LEIGH Griffiths etched his name into the Celtic record books last night when he became the player to reach the 50 goal mark for the Parkhead club in the fewest starts in the modern era in a resounding win.
The former Livingston, Dundee, Hibs and Wolves man reached his half century in just 60 starts - two fewer than it took Charlie Nicholas to achieve that notable feat in his first spell at Celtic Park back in the 1980s.
True to form, the 25-year-old added a second early on in the second half to kill off whatever hopes his team’s hosts – who, at that stage, were only trailing 2-1 – harboured of taking something from the match.
The 4-1 victory was significant for Ronny Deila as it sent his team six points clear of second-placed Aberdeen, who take on Ross County in Dingwall tomorrow, at the head the Ladbrokes Premiership table. But it was a more important evening for his striker.
Griffiths joined an elite group when he struck in the 21st minute at Tannadice. Only John Hartson, Gary Hooper, Henrik Larsson, Brian McClair, Scott McDonald and Pierre van Hooijdonk have hit the 50 mark in under 100 games since Nicholas.
The Scotland internationalist, who has now netted 24 times in the 2015/16 campaign, still has some way to go to match the scoring exploits of many of his predecessors. But having committed himself to Celtic until 2021 by signing a three year extension to his contract last month it would be foolish to bet against him doing so.
It didn’t appear to be an ideal game for toiling United to halt their winless run in the Premiership – they had last prevailed in the top flight in a game against Ross County at Tannadice away back on October 31 – in before kick-off and so it proved.
Paatelainen made no fewer than five changes to the side which defeated Airdrie in the Scottish Cup six days earlier. John Souttar, Ryan McGowan, Simon Murray, Gaving Gunning and new signing Riku Riski started as Mark Durnan, Coll Donaldson, Guy Demel, Chris Erskine and Billy McKay dropped out.
Riski, the Finnish forward who has joined on loan from Rosenborg in Norway until the end of the season, found himself thrusted into the starting line-up for the first time.
Craig Gordon, who had been suspended for the Scottish Cup match against Stranraer on Sunday, returned in goals for Celtic. Elsewhere, Deila brought back Stuart Armstrong and Tom Rogic as Nir Biton and Carlton Cole dropped out. The visitors, who had lined up with an experimental 4-4-2 formation on cup duty against lower league opposition, reverted to their favoured 4-2-3-1 set-up.
Not having Biton, who was sent off against Partick Thistle at Parkhead a fortnight earlier, available was a loss to Celtic. The Israeli internationalist is a formidable presence in the centre of the park for his side and has probably been their most effective performer after Griffiths this term. Callum McGregor was charged with taking over from Biton and playing as a deep-lying central midfielder alongside Stefan Johansen. He proved a more than able deputy.
Kieran Tierney, once again preferred to Emilio Izaguirre at left back, created the first chance of the match when he advanced to the goal line before cutting the ball back to Armstrong. His team mate shot wide with only the keeper to beat.
Kris Commons and Armstrong both went close with efforts before Griffiths capitalised on a defensive error and opened the scoring in the 21st minute. Gavin Gunning slipped and gifted his opponents possession on the edge of his area. There was only going to be one outcome in those circumstances.
The centre forward drilled a powerful right foot shot between the legs of Eiji Kawashima and into the net. He promptly whipped off his strip to reveal a shirt emblazoned with "50" to jubilant supporters. He was booked by referee Bobby Madden before play resumed for his exuberant celebration.
Celtic forged further ahead from a set-piece six minutes later after McGowan had brought down Armstrong just outside his own penalty box. Commons picked out Jozo Simunovic who rose unopposed to head the ball beyond Kawashima.
If the defending by the home team was bad for that strike it paled in comparison with that of their opponents for the next goal. Murray was allowed to stroll through the middle of their rearguard and prod a Souttar pass beyond the cruelly exposed Gordon.
However, Griffiths restored Celtic’s two goal advantage just three minutes after the restart shortly after United had an appeal for a penalty waved away after Murray went to ground following a challenge by Gordon.
Deila’s team advanced upfield and Rogic squared a cross in to the box from the right flank. Their rivals failed to clear the danger and the ball fell to the feet of Griffiths who, of course, hooked a shot past Kawashima.
Commons completed the rout in the 55th minutes with the best goal of the evening. He was supplied by Armstrong and volleyed spectacularly into the roof of the net.
United fans set off two smoke canisters before kick-off. It was, given the antics of some of their Celtic counterparts five days previously, regrettable. But the fireworks were mainly on the park last night. Celtic in general and Leigh Griffiths in particular provided them.
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