance, as Tom Rogic was back to his vintage best to score a contender for goal of the season, slaloming past four Dundee United defenders to give Celtic the lead in the first half.

David Turnbull then doubled the lead with a goal of equal quality, finishing off an excellent team move with an outstanding lob and finish.

Then to seal the three points, Liam Scales scored his first goal in the green and white late in the second half to round of an excellent afternoon’s work for Ange Postecoglou.

The first-half was as dominant as it could be for Celtic, playing some exceptional attacking football as Ange Postecoglou’s side looked to make quick work of Dundee United.

There was a welcome return to the starting XI for Greg Taylor, back on the pitch for the first time since September 11. Mikey Johnston was also making his first start since defeating Hibs at Easter Road at the end of October, and he was looking to make the most of his opportunity and went close inside two minutes, seeing an effort from long range deflected just wide.

Kyogo then should put Celtic in front after five minutes, heading over the bar from inside the six-yard box, after Taylor’s front post flick on from a well worked corner routine.

The Bhoys were in full flow in the early stages of the half, passing the ball with real invention and finding plenty of gaps to exploit. But when Rogic picked the ball up on the right touchline about 40 yards from goal on the 19^th minute, it seemed like United had left no space to exploit.

Yet when the ball’s at the Australian’s feet anything is possible. Taking the ball on a run, he danced through four United players with superb footwork and control, before curling past Benjamin Siegrist into the bottom left corner in one of the individual goals of the season.

The chances kept coming for Celtic and it was clear the confidence was flowing through into their football. Johnston had another effort deflected wide, before the corner found Cameron Carter-Vickers at the front post and his flick was well saved.

Then Turnbull missed a glorious opportunity to make it two on 35 minutes. Incisive passing from Celtic carved United open, sending Kyogo through on goal and he cut it back for the Scotland internationalist free with the goal at his mercy, but he couldn’t sort his feet and the ball cannoned off his thigh and was kept out.

But just five minutes later, he would get his goal in magic fashion. Nice play by Rogic found McGregor in the middle of the park who sent an inch-perfect ball over the top of the defence to the onrushing Turnbull. He stretched every part of his right boot to dink the ball over Siegrist, before pirouetting and meeting his own knock on to touch over the line and send the Celts two up going into half time.

Dominant and classy Celts show their cutting edge in victory