Celtic are champions! The Bhoys have won the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership title after sprinting over the line with a 5-0 victory against Kilmarnock on Wednesday night.
Brendan Rodgers’ team only needed a draw to confirm their league-winning status but, from the off, dominated Killie at Rugby Park. This one was always destined to be a win.
Adam Idah got the scoring underway within five minutes, latching onto Matt O’Riley’s sumptuous low cross to kickstart the party. Similarly close-range goals from Daizen Maeda and James Forrest followed before half-time after more glorious football.
O’Riley cemented his reputation as Scotland’s best player this season with a double in the second half, truly punishing the home side and delighting the travelling support.
What are the big talking points coming out of the fixture? Here are our three on a superb night for Celtic.
Celtic are 3-in-a-row winners with a game to spare
At times this season Celtic appeared, from the outside, to be unravelling. There were periods of inconsistent results and performances. Rodgers openly questioned the quality of signings. Fans shared their displeasure at a number of club policies.
Ultimately, the job has been done. Rodgers and the team deserve massive credit for staying unified and focused on their own methods. They repeatedly brushed off all the noise and stayed focused on their task.
It has paid off now. The players, the manager and the fans are together and motoring. As Rodgers said recently, this is the time of the season that Celtic come alive. They’ve stepped up when it mattered and delivered a third league title in a row. They’ve actually done it in a bit of style.
Brendan Rodgers’ inspired team selection
When the team lines were announced tonight it took most by surprise to see Adam Idah in the eleven instead of Kyogo Furuhashi. The Japanese star is Celtic’s best forward and this was a big night for the Bhoys.
However, Rodgers’ call was spot on. Idah was superb tonight. He was Celtic’s big focal point in the opposition half on a tough pitch. He helped stick the ball high up the field and bring others into the game. Kilmarnock simply couldn’t cope with his physicality, movement and layoffs.
Idah is proving to be a very viable alternative to Kyogo when the right match conditions call for it. With eight goals on loan from Norwich City, you can easily see Celtic spending the money to make his move permanent this summer. It would be a popular decision at this point.
The best player in Scotland
It’s a mystery to many why Matt O’Riley hasn’t won more Player of the Year awards this season. He’s been the stand-out player in this country over the course of the campaign.
With two goals and an assist tonight, he’s brought his direct contribution tally to an incredible 36 in all competitions. He’s answered the challenge from Rodgers to take his game to a new level. Right now he is the club’s biggest asset.
Celtic fans will be urging the club to do everything they can to keep him Scotland for another year with eight massive Champions League games on the horizon. It’s nights like tonight that you understand just how important he is to this team.
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