HAT-TRICK HERO GG ON FIRE

 

Celtic hitman Giorgos Giakoumakis scored his second hat-trick in five games as Glasgow's eastenders swept an in-form Ross County aside at Celtic Park.

The Greek striker scored an early double, then set up Daizen Maeda for a tap-in to secure the three points within the opening 26 minutes.

County defender Kayne Ramsay was sent off moments later for a lunging challenge on Tom Rogic and Giakoumakis added his third from the penalty spot - and Celtic's fourth - after County were penalised for a handball in the box, only one of three blatant handballs to be acknowledged by the referee.

Not for the first time, Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou did not rise to questioning about his side's relentless 31-game unbeaten domestic run piling pressure on second-top Rangers before the reigning champions' visit to Dundee on Sunday.

"We can't influence what others do," he said. "We just concentrate on what we do."

Jota had returned to Celtic's starting line-up in place of the injured James Forrest and the "really bright" winger was picked out for praise by Postecoglou along with Giakoumakis and Maeda.

Immediately showing the class that made him such an influence after arriving from Benfica last summer, Jota had already sent a dipping drive just over the crossbar when his inswinging cross found Giakoumakis rising above his marker and goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw to head in from close range.

Another deep Jota cross led to the second, Maeda nodding back into the six-yard box, where Giakoumakis had his first header cleared off the line but his quickfire reaction to rattle in another header seen the ball land in the back of the net.

Fine saves from Laidlaw had denied Maeda and Callum McGregor, but the goalkeeper was left wrong-footed when Jota's corner was headed down by Giakoumakis and prodded over the line by ever alert Japanese striker Maeda.

There was still plenty of time for the afternoon to get worse for County and it did just two minutes later when on-loan Southampton defender Ramsay was shown a straight red card after diving into a challenge on Tom Rogic.

The Australian midfielder, who had come back into the home side in place of Matt O'Riley, was unable to continue and swapped places with the Englishman.

Another couple of Laidlaw saves were required as Celtic looked to make their man advantage tell after the break.

Celtic eventually eased off after a clinical spot-kick completed Giakoumakis' hat-trick - his 12th goal of the season - and had the luxury of handing a return as a substitute to David Turnbull, the Scotland midfielder having been on the sidelines since December through injury.

Man of the match - Giorgos 

Jota was the catalyst, but you could not deny Giakoumakis the match ball as he made it nine goals in seven games.

What did we learn?

We were second best to Bodo Glimt in Europe, if largely uninterested in the second leg of that match, with the manager opting to field a starting 11 many complained wasn't our best team, but there are no signs of Celtic letting up the new year charge towards what might have seemed to some, an unlikely title early in Ange Postecoglou's reign.

With Turnbull back from injury and Japan striker Kyogo Furuhashi nearer to his, the strength in depth in the Celtic squad is increasing just at the business end of the season, and it looks like the two remaining Glasgow derbies could be crucial for the destination of the title. Who'd have thunk it, a Celtic–Rangers game crucial?!

What they said

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou: "We had a couple of really tough away games where we've done really well, but the playing surfaces haven't really allowed us to play our football.

"Today allowed us to be really good and bright and we were well in control of the game."

Next up

Celtic next visit bitter title rivals, and Scotland's youngest professional club, Rangers on 3 April (12:00 GMT).

Man of match

Giakoumakis

average 8.81 out of 10.0