Celtic extend their lead on top

Celtic extend their lead on top

Celtic beat Rangers 3-0 in a Scottish Premier League encounter at the Celtic Park on Sunday. A brace from Gary Hooper and goal by Kris Commons helped the Bhoys cruise past their local rivals in the Old firm. The win takes Celtic eight points clear at the
top of the table.

Neil Lennon made only one change to his starting line-up that beat Dundee United 3-1 last weekend. Anthony Stokes was replaced by Georgios Samaras upfront in a 4-4-2 formation. Walter Smith also made one change to his side that thrashed Motherwell 6-0 last
weekend. Maurice Edu replaced Vladimir Weiss in a 4-5-1 formation.

The game started briskly as both teams looked to make early inroads. A late tackle from Kyle Bartley on Scott Brown earned him the first booking of the match in the 3^rd minute. The first chance of the game fell for Celtic, when Hooper made a brilliantly
run into the box and his shot flew just wide of the far post. The hosts were rewarded for their beautiful attacking play when they opened the scoring in the 17^th minute. Commons made a surging run from the left and squared the ball to Hooper, who
knocked it past the static defence and into the far corner to make it 1-0 for the hosts. The visitor’s first real chance of the game arrived in the 21^st minute, when El Hadji Diouf smashed a shot from close range, way above the bar.  The Bhoys doubled
their lead in the 28^th minute, Emilio Izaguirre motored down the left and squared a low ball across the box and Hooper slided it into the far post to make it 2-0 for the hosts. The game dried up after the goal and the visitors were shocked as Celtic
went into the half time break 2-0 up.

The visitors started the second half in a much positive manner as they came close of scoring immediately after the resumption. The hosts created a flurry of chances and were rewarded for their third goal in the 70^th minute. Commons turned past
Madjid Bougherra and fired in a swerving strike that deceived Allan McGregor and flied past him into the net. The visitors were down and out and Celtic went on to win 3-0 at fulltime.

Celtic play their next match against Motherwell on 27^th February, while Rangers play against St.Johnstone on the same day.

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