Celtic 6-2 Dundee Utd
Last updated on .From the section Football
Celtic's Champions League hopes may be hanging by the thinnest of threads but their domestic dominance was highlighted with a convincing and entertaining win over Dundee United in Glasgow.
Neil Lennon's side fought back from an early shock courtesy of a Stuart Armstrong strike, which was quickly cancelled out by Efe Ambrose's header.
Doubles from Kris Commons and Anthony Stokes as well as a first-half Joe Ledley strike left United licking their wounds.
Johnny Russell netted a consolation just on the final whistle but the rut was already well and truly complete as the hosts moved 18 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League.
The hosts enjoyed all the early possession but it was the visitors who started the goal rush. Gary Mackay-Steven broke free and found Armstrong, who skipped past Charlie Mulgrew to slot the ball under Fraser Forster.
United's lead lasted all of two minutes though and it was a man keen to make amends who pulled Celtic level.
Commons swung in a corner from the right-hand side and Ambrose out-jumped the visiting defence to bullet a header past Radoslaw Cierzniak.
The cheers that greeted his acrobatic celebration suggested all had been forgiven following his poor performance against Juventus in midweek.
Celtic were keen to kill off fears of a European hangover and Commons provided the tonic.
The United defence failed to deal with Emilio Izaguirre's cross and Commons slipped as he blasted the ball in off the keeper and crossbar.
Before the crowd had the chance to draw breath United had a great but controversial chance to pull level.
Adam Matthews challenged Mackay-Steven inside the box and a corner kick looked to be on the cards but the referee pointed to the spot and flashed a yellow card at the Celtic defender.
The home fans' fury turned to delight though as Forster guessed right and palmed away Jon Daly's penalty.
And Celtic turned the screw with Stokes holding up the ball before Joe Ledley curled a shot past Cierzniak, with more than a hint of deflection helping the ball on its way.
Gary Hooper could have hit a fourth 10 minutes after the break but he pulled his low drive just wide of Cierzniak's right-hand post.
And so it fell to Commons to end the game as a contest with the game's second spot-kick.
Celtic's penalty ratio has been far from clever this season but Commons' strike from 12 yards, awarded after Barry Douglas had fouled Stokes, almost burst the net.
What it did burst was United's bubble and it was damage limitation for most of the second half.
Stokes found his way through with a stunning strike for number five though and it was all falling apart for Jackie McNamara's side.
The United crumble was complete when the Irishman hammered in his second and Celtic's sixth after Cierzniak had saved James Forrest's initial close-range header.
And though Russell beat Forster with a low shot in the last minute, it did little to take the shine of Celtic's impressive win.
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Correct me if I am wrong but as far as I am aware prior to liquidation it was Glasgow Rangers FC and it is now The Rangers FC who applied as a new club to join the Scottish League and were successful. Glasgow Rangers FC were not relegated they ceased to exist.
Back to the real world, good result but the United keeper was awful. Same header from Ambrose that was saved midweek. We need to improve.
BTW no-one went bust and there was no newco when they changed their name to Utd, they just changed their name.
A naïve performance by United today, going all out attack at Celtic Park isn't the best tactic, but with our defence it's about all we can do. But rather a 6-2 loss and going down fighting than the pathetic whimpering 4-0 loss we had under Houston.
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A conspiracy to deny The Rangers fans professional crowd watchers who attend every Scottish match with their counters their chance to desperately crow about this thing, something, just anything to try and pitifully sustain the notion that people should pay them attention.
Happy Anniversary Govan Bears :)
I think it is you that should dry your eyes. Some us follow a team due to where we were born and brought up and like the style of football a particular team play. Me, i like my football of the attacking variety and come from Glasgow hence the team i follow. Open up your mind or is that to much of a challenge?
The Celtic Football and Athletic Company hasn't died. Its registration number is S153534. You can check the current status at Companies House. It is now owned by Celtic plc hence the continuity which is lacking at Rangers was preserved at Celtic.
The facts are clear: Rangers went bust due to massive debts, a new company bought the stadium etc and joined Div 3. It's not hard.
Celtic Fc prior to todays game 942,454 22 Home games
TRI FC 687,942 17 Home games
Would be a terrible shame if that were to happen again with this new club, wouldn't it?
Why is it only worth mentioning about the SPL? It seems to me it is the case everywhere.
England - Man United 12 points ahead of closest opponents.
Spain - Barcelona 12 points ahead of theirs.
Germany - FC Bayern 15 points ahead of theirs.
Scotland - Celtic 18 points ahead of theirs. (Probably 15 when everyone else has played 26 games too)
Yes, we weren't good enough to beat Juve, it was an achievement just to qualify for last 16 of the CHAMPIONS LEAGUE so no big deal.
I'd be more concerned with the loss making venture Chuckles Green has turned your new club into.
Such a BIG club to lose to the runaway leaders of the 2nd division in the RAMSDENS CUP. You'll be relieved you don't have to play them in the league next year!
Houston only moaned about budget to cover up his own massive failings.