Rodgers Praises “Brilliant” Celtic Fans as Leaders Extend Dominance

Brendan Rodgers hailed Celtic’s “brilliant” supporters for their role in a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Dundee United that pushed the Scottish Premiership leaders 16 points clear at the top.

The Celtic manager, who had called for patience following criticism of backward passes in their recent win over St Mirren, was effusive in his praise for the Parkhead faithful after goals from Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate secured a crucial three points.

“The crowd were brilliant because it can get a bit edgy. We’re a support, bless us, that frets and worries a wee bit,” Rodgers admitted. “But that support was so important tonight. On such a cold evening, the fans turned up in numbers, gave the team great backing, and that pushed us over the line.”

Rodgers also addressed fans who had chanted about potential transfer target and former Celtic player Kieran Tierney during the St Mirren game, which he felt was disrespectful to current left-back Greg Taylor. This time, the fans shifted their focus, singing about a range of Celtic greats, including Henrik Larsson, Odsonne Edouard, and Victor Wanyama.

“It was just the kitman who missed out on a chant, I think,” Rodgers joked. “It’s all part of the dance here, isn’t it? My job is to put the best team on the pitch, win consistently, and keep everyone smiling.”

A Game of Two Halves

Celtic dominated the first half, enjoying 84% possession and pinning United deep into their own half. Despite their early dominance, clear-cut chances were at a premium, with goalkeeper Jack Walton largely untroubled until a defensive error gifted Celtic the breakthrough.

Richard Odada’s misplaced pass put teammate Vicko Sevelj under pressure, allowing Luke McCowan to pounce. Walton could only parry McCowan’s effort into the path of Maeda, who gleefully fired home.

The second half saw a rejuvenated Dundee United take the game to Celtic. Auston Trusty clipped the bar with a header, while Celtic substitute Kyogo Furuhashi went close with a header of his own. United’s Glenn Middleton forced a sharp save from Kasper Schmeichel at the other end.

As time ticked away, Celtic substitute Paulo Bernardo produced a clever dummy, setting up Reo Hatate to seal the win with a composed finish following a well-worked move.

Rodgers Reflects on Challenges

Reflecting on the match, Rodgers acknowledged the demands of Celtic’s schedule: “I can’t fault the players. They’re giving everything in a really challenging period. Once we weathered the storm, we finished strongly.”

United Show Resolve Despite Defeat

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin commended his side’s resilience, despite a second consecutive league defeat. “The players definitely weren’t at 100% in terms of energy, so we had to adapt the gameplan to conserve what we had,” he explained. “But they kept going, which was really pleasing. We had a couple of chances to put the ball into dangerous areas, but nothing quite fell for us.”

United’s defensive organisation and determination kept them in the contest far longer than the first-half dominance suggested. Despite struggling to hold possession early on, they grew in confidence after the break and caused Celtic moments of concern.

Celtic’s Title March Continues

While the result extended Celtic’s commanding lead at the top, Rodgers will be aware of areas for improvement. The late injury to Nicolas Kuhn during the warm-up disrupted preparations, with his replacement Hyun-jun Yang unable to replicate Kuhn’s usual impact. Strengthening the squad in key positions may be a priority for the January window.

For now, though, the league leaders march on, with the fans’ unwavering support and the team’s grit ensuring their supremacy remains unchallenged.

Key Points

• Celtic maintain their 16-point lead with a 2-0 victory over Dundee United.
• Rodgers praises fans for their patience and support in a tense encounter.
• Maeda and Hatate provide the crucial goals on a challenging evening.
• Dundee United show resolve, underscoring why they remain third in the league.

Line-Ups:

Celtic (4-3-3): K. Schmeichel, G. Taylor, A. Trusty, C. Carter-Vickers, A. Johnston, A. Engels (Paulo Bernardo 80’), C. McGregor (c), L. McCowan (L. Palma 76’), D. Maeda, A. Idah (K. Furuhashi 62’), Yang Hyun-Jun (R. Hatate 62’)

Substitutes: K. Furuhashi, Paulo Bernardo, R. Hatate, N. Kuhn, L. Palma, A. Ralston, L. Scales, V. Sinisalo, Alex Valle

Dundee United (4-4-1-1): J. Walton, W. Ferry, R. Graham, D. Gallagher (c), E. Adegboyega, G. Middleton, V. Sevelj (R. Docherty 46’), R. Odada (L. Stephenson 59’), K. Fotheringham, K. Trapanovski (S. Dalby 60’), J. van der Sande (M. Thomson 78’)

Substitutes: S. Harding, S. Dalby, R. Docherty, D. Richards, L. Stephenson, O. Stirton, R. Strain, M. Thomson, M. Ubochioma

Referee: Kevin Clancy