OPINION
Celtic produced a sensational performance as they crushed St Johnstone 5-0 in their Scottish Cup fifth round match at Parkhead on Sunday.
A hat-trick from Scott Sinclair and strikes from Scott Brown and James Forrest ensured the Hoops’ safe passage through to the next round at the expense of the overmatched Saints.
Brendan Rodgers will be thrilled with the desire and the cutting edge shown by his players, as well as the performances of several key players.
As usual there is much to be gleaned from the game, and This is Futbol has rounded up three things that can be learned from Celtic’s victory over St Johnstone.
Ruthless Sinclair back to his best
Sinclair truly has found his feet again after a disappointing campaign by his high standards last time out. He appeared to have fallen out of favour with Rodgers, but he is firmly back in the manger’s good books after this latest display of excellence.
He’s scored 16 goals in all competitions now this season – a stunning total for a winger. He ripped the visitors to shreds on Sunday and didn’t give their defenders a moment’s rest.
You need goals from other areas of the pitch, not just your frontmen, and Sinclair provides that in spades. He is lethal in front of goal and never was that more obvious than in this game.
Brown produces captain’s display
Brown is an institution at Parkhead by this point, and so it was tremendous news when he signed a contract extension recently. His decision to remain in Glasgow was absolutely vital for Celtic, and he showed why on Sunday.
He bossed the midfield in his typically robust manner, but that’s not what will be remembered from this game. Instead, the lasting memory for Hoops fans will be his stunning strike to double his team’s lead in the ninth minute.
What a goal – that’s all that can be said about Brown’s effort. It was a phenomenal hit from the veteran midfielder, as he lined it up from distance before hammering the ball into the top corner. Sensational stuff from the Scotland international.
Burke gives Celtic an added dimension
Oliver Burke provides this Celtic team with something a little bit different. He is a winger by trade but operated as the main man up top against St Johnstone, and did his job to perfection.
He didn’t score, but he was heavily involved from start to finish. He set up a couple of Sinclair’s goals and was generally a nuisance for the opposition defenders.
His pace and vision are such an asset to Rodgers’s team. He flew past the St Johnstone players on Sunday, seemingly far too much for the visitors. He could prove to be key down the stretch this season.