GLASGOW: Celtic thrashed Dundee United 6-1 in their first home game of the new Scottish Premier League season to continue their perfect start under new manager Ronny Deila.
With this victory, Celtic moved to the top of the Scottish Premiership. Dundee United arrived in Glasgow as league leaders following two straight wins. However, any hopes they harboured of a first win at Celtic Park since December 1992 were dealt an early blow when debutant Jason Denayer headed home in the fourth minute.
Kris Commons nodded home a second in the 28th minute before Stefan Johansen took advantage of a defensive lapse to make it 3-0 six minutes later.
Antony Stokes scored direct from 54th minute free-kick and Jo Inge Berget headed home his first goal for the Hoops eight minutes later.
Jon Rankin grabbed a 71st minute consolation for United with a deflected strike before Berget completed the scoring in stoppage time.
The win moves Celtic ahead of United on goal difference, with the Hoops having played a game less, and gives them a huge confidence boost ahead of their midweek Champions League qualifier against NK Maribor.
Celtic boss Ronny Deila had asked for more energy and urgency from his side following a flat performance in their 3-0 win over St Johnstone and his calls were answered almost instantly when Callum McGregor hit the post in the opening minute.
United immediately responded when Gary Mackay-Steven poked a shot inches wide.
A goal was coming and it was debutant Denayer who put Celtic in front in the fourth minute. A weak attempted clearance from a Commons corner by Conor Townsend landed at the on-loan Manchester City player’s feet and he lashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Emilio Izaguirre was then caught out at the other end as Mackay-Steven brushed past him to collect a long ball and round keeper Craig Gordon but Virgil van Dijk calmly mopped up the danger.
Celtic grabbed their second of a frantic opening when Commons headed home for the Hoops. Stokes swung a corner to the front post and Commons got in between two United defenders to nod past Radoslaw Czierniak from close range.
Celtic continued to press and made it 3-0 in the 34th minute. Paul Paton was caught daydreaming in defence allowing Johansen to rob him of possession and race in on goal before slotting his effort low under the keeper.
Berget hit the bar and Stokes was denied by a superb Czierniak save as United were fortunate not to concede again before the break.
Celtic soon added to their advantage in the second half when an in-swinging Stokes free-kick from the left evaded everyone on its way past Czierniak despite claims from Charlie Mulgrew that he got a touch on it.
The Hoops added a fifth eight minutes later when a cross from the left was headed back across goal by Ambrose and the unmarked Berget was able to send his header into the roof of the net.
United pulled one back in the 71st minute through a deflected Rankin strike but there was still time for Berget to grab his second goal in stoppage time.
AFP
