Wow, wow, wow. What a performance by Celtic and what a way to turn all the negativity surrounding the club into positive headlines for the rest of the week.
Brendan Rodgers was under siege from the media as they criticised the Celtic manager for his comments on the media writing a story about his team and didn’t he just start to create another chapter as the Hoops most definitely continued to pen their own story this season
With seven different goalscorers in a thumping 7-1 win over Dundee, Rodgers’ side clawed back the goal difference in a devasting 90 minutes that had the fans delivering a half-time standing ovation.
So with that in mind, here are three things we learned as Celtic crushed Dundee in Rodgers’ biggest win of the season…
Matt O’Riley is back to his best at Celtic
I wrote after the Motherwell game that O’Riley seemed to be struggling at Celtic right now. After an anonymous first half at Fir Park, the Danish international improved in the second 45 minutes to help the Hoops battle to a 3-1 win.
But tonight, O’Riley was simply sublime. With two assists and getting on the scoresheet as well, the 23-year-old midfielder was back to his attacking best.
O’Riley also had six shots on target, created two chances and had a passing accuracy of over 90%. Rated at 9.2 by Fotmob, he delivered his performance of the season. [Fotmob]
The dynamic midfielder looked sharp, fit and hungry and the timing of his return to form could not have come better for Rodgers.
Tomoki Iwata solves Celtic’s midfield conundrum
The Japanese midfielder was brilliant against Motherwell on Sunday and he followed that up with a calm and assured performance against the Dens Park men.
Iwata now seems to give Celtic that calm head in the defensive area of the park as the powerful midfielder offers a brilliant layer of protection to his back four.
Against Dundee tonight, the 26-year-old has 71 touches and a passing accuracy of 94%. He also made eight passes into Tony Docherty’s side’s final third as Celtic cut open a leaky Dundee defence.
Defensively, Iwata was solid enough. Making five defensive actions and three ball recoveries, the Japan international stopped any foray Dundee made into the Celtic half effectively.
It was another solid performance from Iwata and he must be a shoo-in to start at Tynecastle on Sunday afternoon.
Celtic are back to their attacking best
For too long now this season Celtic have looked bereft of ideas, slow in possession and lacking attacking intent.
But tonight was like the Celtic of old as Brendan Rodgers’ side came out of the traps quickly and effectively ended this game as a contest in the first 20 minutes.
The Celtic fans will be delighted to see their side continue where they left off at Fir Park on Sunday afternoon and the message this win sends to Rangers will be huge.
This team are not done. Not by a long shot. And with ten games left to go, it looks like Celtic have found their mojo just at the right time of the season.
In other news, John Hartson says Celtic now have another ‘massive’ player who’s as important as Callum McGregor
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