CELTIC turned on the style at Parkhead as they hammered Motherwell 5-0 in the Betfred Cup.
What could have been a tricky tie for the Ladbrokes Champions against a Lanarkshire team who had won their last four games on the bounce, they barely got out of second gear on an easy night won with goals two goals each from Tom Rogic and Moussa Dembele, as well as a Scott Sinclair strike, doing the damage.
The last time the teams met here was on the last day of the season when the Glasgow club rampaged to a 7-0 rout. Three months on and if it wasn’t for the heroics of Motherwell goalkeeper Craig Samson, the score tonight could have been even higher.
Read more: Sinclair shines on first Celtic start as Motherwell are brushed aside
Brendan Rodgers made four changes to the side that defeated Hearts at Tynecastle just two days ago, with Kieran Tierney, Kolo Toure, Stuart Armstrong, and the suspended Leigh Griffiths making way for Emilio Izaguirre, Saidy Janko, Tom Rogic and Scott Sinclair.
For Motherwell, the injured Carl McHugh dropped out along with Lionel Ainsworth after his goal against Kilmarnock at the weekend, Joe Chalmers and captain Keith Lasley.
Read more: Brendan Rodgers: Celtic can improve on five goal cup mauling of Motherwell
There was a place in both teams for signing news prior to kick off. James Forrest agreed a new three-year deal with Celtic, while Motherwell completed a deal for Craig Clay who was brought in on trial earlier in the window.
It would turn out to be a better evening for the former who enjoyed a bright night at a half-full Parkhead. His team had been denied twice by Motherwell keeper Craig Samson before he had a helping hand in the opening goal on 20 minutes.
Forrest’s sharp pass in from the right to Callum McGregor caught Motherwell on the back foot and when his team-mate chipped the ball through to Rogic, the Australian was allowed space to control the ball, turn and half volley high into the net.
It was one way traffic by this point and Celtic were denied twice again by Samson and the woodwork before their second arrived.
A needless nudge from Motherwell right-back Richard Tait sent Sinclair tumbling to the deck. Referee Kevin Clancy pointed to the spot and Dembele finished emphatically to Samson’s right.
Memories of that day back in May couldn’t have been far from the visitors’ minds by this point as Celtic were allowed to dictate play and force their opponents deep.
Indeed, it took until 42 minutes for Motherwell to get their first real chance. Man of the moment Marvin Johnson got a clear sight of goal and his right-footed effort from the edge of the box was inches away on dipping into Craig Gordon’s far post.
Mark McGhee showed a sign of intent at the break and threw on Ainsworth as he attempted to salvage his team’s Betfred Cup campaign.
If nothing else it did get the Fir Park side further up the park and centre-half Ben Heneghan was unlucky with a header from a Chalmers corner, but again Celtic kept coming.
Samson was busier than a Glasgow cabby on a Saturday night by this point and pulled off two great saves, including one to deny Scott Brown.
Alas, it wasn’t enough to stop Celtic rampaging further ahead.
Following a first-half theme, the hosts were given far too much space in the opposition box and that was the case again on 61 minutes when Sinclair was allowed to pick his spot in the far corner.
Three minutes later and it was four with Dembele eventually forcing home the ball home as a result of a frantic scrap in the six yard box.
And after Forrest had a key role in starting the rout, it was fitting that the winger had a hand in finishing it. It was his low shot from the right that was parried by Samson, but he could only shove it into the path of Rogic who tapped in his second of the night.
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