Celtic Dominates Dundee United 4-0 in Premier Sports Cup

Celtic’s ruthless streak shows no sign of easing. On a wet Tayside night, they ripped Dundee United apart again, another 4-0 mauling at Tannadice firing Martin O’Neill’s side into the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals and sending a fresh warning shot before Wednesday’s Champions League play-off.

This was free-scoring Celtic at full tilt. United hit the woodwork five times and still walked off with nothing. Celtic, by contrast, were clinical, cold and merciless.

Here’s how O’Neill’s players measured up on a night that underlined just how ominous this team looks.

Viljami Sinisalo – 7

Another clean sheet, his second in three games, but this one came with a fair slice of fortune. The Finland keeper watched Dundee United smack the frame of his goal five times and will know his shutout owed as much to the posts as his gloves. Still, when called upon, he was steady and assured. Distribution, though, remains a weak spot and occasionally put his defence under unnecessary strain.

Colby Donovan – 7

Thrown in with Alistair Johnston sidelined, the 19-year-old looks ready for a run at right-back, including this week’s European blockbuster. Donovan was sharp on the front foot and solid enough defensively, rarely flustered and always eager to join attacks. The big surprise was that third-choice Anthony Ralston didn’t even make the bench, underlining the trust now being placed in the youngster.

Cameron Carter-Vickers – 7

Every game, another step back towards his dominant best. Fresh from a brutal Achilles injury that ended last season, the American is still a yard off at times in one-on-one races, but in the air he was immense. United simply couldn’t bully him. With Carter-Vickers anchoring the back line again, Celtic’s defence looks tighter, more assured. Took Celtic’s only booking of the night, a small price for his aggressive edge.

Auston Trusty – 7

Set the tone early. Trusty rose at a corner and glanced in a superb header to crack open the scoring, a defender’s finish with a striker’s precision. The USA World Cup stopper clearly enjoys the partnership with Carter-Vickers; together they look settled and authoritative. O’Neill will think twice before breaking up this pairing any time soon.

Liam Scales – 7

Back from a two-game league suspension, the Irishman was eased in at left-back with Kieran Tierney rested ahead of LASK. Defensively, Scales was dependable and tidy, rarely troubled. Going forward, though, he didn’t offer the same threat Tierney brings and Celtic’s left flank occasionally lacked spark. The performance underlined the need for a more naturally attacking deputy in that role.

Callum McGregor – 7

So much for the claims his legs had gone. At 33, the captain still runs games. McGregor dictated tempo, knitted play together and rarely wasted a touch. He even produced a lung-bursting surge into the box to pick out Kasper Hogh, almost creating another goal. It was a night of quiet authority from a midfielder who refuses to fade.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 7

On his 33rd birthday, he finally got his first start of the season and used it well. The former Liverpool and Arsenal man sprayed crisp passes around Tannadice, threading balls between United’s lines and prising open their defence. His technical quality remains clear. He understandably tired after the interval, but showed he still has plenty to offer this squad over the campaign.

Benjamin Nygren – 9

Celtic’s new G/A king is on a tear. Three games, three goals, three assists. The “Super Swede” was untouchable again. His corner found Trusty for the opener, his vision released Sebastian Tounekti for the third, and he capped a man-of-the-match display by thundering a drive from 18 yards into the net to complete the rout. Everything he touched carried menace. Right now, he is the creative heartbeat of this side.

Camilo Duran – 8

A £6million bargain in the making. Duran prefers to play through the middle but has been just as devastating off the right. He opened his Celtic account within minutes of Trusty’s goal, pouncing on a loose ball in the box and firing home, with the incident appearing to involve a touch off Kasper Hogh’s hand. Beyond the goal, his relentless work rate and pressing tortured United’s back line. A real find.

Kasper Hogh – 7

No repeat of last week’s stunning first-half hat-trick at Kilmarnock, but the Dane still led the line with menace. He buzzed around the United defence, pressed aggressively and refused to give them a moment’s peace. Hogh played a key role in two goals: wrestled to the ground before Duran struck, then held the ball up superbly in the move that ended with Nygren setting up Tounekti. Even without scoring, he influenced the game.

Sebastian Tounekti – 8

A different player from last season’s frustrating version. Given a start with Yang absent, the Tunisian winger seized his chance. He tormented United’s defence, twisting and turning before finishing off a razor-sharp counter by squeezing the ball past two defenders and into the bottom corner. Later, he slipped the pass to Nygren for Celtic’s fourth. Electric, direct and dangerous all night.

Subs

• Mika Baur – 5: A brief cameo, but enough to show why some see him as a natural successor to Reo Hatate. Energetic, busy between the lines and always looking to create.
• Dane Murray – 4: The academy defender replaced Trusty and slotted in without fuss. Simple, composed, and did exactly what was required to see the game out.
• Luke McCowan – 4: The former Dundee man, a scorer off the bench at Rugby Park last week, came on for standout Nygren. Worked hard and linked play but the contest was already done.
• James Forrest – 4: The evergreen winger replaced Hogh, allowing Duran to move centrally. Used his experience to stretch the game and keep United pinned back.
• Haissem Hassan – 3: Barely involved in pre-season and it showed. Rusty, short of rhythm, but greeted with a rousing reception as he came on for Tounekti. His time will come.

Celtic leave Tannadice with another 4-0, another statement and another layer of confidence before the Champions League play-off. If this is them still warming up, what happens when they hit full throttle?