Young Celts sparkle in the Highlands
By: Mark Henderson on 25 Aug, 2012 14:40Scottish Premier League
Tulloch Caledonian Stadium
Saturday, August 25, 2012
INVERNESS CT…2
Draper 82, 86
CELTIC…4
Wanyama 4, Watt 25, 64, Mulgrew 48
TONY Watt bagged a brace on his first top-team start as a young Celtic side turned on the style to dispatch Inverness Caley Thistle 4-2 in the Highlands.
Victor Wanyama opened the scoring in the fourth minute as the Hoops made a blistering start to the match, before Watt grabbed his first with an excellent run and finish.
Charlie Mulgrew finished off a well-worked free-kick just after the restart before Watt added his second to seal a thoroughly-deserved three points for the dominant visitors.
The hosts salvaged some pride through Ross Draper's two late consolation goals in a match when they were completely outplayed by Neil Lennon's men, who now go forward to Wednesday's UEFA Champions League clash against Helsingborgs with another fresh injection of self-belief.
With a number of player sidelined through injury, there were six changes to the team which recorded the impressive 2-0 win over the Swedish side last week.
Thomas Rogne, Scott Brown, Beram Kayal, Joe Ledley, Kris Commons and Georgios Samaras dropped out, with Mikael Lustig, Kelvin Wilson, Victor Wanyama, Filip Twardzik, Paddy McCourt and Watt coming into the team.
For both Twardzik and Watt, it was their first competitive top-team starts – and they certainly rose to the occasion.
But it was Celtic's recognised predator-in-chief who threatened first, as Gary Hooper slipped the ball through a defender's legs and forced Ryan Esson into a smart save at his near post with a stinging drive.
From the resulting corner, the Hoops made the early breakthrough. The ball was swung into the box by Adam Matthews and Wanyama rose highest to power a header into the top of the net.
The champions had begun briskly and with purpose. In their next attack, Watt cut inside the box from the left and fired over. The lively Hooper was then caught by a lunging challenge by Ross Draper which saw the Caley midfielder receive the first booking of the match.
Charlie Mulgrew took the free-kick and his wicked, curling effort cannoned off the stanchion. When the ball eventually dropped in the box, McCourt volleyed over.
Watt also made good progress down the left and the teenager's low cross aimed at Hooper was turned behind for a corner.
Reeling from Celtic's breathless start, it took until the 17th minute for the hosts to test Fraser Forster as Aaron Doran's shot from distance was pushed away by the big keeper.
But they soon found themselves trailing by two goals as Celtic doubled their advantage after a brilliant breakaway. It was a goal manufactured in the club's Youth Academy.
Collecting a pass inside his own half, Twardzik found Watt. The teenager drove directly at Graeme Shinnie and left the defender trailing in his wake. As he bore down on goal, he still had plenty to do but he calmly slotted the ball into the far corner, rounding off a wonderful move.
Terry Butcher's side attempted to mount an instant respone as Doran reached the byline but Andrew Shinne's flick drifted harmlessly wide.
Celtic always looked capable of adding to their tally, however, and Twardzik nearly teed-up Watt again but the striker just couldn’t steer the Czech youngster's low cross into the net.
And they threatened once more just before the interval as Watt attempted to pick out Hooper in the area, forcing Gary Warren into a hurried clearance.
Any hopes the Highlanders had that Hoops would ease off the pace in the second half were swiftly extinguished as Mulgrew added number three in the 48th minute with a delightfully-worked goal.
Hooper was felled on the angle of the box. Matthews feinted to cross from the set-piece but instead laid the ball off to Mulgrew on the edge of the area and he swept a shot into the corner.
Celtic were rampant at this stage. Watt sped away from Simon King and supplied Hooper in the box but his low strike was blocked by Esson.
Watt then nearly scored an incredible goal as he beat Esson to Emilio Izaguirre's through pass on the byline. Showing great persistence, he somehow squeezed a shot towards goal but it trundled inches beyond the far post.
It had been one-way traffic but Andrew Shinne did call Forster into action with first-time shot in the box which the Englishman.
But normal service was resumed in the 64th minute as Celtic stuck a fourth time. Matthews met Izaguirre's cross from the left and, although his first effort was parried by Essson, the Welshman retrieved the loose ball to set up Watt, who hammered home from close-range.
As frustration grew among the home side, Josh Meekings was perhaps lucky to escape with just a yellow card after a reckless lunge on substitute, James Forrest.
Watt forced Esson into another save before another of Celtic's youngsters was handed their first-team debut when Joe Chalmers replaced Izaguirre with 15 minutes remaining.
As the clock ticked down, the hosts scored two consolation goals through Draper but it couldn’t take the shine of a dazzling display from the SPL champions.
CELTIC (4-4-2) Forster; Lustig, Wilson, Mulgrew, Izaguirre (Chalmers 75) Matthews (Bangura 68) Wanyama, Twardzik, McCourt, Watt, Hooper (Forrest 65)
Subs: Zaluska, Irvine, McGregor, Bangura, Slane
INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE (4-5-1) Esson; Raven (Meekings 55) Warren, King, Shinnie; Sutherland (Morrison 55) Draper, Ross (Pepper 66) A. Shinnie, Doran; McKay
Not Used: Reguero, Laing, Polwarth, Whyte
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